Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-04-08

that way. He was big, blond Eng
lishman. naturally rather good look ing,
indeed he might be called handsome:
but he was the absolute ideal of self
complacency.
The picture of self satisfaction was
so perfect that ii even transcended
nature. and my laugh was tribute
snch as might have given to "a come
dian who had appeared upon the stage
in a makeup that surpassed all possi-
BILE anticipation.
The noble lord at breakfast was such
a study that forgot the trifiing matter
of $500 which my friend had mention
ed and thought only of the refinement
Of manner which enabled Colewyn to
slowing away a meal that would have
filled an alligator. His valet pinistered
TO his wants with well trained defer
ence and the walters with amusement
tinged with admiration of his magnifi-
cent appetite.
Tom and | spent the forenoon lazily.
lunched at his fathers house and about
o'clock rode all across the city and
little way beyond its verge to the Bran
don place. Description had not pre-
pared me for the beauty of this estate
nor for the remarkable effect of cd
world exclusiveness which it produced.
The great house upon the crest of the
vast green wave of lawn dominated the
scene, and its windows stared haughtily
at the public highway which presumed
to pass within thousand yards of it.
Upon veranda at the rear of the
house we found Mrs. Brandon and her
daughter drinking tea with a select few
culled from Stanchfield's society. Mrs.
Brandon was one of those annoying wo-
men who make up for a full face view
with no thought of any other. From
the front and at the proper distance
and in just the right light she was a
fair young creature of less than thirty
summers. Seen in profile, she was
mask In figure she was lean and ca
ger as greyhound, and the placidity
of demeanor which she affected was us
easily detached from her real nature by
an observing eye as was the film of
rouge from her face.
Her daughter was an amazingly pret-
ty girl, healthy and natural, but obvi-
ously too young for her years. A glance
at her convinced me that she had not
accepted Lord Colewyn at her mothers
behest or because of any sinful craving
for title, but merely because he had
the good fortune to be ideaized in her
childish imagination. | would have
given 81 200, considering it an excellent
literary investment, to buy an accurate
knowledge of what Lord Colewyn seem
ed to be when viewed in the enchanted
mists of this schoolgirls dreams. At
twenty or little later she would be as
sensible as most young women, and
then she would see him at the very best
as a hollow and conceited donkey; at
the worst, as selfish and mercenary
cad.
At this moment the appearance of
Lord Colewyns carriage reduced Tom
and myself to state Of invisibility-
| indeed, the miracle went so far that
our feet made no audible sound upon
the floor of the veranda as we hur
riedly left that place.
In grove beyond the house we
| found Mr.. Brandon, a picturesque fig
ure, tall and active. He was clad in
a rough gray suit, and an old straw
hat was tilted back upon his head, re-
| roolfpn hic xvauy u,hito boir ab Ia nf
as in youth. His face was smooth and
ruddy, and the hand he gave me was
steady and strong. He was clearly a
cultivated man, and there was some
thing in his manner which suggested
the splendid democracy of a college
l as it used to be before it was the fash
ion to ride to chapel or the lecture
room in ones private automobile.
Mr.. Brandon was comforting with
| his fellow members Of committee on
sports and the others listened to him
with Difference which disappointed
me until l discovered that it was due
to his great knowledge of the subject
and not to any less worthy considera-
tiOn. A fine official Of the games was
old Sam Brandon, and under his eye
the best man had to win.
discovered presently that he had a
great affection for Tom Mason, and as
they stood together there-ideal figures
| of American youth and age-suddenly
the whole truth leaped into my mind.
Here was the man whom Mr.. Brandon
had chosen in his own heart. l under
stood in flash Toms letter to me,
which had been a cry of anguish for
the ear of friend, the cry Of man
crossed in love.
Then there arose in me the desire
that | feel too seldom and can never
summon at will-the desire to do tre-
mendous amount of work in the short
est possible time Boundless confidence
always accompanies this impulse and a
eearness of thought which l vainly
seek 3G4 days in the year. | excused
myself to Tom and Mr. Brandon. and
for the remainder of that afternoon I
was the busiest man in the state of Illi-
lois.
Shortly before s o'clock, having had
no dinner meanwhile, though apparent
Iy 1t was being served all over the
place, hunted up Mr.. Brandon, who
was supervising the arrangements for
the display Of fireworks, which was to
begin at 9. l found Tom also, and we
4ad serious talk. To sum up the
matter in the briefest form, let me say
| lot thnn, nyiHannn N