El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-05
CHAPTER l.
The Elton Bow

Inc GlOH bOy.
In the relation of the following ad.
ventures do not mean to illustrate the
principle maintained by some writers
that, by an inevitable course Of
events in life, that becomes fate which
at first was merely choice; but rather
to show how, by a remarkable COM
b1nation of circumstances Ito a great
extent beyond my own controD, 1 was
involved in series of perils and per-
ordinations, such as rarely fall to the
lot even of those who have the most
restless of dispositions.
That my temperament was, and is
still, something of this nature, I must
confess; and the reading of my leisure
HOUSEHOLDS of wild adventure by field
and flood q have devoured them all
from the volumes Of dear old Daniel
Defoe, to those Of the Railway Lii
brary)-f11led my mind with vague
1ongings and airy fancies for greater
achievements than our periodical re-
gatta or the ranks Of our Elton Rifle
Volunteer Corps were likely to afford,
although 1 deemf myself by no means
an undistinguisI member Of the lat
ter.
Existence" says a certain writer,
appears to me scarcely existence,
without its struggles and its successes.
/ should ever like to have some great
end before me, for the striving to at
tain amid a crowd of competitors
would make me feel all the glory Of
life"
With such vague ideas floating be-
fore me, 1 returned from Elton last
year, and found myself at my fathers
house, the old and secluded rectory of
Erlesmere, in a very undecided frame
OF mind as to the future, and the pro-
fession 1 should adopt.
My father, as before, urged Kings
College as proper preparation for any
profession
My mother limited that our name had
shone in the navy, and cast glance
at a large portrait which hung in the
dining room. 1t represented George
Lord Rodney, the castigator of the
Spaniards, in a full bob-wig and white
satin breeches, boarding the leading
ship Of the Caracca fleet amid a whirl-
wind of torn rigging, smoke, and can
non balls, forming a background by no
means hilarious.
But my father pooh-poohed this. I
was already far too old for the time at
which the navy is entered-to-wit, the
mature years OF thirteen.
Then my Aunt Etty, who still curIed
her hair in the fashion of thirty years
ago, recommended the army with a
pensive air; for she had been engaged
to young sub, who was killed at
must not say where. for 1t was a great
many years ago. and Aunt Etty is I'M
married still; but her views, though
warmly seconded by sisters Dot and
Sybil (who saw military balls and pic
mics in perspectfve), did not accord
with mine, for I had spent two years
or more in our Elton rifle corps, and
the monotony of the drill-especialIy
that boring curriculum of Hythe posi-
ton q went through the musketry
class, worried me, as I willfully deem
ed myself able to sight my weapon and
bring down either a Frenchman or a
pheasant without it.
At Aunt Etty's suggestion, my faith
er would shake his white head and say,
quoting the author of Ecclesiasticus:
There are two things which grieve |
my heart to see; man Of war that |
suffereth from poverty, and men of |
that are not set by The |
sword, Etty, is but a poor inheritance;
better send Dick to the counting house |
of his uncle, Rodney & Co., in Lon
DON"
But tremb1ed at this suggestion. as
1t did not accord with my own brilliant
views in any way, and so months
passed idly away.
missed the manly amusements of |
Elton and the hilarity of my class-fel-
lows; and though loving we'll my home
and family, when the novelty of my re-
turn and of perfect freedom passed
away, L longed for a change of scene
a stirring occupation-an active en-
ployment.
is destiny stronger than intention?
l should hope not; yet for a time 1
was almost inclined to think so. after
The terrible episode by which 1 was
suddenly torn from my home and cast
Upon that world which, hitherto, 1 had
viewed through the sunny medium of
ny day dreams and romances alone.
Two miles from the Rectory is the
7illage or small seaport of ErIesmere.
One of the leading features in the
of Erlesmere is a little
public house, at the ivy-coIored porch
# which a group of burIy weather.
'eaten fellows in long boots, striped
hirts, and red nightcaps, and con-
family smoking, drinking and "tak-
ng squints to seward" through an
Id battered telescope, served" round
With spun yarn. Near it is a small
ock yard, where their boats are built,
aired and painted, and where a pass
ng coaster may have trivial repair l
fected, and occasionally be hove &
own.
1t happened, only last year, that G
mall Dutch schooner of some fifty S
ons was laid down on the gridiron at :
1rlesInere dock for the purpose of be-
ng repaired. This was an event of I