Evening star., 1901-03-09

Kries was reticent, but l extracted from her
the information that they were hurriedly
married again. One could laugh, If the
matter had not been so terribly serious to
them and to their boy. For Mrs. F
was not indeed in possession of-but next
in succession to a considerable estate and
ancient title. Marrying again could not
mend the matter. What else they did to
mend, or try to mend it, Madame de Kries
professed not to know. 1 myself do not
know either. There is only one thing to
say. They could not alter the date of
death; they could not alter the date of the
wedding perhaps it would seem rather
more possible to alter the date of the birth.
At any rate, that is no business of mine.
have set the story down because it seemed
to me a curious and interesting episode.
For my own part l am inclined to hope
that the babys prospects in life will not
be wrecked by the absurd Russian habit of
using the old style.
ITO return to serious questions, the Gus
toms barrier between
Mr. Jenkinson Neeld laid down his
friends journal and leaned back in his
chair
Really" he murmured to himself.
Really, really!
browning in perplexed fashion he
pushed the manuscript aside and tWiddled
the blue pencil between his fingers. The
customs barrier of which Josiah Cholderton
was about TO speak had no power to inter
est him: the story which he had read inter-
ested him good deal: it vas an odd little
bit of human history, disastrous turn of
human fortunes. Besides Mr.. Neeld knew
his London. He shook his head at the
Journal reprovingly, rose from his chair.
went to his bookcase and took down a
peerage. A reminiscence was running in
his head. He turned to the letter T.
"Trfstram of Blent-Adelaide Louisa
Aimee, in her own right baroness-23d in
descent, the barony descending to heirs
heirs general. Born II December, 1853.
Married first Sir Randolph Edge, bart-no
issue. Secondly, Capt Henry Vincent F1tz-
hubert Gate Scots Guards, died 1877. Issue
one son (and heir), Hon. Henry Austen
Fitzhubert Tristram. born Goth July, 1875
The name of Tristram was assumed in lieu
Of Fftzhubert by royal license. 1884. Seat.
Blent Hall, Devon"
Here Mr. Neeld laid down the book He
had no further concern with the ancestry
the ramifications, the abodes or possessions
OF the Tristrams of Blent. To him who
knew the entry itself was expressive in
what it said and in what it omitted; read In
conjunction with Josiah Cholderton's jour-
nal II was yet more eloquent. By itself 1t
hinted a scandal-else why no dates for the
marriages? With the journal it said some
thing more. For the Goth is not "early in
July" He shut the book hastily and put it
back on the shelf Scissors were to his
hand; with them he carefully cut out from
the manuscript the whole account of Mr.
Cholderton's visit to Heidelberg, dated it,
marked it with the page to which it belong
ed in the journal and locked it away in a
drawer.
Good gracious mer' he muttered. 1.-THE
thing is nothing more or less than an i'm
putation on the legitimacy of the son and
heir
That same afternoon he went over to the
Imperium to vote at the election of mem
bers. 1t struck him as one of the small
condolences of life that among the candi-
dates who faced the ballot was Col. Will
mot Edge r. E.
ANY relation, 1 wonder?" unused Mr..
Neeld, as he dropped in an affirmative ball.
But 1t may be added, since not even the Sc
crets Of club ballots are to be held sacred,
that he bestowed one of a different sort on
certain Mr.. William Iver, who was de-
scribed as contractor" and whose name
was familiar and conspicuous on the board
ings that screened new buildings in London,
and was consequently Objectionable to Mr..
Neeld's factidious mind
Il don't often blackball," he remarked to
Lord Southend as they were sitting down
to whist. but really don't you think the
1mperium should maintain-er-a certain
level?'
1ver's devilish rich fellow and not q
bad fellow either" grunted my lord.