Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-01-18
"Greatorex." told him.

"Greatorex," l told him.
'sThank YOU" said he. II am fully
conscious, Mr.. Greatorex, that am
under a deep obligation to you for your
great service this afternoon. Great
orex. There are, if l remember Alright,
GreatoreNcs in HAMPSHIRE
l explained that we were cadets OF
that family. He bowed his acknoWl-
Judgments Of my explanation and pro
Ceeded.
hospitality tells me that l can do no
less than offer you the opportunity OF
refreshment for yourself or'-his eyes
dwelt ~abstractedly upon my horse
"for your animal. But l am reluctant
to press the offer upon you, seeing that
it is very probable you have ridden
far'-he was observing poor Jupiter's
~flanks-"and are still far from your
destination"
His eyes Intercepted me, but with
no rude curiosity, rather as If they Of
fered a remark which I might consider
a question or not, as l chose. l an
swered frankly:
II am staying at the Swan, in Ray
mond, and to say truly laughed
Il am not quite sure how far l am
from the town or in what direction it
lies"
"1n that case" he said urbanely, but
with a sense Of satisfaction, as mag
ined, my reluctance yanishes. You
are some seven miles from Raymond,
and my house is here"
Without more ado we resumed u
walk and, entering IN avenue of lines,
came next upon an iron gateway set in
a high brick wall. 1t was of very an
cient workmanship, but as nothing to
the house itself, which came directly
into full view as soon as we had passed
the entrance. 1t lay some 800 yards
back, approached through q patch Of
park grown with grass and i~nterspersed
with noble trees. My first impression
had not been wrong. 1t was nothing
less than the ruins of a small castle,
n Of those fortalices reared by the
border barons against the inroads Of
Welsh ~barbaFians in the Plantagenet
times. As we drew near my gaze de-
voured the building and took in many
points of interest. 1t was quite small,
but, saving for one wing, in perfect in
tegrity. From the huge masonry Of
the drum towers down to the moat and
p%ortcullis all was as it had been in the
days maybe Of Hugh Lupus. The wing
Of the quadrangle to our left was dis
mantled and lay strewn with huge
stones in p~recarious ruin. A hundred
yards or so upon the other side, how
ever, cleaned the red roof and heavy
thatch Of farm buildings, and a round
stack or two in the ~neighborhood
proved that the fortress kept it's an
cient uses no longer.
"You will see that l am able to resist
a SIEGE" said my host, with a whim-
steal smile, as we crossed the draw
bridge, adding, with what seemed to
me a comical irony and looking down
at the bridge, II fear, though, we
should find some trouble with the
hinges"
We passed through the arch of ma
sorry and into the courtyard within.
where the old gentleman speedily sum
moned a man and gave him charge of
my horse. And here again 1 noticed
that further appearances testified to
the use of the castle as a farm. From
a scrutiny of this pleasant aspect 1 was
aroused by my host. who, pausing as
he pushed open a huge oaken door,
turned to me suddenly.
II I'm extremely remiss, Mr.. Create
rex he exclaimed with a gesture of
apology. You have not yet the style
OF your grateful host. My name is
kesteven, and this is generally known
as 1vor CASTLE"
All this was conceived in the most
formal and eccentric temper, and
doubtless had it not been for the
strange interest of his habit and con-
duct might not have consented SO
meekly to be his guest, for it was now
time for my homeward journey. How
ever, | must, it appeared, sit and drink
with him a glass Of sherry in his Ii
brary, a large and ancient room with a
very tine display of oakcn shelves and
paneiing.
\ little later l excused myself. and
rose for departure. For u minute or
two be appeared to have fallen into
abstraction. and then, CHANGING ut me
quickly. he regarded me with a stead
fast. inGuiring gaze.
MI. Greatorex,'' said he, you are u
young man. l begin to think thar we
should find much in You will
permit the question? Are YOU mar
ried:'
assured him that 1 was not. He
nodded, as if this were satisfactory.
news. Nor am l." he answered. but
very probably for another reason. |
cannot expect you to take part in nv
philosophy, but l am reminded that
you have seen nothing of a house Which
is OF some historical interest. and which
l should esteem myself happy to show
you. is it necessary that YOU should
return TO your Swan this EVENING""
The invitation in the query took mo
aback. for, eccentric as nv host m
louDtedly was, l had not anticipated
fhyr