Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-16
CHAPTER VII.

y T was lovely afternoon on the last day
OF May. The sea and all the toll and
travail belonging to 1t was overpast'
a. and Judge Rawdon, Ruth and Ethei
were driving in lazy, blissful content
rnent through one OF the lovely roads
Of the West Riding. On either hand the
beautifully cut hedges were white and
sweet. and a caress of SCIENTIFIC soul Of
the hawthorne fower-enfolded them.
Robins were singing on the topmost sprays,
and the Ilnnet's sweet babbling was heard
from the happy nests In its secret places;
while from some unseen steeple the joyful
sound Of Ginning bells made music between
heaven and earth At for bands of travelling
angels
They had dined at a wayside inn on
iugRed hare roast beef and Yorkshire pud-
ding. clotted cream and haver (oaten)
bread. and the careless stiffness Of physi-
cal welI-being and of minds at ease needed
no speech. but the mutual smiling nod of
intimate sympathy. For the sense OF JOY
and beauty which makes US eloquent IS
far inferior to that sense which makes US
silent.
This exquisite pause In life was suddenly
ended by an exclamation from the judge.
They were at the great iron gates or Raw
don Park and soon were slowly traNerslnS
its woody sOlitudes. The soft light, the I'M
speakable green OF the turf. the voice OF
ancient days murmuring In the great oak
trees the deer asleep among the ferns, the
stiffness OF the summer afternoon filing the
air with drowsy peace-this was the at
mosphere into which they entered. Ihelr
road through this grand park of 800 acres
was a wide straight avenue shaded with
beach trees. The green turf on either hand
was starred with primroses. In the deep
underground. ferns waved and famed each
other and the scent of hidden violets sa-
luted as they passed. Drowsily, as if half
asleep. the blackbirds whlstled their cou-
plets, and in the thickest hedges the little
brown thrushes sang softly to their brood
ing mates. For half an hour they kept
this heavenly path, and then sudden turn
brought them their first sight of the old
home.
1t was a stately irregular building of red
brick sandaled and yelled In Ivy. The nu-
merous windows were all latticed. the CHM
neys In picturesque stacks. the slipping roof
made of flags of sandstone 1t stood In the
center OF a large garden. at the bottom
OF which ran a babbling little rivera
cheerful tongue OF life in the sweet. silent
place. They crossed II by pretty bridge,
and IN a few minutes stood at the great
door Of the mansion. 1t was wide open,
rose to meet them. While yet upon the
threshold he kissed both Ethel and Ruth,
and. ,.lasping' the judges hand. gazed at
him with such piercing, kindly look that
the eyes of both men filled with tears.
He led them into the hall. and standing
there he seemed almost part OF IT, In
his youth he had been a son of Anak. and
his great size had been matched by his
great strength. His stature was still large,
his face broad and massive. and an album
dance OF snow-white hair emphasized the
dignity of a countenance which age had
made nobler. The generations OF 800 years
were crystallized IN this benignant old
man, looking with such eager interest into
the faces of his strange kindred from a far
OF land.
In the evening they sat together in the