Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-16
CHATTER XX.

LIZ yOulS uuyS luGu uNlA lOll
in deep chairs, With their knees higher
than their heads. There We're no such
chairs in this library, just as there
was no afternoon tea except for ladies'
Sir John Meredith was distressed to
observe great many signs Of the de-
generation Of manhood, which he at
tributed to the Indulgence in afternoon
ten. Sir John had lately noticed an
other Overwhelmingly, in the
quality Of the London gas. So seri
GUS was this falling off that he had
taken to lamp in the evening, which
lamp stood on the table ut his elbow.
There was nothing dismal or lonely
about this old man, sitting in evening
dress in high backed chair, stifily
reading q scientific book of the mod
ern, cheap science tenor-not written
brain is weary of novels and afraid of
communing with itself. Oh, no! A
gentleman need never be dull. He
has his necessary occupations. If he is
a man of intellect he need never be
Idle. 1t Is an occupation to keep up
with the times
He paused In the midst of Scien-
tific definition and looked up with lis
tening eyes. He had got into the way
of listening to the passing wheels.
Lady Cantourne sometimes called for
him ON her way to festivity, but it
was not that.
The wheels he heard had stopped.
Perhaps it was Lady Cantourne, but
he did not think SO. She drove behind
pair, and this was not pair.
A few minutes later the butler ST.
lently threw open the door, and Jack
stood on the threshold. Sir John Mere
dith's son had been given back to him
from the gates of death.
The son, like the father, was in i'm
maculate evening dress. There was
very subtle cynicism In the thought
Of turning aside on such return as
this to dress-to tie n careful white
tie and brush imperceptibly ruffied
hair.
There was little pause, and the
two tnll men stood, half bowling, with
marvellous similarity of attitude, gaz-
ing steadily into each others eyes.
And one cannot help wondering wheth-
er it was mere accident that Jack
Meredith stood motionless on the
threshold until his father said "Come
in"
Thomson" he continued to the but
Ter, with that pride of keeping up be-
fore all the world which was his, "bring
up coffee"
The butler closed the door behind
him. Sir John was holding on to the
back of his high chair in rather n con-
strained way-almost as if he were suf-
ferlng pain. They looked at each other
again, and there was resemblance in
the very manner Of raising the eyelid.
the grim, waiting silence which neither
of them would break.
At last Jack spoke, approaching the
fire and looking into It.
you must excuse my taking you by
surprise at this-unusual hour" He
turned, saw the lamp, the book and the
eyeglasses, more especially the eye
glasses, which seemed to break the
train Of his thoughts. Il only landed
at Liverpool this afternoon he went
on, with hopeless politeness. II did
not trouble you with telegram, know
ing that you object to them"
The old man bowed gravely.
II am always glad to see you" he
said suavely. "Will you not sit down."
And they had begun wrong.
Il suppose you have dined," said Sir
John when theyowere seated. ..or may
offer you something's"
Thanks, dined on the way up, in q
twilit refreshment room, with one
waiter and number of attendant
black beetles"
Things We're going worse and worse.
Sir John smiled, and he was still
smiling when the man brought in cot.
fee.
YES" he said conversatlonally, 80,
speed combined With discomfort l sup
pose we can hold up heads against any
country. Seeing that you are dressed
supposed that you had dinel ii
town."
mo. l drove straight to my rooms
and kept the cab while l dressed"
What an important matter this dress
ing seemed to be! And there were tif
teen months behind Fifteen month.
which had aged one of them and so
bered the other.
Jack was sitting forward in his chail
with his immaculate dress shoes Oh
the fender, his knees apart, his ell
bows resting OH them, his eyes still
fixed on the fire. Sir John looked
keeniy at him beneath his frowning
lashless lids. He saw the few gray
hairs over jacks ears, the suggested
wrinkles, the drawn lines about hi.
mouth.
you have been ill?" lie said.
Josephs letter was locked away IL
the top drawer of his writing table.
Yes, l had rather IL bad time, u Sc
rlous illness. My man nursed me
through 1t, however, with marked sue
cess, and the Gordons. with whom
was staying, We're very kind"
Il had the pleasure Of meeting Miss
Gordon"
Jacks face was steady, suavely i'm
penetrable.
cir JOHll IllONeu IL llttle ana SET Ills
empty cup upon the table.
"A charming girl" lie added.
Yes
you are fortunate in that man O
yours" Sir John said; "a first clas
man."
Yes. He saved my life"
Sir John blinked, and for the frs
time his fingers went TO his mouth a.
if his lips had suddenly got beyond hi
control.
IF may suggest it," he said rather
indistinctly. Il think ii would be wei
If we signiiied our appreciation Of hi.
devotion in some substantial way. w,
might well do something between u.s.
He paused and threw back his shoul
ders.
II should like to give him some sub
stantial token of my gratitude"
Sir John was nothing II not just.
''Thank you," answered Jack quietly
He turned his head little and glanced
not at his father, but In his direction