The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-08
CHAPTER Ir.-continued.

up. They Were young men always
with the boyish immature thoughts
unchanged, the youthful foolish crav-
tngs never satlated. The very young
men. played games-golf cricket, lawn
tennis. even croquet. The older younS
men watched the games. They had
not become weary of games. Only lazi-
ness made them onlookers rather than
performers. But for the flag OF the
thing. they would have been willing
to spin tops or blow soap-bubbles
When 1t came to lonfing they were
al, one--old and young-boys together.
Thus, indolent, gocd-natured Mr.. VIM
cent. of Fill House--the prince OF the
loaters-was getting on for thirty. Mr..
Page and Mr.. Granville Were under
twenty. Mr.. Lardner-of the puffy,
white face-who had thrice suffered
eclipse in home for young gentlemen
who take too much whiskcy and soda,
was forty. Yet his diurnal bliss was
undated as with slow footsteps he
sauntered towards the railway station
to procure an illustrated sporting pa
per, paused as OF yore at the familtar
corner in High street 10 wave his hat
to the upper window where Selkirk's
work girls stood grinning. or sat him
self down in the railway refreshmcnt
room and gulped his favorite bever-
age. Mr.. Ridgworth was nearer Atty
than forty; he was red and TAT Ind
bald; he knew the meaning of govt
and rheumatism: and yet. at sight of
two we'll powdered. drab accomplishment.
draggle-tailed chorus girls OF n COM
pany newly arrived. he would start
from the tobacconist's counter against
which he had been lolling and sally
forth in pursuit WITH all the keenness
of callow youth for the stale old
cheese.
Mark 'em down" he would report.
when In half an hour he returned to
the tobacco shop to resume his chat
with the tobacconist and another lol-
ling customer. Mark 'em down to
their diggin's-No. 3 Bridge Terrace. l
don't say they're all right. That l
can't say. But" added Mr.. Ridgworth.
who was old enough to know so very
up. Let's YOU and ] go to the theatre
this evening-eh, dear boy?"
They used the tohncconist's shop
almost as club. and preferred 1t to
the real club on the other side of the
street. This was, in fact, dinsy, un-
inviting mansion. The plate glass
windows were suggestive of the tanks
In an aquarium; the brown metal gauze
across the lower part of each window
looked like the water in the tank; and
and the club members were just like
stupid old fish coming against the
glass while you watched. No, the
Young bloods did not bother themselves
to belong to this stupid tankish es-
Enlistment Rudd. the tobacconist.
land the White Hart Hotel We're the
clubs for them.
Between Rudd's and the hotel they
had the very best part of High Street
to stroll through. Here they We're in
decd cocks of the walk; the Medford
ltconstabulary saluted them; male shop
assistants staring cut of shops admired
and studied the tilt of their straw
hats, the cut of their flannel trousers,
| the colour of their ties and washing
waistcoats; while the shop proprietors
| on doorsteps respectfully, sycophanti-
cally greeted them: Good morning.
sir,," Fine morning. SIR II hope l
see you we'll, Mr.. Granville" ETC.
1 In the reverentlal greeting of High
Street and its curtly condescending &C
acknowledgement one could measure all
the social gulf between the Hill and
the town.
| But at the White Hart these sons
of the Hill We're content-from ancient
usage and customs-to narrow the d.
viding distance and in billiard-room
and bar parlor would meet the more
| important townsmen and hold commune
with them In patronizingly friendly
manner.a
The White Hart was the best, the
only real, hotel in Medford. 1t was
an old. Spacious house, very slightly
IA ~. %1,o nil
Jared por4h there were white posts and
chains to protect the. shrubs that stood
| In green til BIS; there We're nower boxes
1 to all the windows on the ground floor.
and the pavement was formed Of queer
little stones instead of the usual flags,
in order to show that from time im-
memorial 1t had belonged, and did now
| belong, to the White Hart and not to
the public. At one end of the house
there was modern bar with a separ-
ate entrance to the street, and q grand
terra Gotta front: but above this new
ornamental work the musty old bed
rooms were unchanged.
The fine old paneled hall, the broad
i staircase and passages Were dark anu
4 gloomy even at high noon, but behind
/ the hall there was q hetter-lit, glass
] screened bar parlor, or landlords Of
|lHce--n most pleasant loungins place,
.ltf one had the freedom OF ~, Wltn,
moreover, some delightful small inner
rooms. from which the two Misses
Drake, Ethel and Mildred, daughters
OF mine host Bob Drake, would emerge
i to supplement and aid Miss Granger,
4 the manageress. Here, IN the bar par-
lor were Issued orders to the stables
yard; here We're set on slate and trans
|ferred to ledger bookings Of flies; here
4 bills for bed and board, dinners and
8Iluncheons Were hastily made out.-ftc.,
sIetc. When the young men came In here
8Ithey felt 1t was like going behind tho
lsccnes OF the hotel, They knaw they
i must be in the way, and that made Y
n 1.-THE more pleasant. 6 s