Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-23
CHAPTER VIII.
A RETIRED SOLDIER.

"A REIlfSc.D 0Ol4IlEn-
General Harding is an old officer of the
E. l. c., who, resigning active service in
India, has returned to England, his native
land, and settled down in one of its pleas
,antest shires-Bucks--that most pictur-
esque part of it, the Chiltern Hills. Not in, 4
a rented residence, but on a property pur-
chased and paid for, a grand old mansion,
with all its appurtenances, standing with
in a finely -timbered park OF at least five
hundred acres; beside 1t a home farm held
sin hand, with a dozen others rented out;
to say nothing of woods. game covers, cot
tage tenements and miscellaneous attach
ments-in short a residential estate. yield
ing an annual income of seven or eight
thousand pounds.
The case that enabled him TO require
this did not altogether come from his MILL
tary pay-however handsomely John Com
pany was accustomed TO disburse. Part OF
it he inherited; though for the greater por-
ton he was indebted to the Indian Prin-
cess, his first wife; his second marriage
being without money motive on his part.
For Henry's mother, although lady OF
good birth, was dowerless.
OF the many lachs of rupees left him In
the Golfers of the Rance. the General has
made good use. Instead of spending them
in India, he rather added to their amount
by investment and prudent speculation;
enabling him TO return home TO become
owner of one of the best properties I'm tho
shire of Bucks. Nor since has lessened its
value by living beyond the income 1t af-
fords. Still there is nothing niggardly in
his mode of life His establishment is on
a respectable. even splendid scale; and. as
there are only the two sons to provide for,
he has no need TO pinch himself: while at
the same time his habits hinder ostenta-
tion or extravaganza. About Beechwoods
House everything is in good order of tho
first class. and comfortable. The stables
are well-stocked with horses, both for har-
ness and the saddle; there is a complete
stan of servants, in and out of livery.
while the wine cellar holds supply proof
against any drain he is likely to put upon
it for the rest of his days. Though, from
old military custom. moderate in his own
personal requirements, ne does not lead
the life of either anchorite or recluse For
his sons sake he sees company, and eN-
changes dinners with the resident gentry
around is county magistrate, as also a
member of the district whist club-in
short, bears part in all the duties, as
well as amusements. suitable to his ago
house, with its management. are entrusted
to a maiden sister, some years younger
than himself, though sun an ancient
dame.
Since his retirement from service he has
constantly resided on his Chiltern Hills
estate; going to London only once a year.
and staying for few days. partly to
transact business, but as much to meet
his old comrades-at-arms at the club. or
course he is a member of the u s.
He has been home from India now moro
than eight years. His sons have received
their education-commenced at Elton and
finished in oxford-their last term at tho
University having but lately come to a
close.
| Hitherto things have gone smoothly
enough; the only ruffe on the even sur
| face of his life being caused by some
slight anxiety about his boys. lie knows
| them to be of very different dispositions
| as their mothers were-and has OF late OBJ
served something like bad blood between
| them; for which, though wrongly, 10
blames the younger, Henry. whose quick,
| high temper, It Is true. gives colour TO the
mlsconception; while his frank. open ma
ture scorns concealment, even OF faults
| Nigers conduct on the contrary, is In
| every way satisfactory to him. go far as
| he is acquainted with it. For the subtle
| son of a Hindu mother IS a master in tho
| art of deception. and careful TO keep well
| in the eyes of all the world, especially
those of his father. He leads a sober life.
rarely absenting himself from home Ia
| parsmonious In expenditure; and. taking
an interest in household affairs helps in
| their management.
| The reverse of all this with Henry, who
| has no heart for matters domestic; but
| likes better to be abroad with companions
addicted TO sport, and sometimes httie
dissipation, Not through absolute prone
| ness for the latter. but rather from 4
| fondness for outdoor exercises--those
| sports Of manly kind, almost peculiar
to us islanders. II is only when they tend
| towards degeueracy-the tUrf-that his
father is dissatisfied with him. lie has
| hopes, however. that time viii set things
| right with his younger son; all the more
from remembering that at Henry's age he
| was himself OF a somewhat similar dis
position: the Wild oats sown by him not
having hindered the maturing OF better
| fruit.
His chief dlsquletude Is the relation ex-
| listing between the bOys-uncongenial,
| seeming every Gay 70 become more 80.
| He knows not the cause. cannot conjec-
ture #; but hopes that as they grow older
! and get wiser. a more fraternal feeling
| may be engendered between them. IL he
| only knew the real cause OF their mutual
coolness, he would also know that neither
| time nor wisdom can make them feel the
| affection belonging 70 brotherhood II
| not altogether dead within them. it Is
| sorely wounded and time instead Of heal
| ing, is likely to make the wound worse.
| For the sting that struck them has not
yet spent all its poison.
| Never more than on that same winters
| morn, when he saw his Sons start out for
| their shooting. had General Harding felt
| sadder. rejecting on this theme. He had
| even presentiment that ere long some
thing would arise TO cause dissentioE be-
| tween them. FAR beyond the trifilng dis
| plays Of temper hitherto observed. so
| possessed was he Of 81 that all day long
has be been Gisquieted. and now. as tho
| sun begins to 20 down. several times, no
| forsakes his snug seat by the warm wood
| Ere. steps out on the porch. and stands
| with eyes turned anxiously towards the
| preserves. as II he expected 70 sight some
| danger in that direction.
1 No one can say that foFebOdinRe OF this