Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-07-30

far a. I know. Nearly all my time
since I left school has been passed az
Holdenhurst walking and riding
abort the place and reading and play
Ing 10 father"
What Is Il that you piayz"
The psanofOrte. l am very fond or
music. and so Is my father"
"You must play Tor me this evening
I am a poor pianist. hut some people
think can sing" said auns Gertrude.
replied that should be delighted |
20 do so.
While this conversation was In pro- 1
cress we had walked as far as the en- |
trance hall. which I thought was the !
best place wherein 20 essay my skill
as Snowman. This hall was n large
square apartment with door. walls and
ceiling OF dark oak. Opposite the great
door. and distant from II about twenty
feet. was an enormous fireplace with a
chimney piece OF white marble fRntas-
tically carved. surmounted by pOr-
trait in oils OF n red-faced middle-aged
man clad IN a leather jerkin. with col
lar OF preposterous width. and n hop
hat OF such liberal proportions that on
italian peasant might have envied II.
supposed 90 represent the founder OF
my family. He looked little enough
like n man who would ingratiate him
self with his king or anybody else. but
as I subsequently heard my uncle re-
mark. II Is probable that Henry VIII.
was a better judge OF women than
men. on the right and left OF the FIRE
/ place were wide staircases which led
/ up TO corridors. The walls were near
" covered with pictures. chiefly faml-
~ portraits. relieved here and there by
! weapons and dccrs' antlers hung In
various devices. Doors led out OF the
hall into the dining room. library and
two parlors or reception rooms. and
from these doors 20 the great entrance
door We're laid narrow strips OF carpet
a highly necessary prccaution. for. as
some people have painfully learned. a
frozen lake IS not more slippery than
polished oak floor. Indeed. I wei re-
member when was n young boy the
amusement / derived from pceping
over the banisters OF the staircase 20
see my father receive his guest. the
/. newly appointed Bishop OF Norwich.
The Bishop was a Eat man. intolerably
ccremonlous. and with an ever-prcseni
consciousness OF his newly acquired
dignity. but ne was unacQuainted with
, the qualities OK polished oak floors
: SCARCELY had this divine crossed oui
threshold ere he lay on his back. bran
r. dishlng his legs rhythmicaiiy I'M th'
T. ar. until restored 90 pcrpenl.cuiarlt'
% by the united efforts OF my father an,
p old John
< My aunt was greatly Interested n
the pictures. and askcd more question
r about them than I was able go answer
4 Nearly half an hour was spent exam
+. lining the entrance hail. and had q
p state plainly that at this rate OF pr,
gression a day would be inadcQuat
\ FOR the accomplishment OF our tasi
4, and 20 suggest that we paid less a.
- tention % each object OF interest. vs.
=, then wandered into tho library. carr
lessly turned over the old parchment
4 which stlu lay on the table. and locke
+. az the cailgraphy and seals. examine
p. the covers of many books and the tit
- pages OF n few-treasurc an OF then
such as would excite the adm.ra lio
I. OF the most phicgmatic of hinlio-rap
IL crs and move not "a few OF tle tribe
= larceny. including perfect first 60.
+. or Oraftou's Chronicle. copies
81 shakespeare plays printed when the
=. author was yet writing and acting
London. early copies OF Spenser ana
- most OF the Elzahethan dramatis.
rs well as many Ola Bibles prolue
OF 01e early printing presses oi cen
mental Europe.
These books. worth. as I aftcrwa
learned. nearly as much money as g
entire Holdonhurst estate did not
terest my aunt as much SIS I had q
pcc,od. ana we Quilted The library 81
Ior went into The drawing room.
.ir- what a beautiful face and d,
for cleverly painted" exclaimed my au
ia pausing ia front OF portrait by Wa
orr which had the place or honor in q
set drawing raam. Il was studying
led just before you came down stairs
ant course il is your mother. You are 81,
like her. Ernest"
md The obvious inference from
did aunt.s sentence. and her use OF
reet baptismal name for the first time
lat. concerted me greatly.
Den on many occasions had l suffe
.sp- from a natural pvoneness 10 blushi
,ht- but surely my self-cOnSciOusness
ule. never been so acute as AZ this
nv ment. The blood mounted quickly
II my face. l could feel its warmth
Dro- realize the absurdity OF my asp
ing but was unable 10 think clearly.
and not knowing what TO say. remained
va lent Ny aunt noticed my confus
10 and further remarked