Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-07


| mouth and touched his hat.
Good morning. Hood" said my com
| panion quietly. pausing md leaning on
his stick. "i'hese arc very pleasant
days for ms Nil I"
"rhey are. sir" responded the man.
appearance Of activity In his sinewy
| bo,sl,. and his thin dark face bore II ha-
bitual expression OF polite Difference.
| 1t was as II his uir npologized for not
already Interpreting your unuttcred
wishes. understood the reason the
next moment.
Mr. kestcvcn, turning to me. nodded
in = friendly way toward the man.
"You have heard me speak of Hood, y
said he with faint smile. 'Ilc was
the valet l mentioned, whom | lost Il
month back. A MONTH isn't 1t. Hood!'
Eyes, sir just IL monthfour weeks
aud three days. that is" replied tho
man respectfully.
"Ah indeed: It's wonderful how long
time tarries." said my host checrfully.
Business good. Hood? l hope you are
not losing by the experiment. sup
pose" he said turning to me again.
that Il is IL trying position to be In II
subordinate state. Every one likes his
independence"
/ assented convcntionally, and Hood
waited very courteousy until l had
made my answer before he took up his
to reply to his former masters ques-
ton
II can't complain. sir" he said.
''rhere's not much traffic In the Gwent,
sir, but / do certain business"
'.Ah, should have thought 1t Il wiser
policy to have gone nearer civilization,
Hood. Why not have taken place ut
I4lanellan?"
A faint but respectful smile lowered
on the mans nervous face. II don't
hold so much with Llanellan. sir. This
Is tidy house, and business will i'm
prove. hope.'
"Well, we'll Let us hope So" was Mr..
Kesteven's answer as his eyes wander
ed toward the inn. "a pretty place,
is 1t not, Mr.. Grentorex" And then
with glance Of scrutiny at the land
lord you have had an accident,
Hood 2"
Eyes, sir" was the answer; "a slight
accident, sir-nothing Of consequence.
l fell against the bar yesterday and
he put II finger apologetlcally to his
clean shaved lip, which ] now per-
celved to be somewhat swollen.
"a nasty fall, nasty fall" said Mr.
Kesteven, shaking his head. ut is
lucky it was no worse He moved
away with courteous nod of his head
to which the innkeeper responded with
a salute AS he did SO he turned and,
taking my arm, smiled back ut Hood.
"You see the Gwent has It's visitors
sometimes, Hood. Mr.. Greatorex is
staying with me. So perhaps we may
turn the Woodman in time into fash
ionable resort of society"
He laughed as IL at his own small
jest, in which the innkeeper joined,
and, pressing my arm. walked on. He
seemed a very kindly master,
thought, and had no doubt but that
Hood had been an excellent servant. ]
remarked as much, to which he as
scented cordially.
II have never come upon man who
fell into my ways better and knew his
work more efficiently" he said. IAN
admirable servant altogether admira
ble."
Our walk had eXhilarated mo and,
what is more, had given me a huge
appetite. The result was that l ate
heartily Of lunch, which was delicately
served by the agreeable old housekeep-
er. Mr.. Kesteven also seemed to rally
his appetite, for he had eaten but little
the previous evening. and drank good
deal Of brown sherry, in which he jest
ingly invited me to join him. But l
was for the sour or perfumed claret,
which I found much to my palate.
Whether 1t was the sherry or not, my
hosts tongue piled very continuously
during the meal, but always in the
most possessed and civil manner. He
spoke Of his house, of his ancient de-
scent (Which was as ancient as the
CASTLE and finally of himself. The Kes-
teyens had been people Of note in 9th
er centuries, had boarded gains and
fulfilled the ponlp even of courts, had
fluttered briefly and very brightly and
in various characters across the stage
of history. But now they We're dwin
died to this one old feeble man. The
race had lost its physical vigor. From
contesting tournaments, fighting bat
ties and intriguing against courts it
had come to philosophizing over life
between four walls And then, falling
silent for time, he inspected his fin
ger nails and suddenly and after
space rose and pushed back his chair.
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Greatorex,"
he said, with gesture of apology. II
had not noticed you have not finished.
Pray forgive my discourtesy."
OF course put myself at his dispos-
al for, in truth, had eaten and drunk
quite enough. But, seeming not to
hear me, he looked upon the table, and
at last, raising his eyes to mine and
playing gently, but scarcely in nerv-
GUS fashion, with the forks before him,
he said very quietly:
81 have had the honor of your ac-
quaintance for some twenty hours, Mr..
Greatorex. 1t is little two men may
know of each other in SO brief time.
But am wont to take quick cogni-