The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20
Copyright by Mcclure. Phillips & Co)
CHAPTER /.

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Copyright by Mcclure. Phillips & Co)
CHAPTER L.
Some Views of the Institution.
The house-a large, plain, white
building with no architectural preten-
sions-stood on a high swell Of the
downs and looked across the valley in
which AIilldean village lay. and thence
over rolling stretches Of close turf, TIL
the prospect ended in the gleam OF
waves and the silver gray mist that
lay over the sea. It was fine, open,
free view. The air was fresh, with
touch Of salt in il. and made the heat
Of the sun more than endurable-even
welcome and nOUrishing. Tom Court
land, raising himself from the grass
and sitting up straight, gave utterance
to what his surroundings declared TO
be a very natural exclamation:
What a bore TO leave this and go
back to town.
stay a bit longer, old chap" urged
his host. Grantley ImasOn, who lay full
length on his back on the turf, with
straw har over his eyes and nose, and
a pipe, long gone out between his
teeth.
Back 10 my wifei" Courtland went
on. without noticing the invitation.
With a faint sigh Grantley Imason
sat up nut his hat on his head. ana
knocked out his pipe. He glanced at his
friend with a look Of satirical amuse-
ment.
You're encouraging company for a
man who's just got engaged, he re-
marked.
ITS the devil Of a business-sort Of
thing some Of those fellows would
write a book about. But it's not worth
a book A page Of strong and indis-
criminate swearing-that's what it's
worth. Grantley."
Grantley sighed again as he searched
for his tobacco pouch. The sigh seemed
70 hover doubtfully between a faint
sympathy and a resigned boredom.
And no end to it-none in sight I
don't know whether it's legal cruelty
to throw library books and so on at
your husbands head
Depends on whether you ever hit
him, I should think; and they'd proba-
bly, conclude a woman never would"
But what an ass 1 should look IL 1
went into court with that sort OF
story"
Yes, you would look an ass" Grant
ley agreed. Doesn't she give you
well. any other chance you known"
most aggressively the other way"
Then why don't you give her
chance %
What. you mean-?"
Am / so very cryptic?" murmured
Grantley, as he lit his pipe.
I'm a Member Of Parliament"
Yes. ] forgot. That's a bit awk-
ward"
Besides. there are the children. 1
don't want my children to think their
father a scoundrel." He paused and
added grimly: And don't want them
10 be left TO their mothers bringing up,
either"
Then we seem to have exhausted
the resources of the law"
The children complicate it so. Wait
TIL you have some Of your own,
Grantley."
Look here-steady," Grantley ex-
postulated. Don't be in such a hurry
TO give me domestic membranes. The
blooms still on my romance, old chap.
Talking OF children to a man who's
only been engaged a week." His man
ner resumed its air Of languid sympa-
thy as he went on: You needn't see
much OF her, Tom. need your"
''Oh, needn't I2' grumbled Courtland.
He was a rather short, sturdily built
man. with a high color and stiff black
hair which stood uD on his head. His
face was not wanting in character,
but a look Of plsintive worry beset ii.
You try living in the same house with
a woman-with woman like that, 1
meani'
Thanks for the explanation"
laughed Grantley.
7 must go and wire when / shall be
back or Harrietll blow the roof of
over that You come, too; strollil do
you good"
Grantley Imason agreed; and the two,
leaving the garden by a little side gate.
took their way along the steep road
which led down TO the village. and rose
again on the other side Of il, TO join
the main highway across the downs
mile and q half away. The lane was
narrow. steep and full OF turns; the no
tice Dangerous 10 Cyclists" gave
warning of its character. At the foot
Of 1t stood the Old MIL House, backing
on to a little stream. Farther on lay
the church and the parsonage; oppo-
site TO them was the postonlce, which
was also a general shop and also had
rooms 10 let to visitors. The village Inn
next to the postoftlce. and dozen or SO
Of laborers cottages exhausted the
shelter Of the little valley. though the
parish embraced several homesteads
scattered about in dips Of the downs,
and a row OF small new. red villas at