Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-01-25
Z. Graatorex,v l told him.

conscious, Mr.. Greatorex, that am
under deep obligation to you for your
great service this afternoon. Great
c4ex! There are, if remember Alright.
Greatorexes in Hampshire"
/ explained that we were cadets Of
that family. He bowed his acknowl-
edgments of my explanation and pro-
ceeded.
Hospitality tells me that 1 can do no
less than offer you the opportunity Of
refreshment for yourself or''-his eyes
dwelt abstractedly upon my horse
4sfor your animal. But am reluctant
to press the offer upon you, seeing that
it is very probable you have ridden
far''-he was observing poor Jupiter's
tanks and are still far from your
destination"
His eyes Intercepted me, but with
no rude curiosity, rather as If they Of
fered remark which ! might consider
a question or not, as chose. an
swered frankly:
II am staying at the Swan, in Ray
mond, and to say truly laughed
Il am not quite sure how far | am
from the town or in what direction it
lies.''
In that case" he said urbanely, but
with a sense of satisfaction, as mag
ined, my reluctance vanishes. You
are some seven miles from Raymond,
and my house is here"
Without more ado we resumed our
walk and, entering an avenue of lines,
came next upon an iron gateway set in
a high brick wall. 1t was of very an
cient workmanship, but as nothing to
the house itself, which came directly
Into full view as soon as we had passed
the entrance 1t lay some 300 yards
back. approached through patch of
park grown with grass and interpreted
with noble trees. My first impression
mad not been wrong. 1t was nothing
less than the ruins of small castle,
one of those fOrtalices reared by the
border barons against the inroads of
Welsh barbarians in the Plantagenet
times. AS we drew near my gaze de
voured the building and took in many
points of interest 1t was quite small,
but. saving for one wing, In perfect in
tegrity. From the huge masonry of
the drum towers down to the moat and
portculIis all was as it had been in the
days maybe of Hugh Lupus. The wing
Of the quadrangle to our left was dis
mantled and lay strewn with huge
stones In precarious ruin. A hundred
yards or so upon the other side, how
ever, cleaned the red roof and heavy
thatch of farm buildings, and round
stack or two in the neighborho0d
proved that the fortress kept it's an
cient uses no longer.
You will see that am able to resist
a siege said my host, with whim-
steal smile, as we crossed the draw
bridge, adding, with what seemed to
me comical irony and looking down
at the bridge, Il fear, though, we
should find some trouble with the
hinges
We passed through the arch of ma
sorry and into the courtyard within,
where the old gentleman speedily sum
moned man and gave him charge Of
my horse. And here again | noticed
that further appearances testified to
the use Of the castle as a farm. From
a scrutiny of this pleasant aspect | was
aroused by my host, who, pausing as
he pushed open a huge oaken door,
turned to me suddenly.
81 am extremely re1niss, Mr.. Create
rex. he exclaimed with a gesture OF
apology. you have not yet the style
of your grateful host. My name is
Kesteyen, and this is generally known
as Ivor castle"
All this was conceived in the most
formal and eccentric temper, and
doubtless had it not been for the
strange interest of his habit and con
duct / might not have consented Sc
meekly to be his guest, for it was now
time for my homeward journey. How.
ever, | must, it appeared, sit and drink
with him a glass of sherry in his Ii.
brary, a large and ancient room with a
very fine display of oaken shelves and
paneling.
A little later | excused myself, and
rose for departure. For minute or
two he appeared to have fallen into
abstraction, and then, glancing at me
quickly, he regarded me with stead
fast, inquiring gaze
MIR. Greatorex," said he, you are q
young man. / begin to think that we
should find much in common. You will
permit the question? Are you mar
ried?"
/ assured him that was not. He
nodded, as if this were satisfactory
news. Nor am /, he answered, s.but
very probably for another reason.
cannot expect you to take part in my
philosophy, but ! am reminded that
you have seen nothing Of house which
is of some historical interest, and which
I should esteem myself happy to show
you. Is it necessary that you should
return to your Swan this EVENING"
The invitation in the query took me
aback. for, eccentric as my host IN