New-York tribune., 1906-10-07
By E. Phillips Oppenheim
M !.
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and absolutely conscientious in the
discharge OF what he termed his duty
to his constituents. We drove down
together to Lords, and knowing him q
10 be a person almost entirely de -
]. .. J. !. !. {: /" !: n: =:
void OF imagination, l tOrbOre to ~
make any mention OF the events of 80
the previous night. One question ~ H.
however, / did ask him. IA
90 What sort of hotel is the Uni n la
versal supposed to be, Gilbert
Rather queer lot OF people staying
there l thought"
Ny cousin implied by a gesture
that he not surprised. Very
cosmopolitan indeed, he declared
Il IS patronized chiefly, believe
bv certain class of Americans and
gentlemen OF the sporting persua-
sion. The restaurant, of course is
good. and few notabitieS stay
there noW-and then. | should have !
thought the Carlton would have Z
suited YOU better. n
l changed the subject How ~
are politics." | asked.
He looacd at as though in -.rv
reproach al the leYity of my ques- ~ [R.l
ton. You read the papers sup = N{fJ
pose.' he remarked - You know for M
yourself that passing through
a very critical time. Never" he
added, since l have been in the
House have | known such a period
Of anxietv
Considering that Gilbert repre-
sented a rural constituency, and that
his party in Office,
felt inclined to smile. However |
took him seriously. Same old
1
It has been a scare for good many years he
replied seriously. People seem inclined to forget
that behind the shadow all the time there is the
substance. ! happen TO know that there is a great
deal OF tension just at the Foreign Office"
Things seem pretty much they six
months ago" | remarked. There is definite
cause for alarm; is there.
No definite cause, perhaps, that know of, :"
nv cousin answered; =" but there is denying the
fact that an extraordinary amount of apprehension
exists the best informed circles As Lord Keselen
said yesterday, seems to feel the thunder
n the air.
/ was thoughtful for a moment. Perhaps, after
all ! was inclined TO envy my cousin. My own life
was simple and wholesome enough, but it was
far removed indeed from the world of great happen
ings lust then | felt the first premonitions of dis
satisfaction.
I believe am sorry. after all that didn't go in
Tor career OF some sort, remarked.
Nv cousin looked gratitied. He accepted my
regret as a tribute to his own larger place in the
world. In some respects, he admitted "it is
practically the head Of the family. have the title
but YOU have the estates and the money. You
should find plenty to do.
nodded " Naturally That isn't exactly what I
meant though. Here are, and by Jove! m late
NJ cousin cared for cricket more than for any
other sports. but because he represented Medches-
tershire he made point OF coming TO see his county
-Jlav He took up d prominent position upon the
grand stand and requested me to inform the local
reporters who had come up from Medchester, OF
his presence | changed into my fannels quickly,
and was Just IN time 70 60 out 10 the neld with
the rest OF the team.
The mornings cricket was not particularly eX-
citing and l had hard work to keep my thoughts
fixed upon the game. Our bowling was knocked
about rather severely. but Wickets fell with reason
able frequency. Il was Just before luncheon time
that the most surprising event OF the day happened
10 me The captain OF the NJ {. c. who had just
made his fifty. drove . Iul pitch hard toward the
boundary on the edge OF which | fielding. By
fast srrinting and lot Of luck. ! brought of the
, catch. and. amid The applause from the pavilion