The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-01-06
CHAPTER l.
The Elton Boy.


events in life, that becomes fate which
at first was merely choice; but rather
to show how, by a remarkable COM
bination of circumstances Ito a great
extent beyond my own controD, | was
involved in a 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, l must
confess; and the reading of my leisure
hours-books of wild adventure by field
and food q have devoured them all
from the volumes of dear old Daniel
Defoe, to those of the Railway Ii
brary)-illed my mind with vague
longings and airy fancies for greater
achievements than our periodical re-
gatta or the ranks of our Elton Rife
Volunteer Corps were likely to afford,
although I deemed myself by no means
an undistinguished member of the lat
ter.
Existence" says a certain writer,
appears to me scarcely existence,
without its struggles and it's 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, l 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 l should adopt.
My father, as before, urged Kings
College as a proper preparation for n
profession.
My mother limited that our name had
shone in the navy and cast a 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 breaches, 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. l
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 curled
her hair in the fashion of thirty years
ago, recommended the army with a
pensive air; for she had been engaged
to a young sub, who was killed at
must not say where, for it 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 perspective), did not accord
with mine, for | had spent two years
or more in our Elton rifle corps, and
the monotony of the drill-especially
that boring curriculum of Hythe posi-
ton Il went through the musketry
class), worried me, as l 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
LILY HCdIl ~ SCCy q HAL u war una
suffereth from poverty, and men Of
understanding that are not set by TIL
sword, Etty, is but a Door inheritance
better send Dick to the counting house
of his uncle, Rodney & Co., in Lon
DON"
But l trembled at this suggestion, as
it did not accord with my own brilliant
views in any way, and so months
passed idly away.
l missed the manly amusements O.
Elton and the hilarity of my class-fel.
lows; and though loving well my homt
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
was almost inclined to think so, afte,
the terrible episode by which | wa,
suddenly torn from my home and cas-
upon that world which, hitherto. | haC
viewed through the sunny medium O
my day dreams and romances alone.
TWO miles from the Rectory is tn,
village or small seaport of Erlesmere
One of the leading features in tn,
fsher-village of Erlesmere is a littl,
public house, at the ivy-colored porcl
Of which a group of burly weather
beaten fellows in long boots, stripe,
shirts, and red nightcaps, and con
stantly smoking, drinking and TAX
ing squints to seward through al
old battered telescope, Served" roun,
with spun yarn. Near it is a small
dock yard, where their boats are built
tarred and painted, and where a pass
ing coaster may have a trivial repai
effected, and occasionally be hoy
down.
1t happened, only last year, that
small Dutch schooner of some fit,
tons was laid down on the gridiron a
Erlesmere dock for the purpose of be
ing repaired. This was an event @
some Importance, and the whole na,l
=, teal population cheerfully lent a han
: in unloading her, and securing the car
go, which consisted OF apples and Ter
gou cheeses; while her skipper, Cap
Z~eervogel, and the six men who com
posed her crew, became for the tim
D the lions and oracles of the smokin
: room and porch of the UNCOVERED tay
9 ern, where it was tacitly agreed tina
!, nothing could be said about Lord Dun
= can, or the licking he gave thes
< Dutch lubbers off the TeXel,' in GU
e grandfatherS' DAYS.