Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-15

| nind In antique Greek fashion. In God
icy OPINION his sister had never looked
"Yo charming hamn than on this evening.
| county, said the old earl tenderlv stroll
| ing her hair. Il wish that WAR would thint
| So ne added significantly ''A
| ~ was not the first time that he had
ence or Beatrice.
ld you notice what he said. Tr,xier.
saia godfrey when he had found an oppor.
tunity of whispering to her. "He wante %
see you married to WAR wants. "
in scorn hei neao
NO one who has sneered at you. as Iyar
| mas. shall ever be husband of mine tbonan
ne bring with him title and lands n w,i,
IIequire some one a good deal better than
| soSa 10 separate you and M. Godfrey" she
! eu, piessing MS arm affectionately
| HooIrey felt justly proud of his sisters at
| tachment. How many women he thoupbt
wouid willingly have thrown over a moor
| s.iueghng medico of a brother and have
| Sohe WHO with JOY at the idea of obtain
| Ravenhall? ''"S Vi
,1ooIrey wondered, and not for the first
.ilie, why the earl should desire this match
| since beatrice was portionless and there,
| iore, from worldly point of view M ,erv
ueslrapIe alliance for the heir of the Raven
| cars Godfrey had never quite taken to
me earl; in fact, he had a secret distrust
l V,
| FUSED to believe that that peers attitude to-
| ward Beatrice was dictated by pure disin-
| terestedness, though 1t was difficult to see
now either the earl or Ivar would he al
vantaged by the match
| " ME Godfrey was occupied with these
thoughts the butler appeared with the
| message that the keeper of the lodge mad
announced by telephone the arrival OF the
Viscounts carriage at the park gates
| Let us give the heir of RavenhaIl a wei
come at ms own portal. said Lord Ormsby.
rising; and without delay the company
| made their way TO the grand entrance hall,
where the butler the housekeeper and the
rest OF the servants were assembled to do
honor to the young viscounts return.
On the raneled wall within the Gothic
doorway, and suspended by a silver chain.
was bugle of ivory. wrought with gold
and decorated with rune letters.
1t was relic of ancient days. cred ted
have belonged origin ally to the old Morse
chieftain who had founded the house or
Ravengar Owing to the peculiar construc-
ton of this bugle some practice was re-
| qufred by those DESTROYS of blowing it, In
deed it family tradition that In
former times the only persons gifted with
| the power of sounding it were the Lord OF
Ravenhall and his Immediate heir. all
others essay ing the feat being foredoomed
| to failure. Hence, in medieval times.
when the lords of Ravenhall returned from
a crusade, or some other equally protracted
war. ii was their practice to sound this
horn as a guarantee of the legitimacy OF
their title.
I'VE will greet the heir in the ancient
fashion of our house, cried the earl,
great upholder of the traditional usages OF
his family. Pass me the bugle. Jocelyn,
the winer'
The butler. who was stand ng by, holding
silver tray with a decanter on 1T, poured
some port into the broad funnel-shaped end
of the horn. the tight-titting silver cap over
the mouthpiece preventing the emission OF
the liquid.
Custom enjoins that a lady should hand
the bugle to the returning heir, and wish
him welcome, said Lord Ormsby, hXing his
eyes on Beatrice.
With some reluctance she accepted the
bugle from the hand of the earl. who briefly
instructed her-Beatrice being not very well
versed in the Ravengar tradtions-as to the
form of words to be used in this ceremony.
The rattle of wheels was now heard COM
ing along the avenue of chestnuts. and amid
murmurs of Here he is!' from those as
sembled at the porch, a brougham rolled up.
When it had stopped there allghted a figure.
fair, slight and. though youthful, of de-
cidedly blase appearance. He dressed
in light travelling ulster, and held cigar
between his fingers, throwing 1t away,
however, as soon as he beheld the company.
Welcome, WAR said the earl. warmly
returning the clasp of his sons hand; and
then, waving him toward Beatrice, he con-
tinued: But one moment; We must not ne
glect the ancient custom of our house.
Now, Beatrice, You know the words
And Beatrice, holding aloft the horn Of
wine. in an attitude that displayed all the
grace of her figure, approached the young
viscount.
rs it peace o heir of Ravenhall?"
rs it peace, lady fair, replied the Wis
count, using the words OF the traditional
formula.
+ Then drink of thine own, o heir of Ra-
venhall, continued Beatrice, extending the
bugle TO him. 49, '---a-r. -
ITO the souls of the departed warriors.
replied War, tossing off the contents at one
draught Hum, port Very good liquor
for hOVS. mt I I
amari stronger
This last sentence formed no part of the
Ravengar ritual, and the earl, who liked
everything en- regle. frowned slightly.
Now prove thy tile, heir of RavenhaIl"
Prove it? Ay. with blast that shall
rival that of the immortal Roland"
Removing the silver cap from the narrow
end of the bugle, and placing the mouth
piece to his lips War blew with ali his
might But no sound issued from the horn
other than that OF a faint soughing The
viscount, surprised at this result removed
the bugie from his mouth and eyed it Gu
riously- Then, thinking he had perhaps
employed too much force, he blew again,
but this tine more gently
The bugle continued silent. The COMPANY
looked at each other in surprise tinged
with amusement The earl however
seemed to take it much amiss Beatrice
found his eyes set upon her. and upon her
only. with look that made her feel I'M
comfortable. for il somehow convened to
her mind the idea that he was mentally
planning her Tor his son s failure,
This is very serious matter Won
know, said the viscount looking round
upon the company with an ali, of mock
gravity. The ancestral bugle refuses nos
itlvely refuses, 10. acknowledge me as ths
heir of RavenhalI.'' '
Try again. WAR, said the earl
NOT l. Devil take the bugle," exclaimed
war. laughing Let us read a parable in
my failure. In days OF old the blast of tina
horn WAS the sign of batt e; Its silence I'm.
plies that We Ravengars have no longer to
yindieate our title by arms. But it per-
mlts me to drink. thereby symbolizing that
peace and festiVity are now to BE- our lot
Have i not said?'' he added, theatricaiIy
turning to his father. And now this FAM
tasia being over Why? what? is this IT.
tie TriXie?''
Till that moment he had not recognized
Beatrice, so much did she differ from her
appearance when last seen by MIN; but now
that recognition came, he stopped short in
surprise at her loneliness.
'"Trixie.' he repeated.
He bent forward as IL to kiss her, but,
with quiet dignity. Beatrice drew back, Of
fering her hand.
What, and must dispense with tho
sweet greeting Of old days? Nay, them
And with this he seized her in his arms
and pressed his lips to hers in kisses of a
aiSfin vi