Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-05
CHAPTER /.

~ T was In August of the year 1SS--
that turned the corner, as 1t
were, into the strange history |
am now to relate. The Welsh
marches had been entirely unknown to
ue until at point In an idle tour Of
the west Of England | fell upon the
little town Of Raymond and brought up
at z in the evening ut the Swan hostel
ry that occupies d corner Of the irreg
ular triangle constituting the market
place. The country IN that part Is full
of swelling hills aud valleys, soft and
exhilarntiua of air and clothed with Il
great vesturc Of wood The great
Gwent. IA the forest across the little
river Ray is called in the countryside,
rolls westward across the county, bro
ken by tracts Of fertile fields lying UNI
der grain and pasture, and descends
upon tho black hills Of the mining dis
trict beyond. At Raymond. which
stands upon the hitler side Of the river,
we are yet in England proper and upon
the margin Of more open country.
The town itself is small and neat and
wears It's air of respectable antiquity
very hnughtlly.
The inn, which was itself among the
most venerable buildings In the small
town, was comfortably served by a
very brisk landlord Of middle age. 1t
had kept, so to speak, precarious
continuity with antiquity and In the
"A, ~, 1,,tN lift1n
during the 800 years which had passed
since its erection.
the hostslfy was much too large for
it's present uses, but for all that wore
no air Of neglect In the inhabited cham.
bers. My own rooms were marked by
homely comfort. and was waited upon
like prince Of the blood. After Il rude
and wholesome country dinner l sought
distraction in the taproom with my
Pipe and heterogeneous company OF
townsfolk. The landlord was Ia some
kind president at this symposium,
which consisted for the main part Of
few Of the smaller shoplieepers.
There was Mr.. Jones, for example,
whose nume had noticed upon shop
front as / rode through the High street.
This man fixed upon nue. early In tho
evening, and poured his condolences
into my ear. He was II hay merchant.
and lie had no dearar ambition than to
establish his business III Bristol. He
found Raymond too mean for his as
plrillg temper, and the Mecca OF his
prayers was Bristol. l confess that
found him something Of bore, and
with my other neighbor. The landlord
himself kept his sent before the long
table, smoking Ills long pipe with the
peace Of man whose business is end
ed for the day, and now and then dis
charging glance in my direction. He
was, discovered, travelled man for
those parts, and had the reputation Of
a smart fellow, Indeed, he compared
well with the duller rustics who sur
rounded him. The placid air Of the tap
room was in some ways little more al.
verting than the solitude Of my cham
Der. but that was soon to pass. Pres
emily there came great noise, fol-
lowed by neavy tramp OF rect ap-
preaching from the outer bar, and III
strutted tall young fellow, with his
hat upon one side, and a jaunty air of
one who knows his own worth and
despises his neighbors.
"Come in" says the innkeeper, very
friendly, but with certain air Of con-
stralnt. "Plenty of room, Mr.. Mont
gomery, sir. and good evening to
you"
ooh, hang your ceremonies" says
the newcomer, but with no touch Of i'll
humor, land give your best attention
to my order, Wendover" And, clap
ping his hat more firmly on his head.
he raped loudly upon the table.
He drank the glass Of whisky which
the barmnn served and then fell into a