Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-02-01


Ii Hood We're as much astonished at
this statement as at his own good for
tune he certainly did not show it. l
caught Il glance Of his extraordinary
eyes. and then he had turned and was
closing the gate.
I'm sure l congratulate you, sir, ii
You'll pardon the liberty. The castle
wants an owner, and l hope you'n be
living here, sir"
l told him l did not yet know and
rode up the park, leaving him to fix
the locks.
l had said no less than the truth
when l had answered Hoods ques-
tons, but circumstances soon made my
resolution for me. The ID Of my
inheritance was spread about the coun-
try. and l found myself suddenly ele-
waited to new dignity in the eyes Of the
neiGhborhood. And the first fruits of
this celebrity appeared in an unexpect-
ed visit from my young acquaintance,
Montgomery. His farm. it seemed, was
4 mile or two from the castle. lying in
the next valley. and he rode over to
oHer me his congratulations. 1t was
plain that he had not been so deep in
liquor as he had appeared upon that
evening at the Swan, for he was huge
II embarrassed during the interview
and more than once offered to reflect
upon himself in somewhat d~eprecating
terms.
I'm not a bad fellow" he was good
enough to explain, but I'm a devilish
fool. All the Montgomerys are. We've
had O lot to put up with. Our estates
no better than a barnyard. We're a
psck of Idiots, that's what we are, Mr..
Greatorez. And when there's liquor
about Well, you know what 1T is"
I didn't quite follow out his mean
ing, but, on the whole, he struck me as
a very amiable fellow, honest accord.
ing to his lights, and bearing a certain
distinction of person which, derived
from a long and gentle race, could not
wholly be concealed in the dull and
uneducated individuality of its last
representative. He certainly knew q
great deal about horses. and as q re-
suit we grew very friendly ere he left.
When he did 50. it was with a frank
hope, boyishly expressed, that l intend
ed to live at the castle.
But it was not due to the arguments
Of Montgomery that finally decided
to stay ct the castle, but to an incident
very different. which fell out in the
following way OF the * evening: I
had dined early, and as the light was
still very full across the valley l saun-
tered out through the park and wan
dered down the road toward the
Noodman. When l reached the inn I
noticed in the twilight the figure of a
stranger leaning against the stone
coping before the doorway smoking a
cigar. At this moment Hood emerged
from the taproom. and l nodded to
him. asking if he had heard yet from
the solicitor.
Yes, sir; thank YOU, sir" he replied.
Its a very welcome present. sir;
many thanks TO my poor master"
"Well, you seem to be getting on
said l, with a glance toward the
stranger, who. seeing my eyes on him,
lifted his hat and smiled.
Eyes, sir" responded Hood in a
lower voice. The gentleman's come to
stay a bit, sir. Name Captain Ser
connie, sir. You don't happen to know
him: No, sir. | thought I'd mention it,
in case you did. The gentleman likes
the fresh air. sir. He's been living
abroad. | always told poor Mr.. kes-
teven that I'd make it pay, sir And
a furtive smile crept into Hoods SOM
Der face and broadened it into q grin.
The stranger advanced in a leisurely
fashion and said good day; then, cock
ing an eye 1T h clouds. asked me my
opinion of the weather. l gathered
that he was q fisherman and that the
stream IN the valley had excited his
hopes. He was a very tall man Of
forty or more. somewhat stoutiy built
Il with a military gait. His face.
Which Was bare ~ for q long rod
dish mustacLe, was puffy and swollen,
but he lad Il pleasant eve
Il u genial and engaging manner
His thin red hair was carefully brush
ed over Il rather bald head.
My landlord tells me there has been
a death up yonder," said he, nodding
toward the castle. "A regular romance,
if I'm right in supposing you are AIr.
G~reatorex?'
! told him that l was.
"Ah, we'll, you're very lucky"
l replied somewhat coldly that he
seemed to know more than l did my
self.
Come, come said he, with q laugh.
My dear sir, we are ali gossips, and,
after all, | was bound to talk Of some
thing besides the weather. and his
way was so good humoreI and withal so
frank that l could not but join in his
laugh. In the issue l accepted his in
vltatiOn TO drink q little whisky in bis
room, and being apparently a laxative
fellow he was very soon in the full
swing Of soliloquy. l must confess
that he was an entertaining talker.
He had seen a vast deal Of life and in
many countries. He had apparently
been d soldier of fortune since he left
the English army for ha cpIka of cn,y-