Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01
CHAPTER XII.

middle age.
CHAPTER XII.
| The date of the sale had come and gone.
Nothing had issued from all the excite
ment and all the meetings. The Town
would not interfere; the Hill was not
| ready with any definite plan of action. 1t
was as though after opening the cam
paign with energy, the commander-in-
chief and his generals. when the day of
battle came, had no available force to put
into the field One might doubt If single
man went up from Madford to see what
| happened in the Mart London at pm.
precisely. Medford read in the newspa-
pers of the catastrophe. The property had
been offered in one lot. and knocked down
for, E37 600. Was this real bid, or mere
ly the auctioneers buying in for the own
ers? No one in Medford seemed to know
for certain. but the London newspapers
said it was a sale. Local rumor added
that Sir John-still active-had heard from
Messrs. F'irmin, who confirmed the news
paper reports. The auctioneers hammer
had dealt genuine knockdown blow; but
the purchase was not yet completed. I'm
til the completion of the purchase the
solicitors must withhold the purchasers
name. .
One afternoon of late August Mr. Jack
Vincent and friend discussed the posi-
ton Of affairs, and nothing could better
Illustrate the frivolity, apathy, or cynical
composure of the younger generation than
their words and their manner In the pres
ence of a nearly contaminated disaster.
They were in the big dining room of the
Hill House. Luncheon was done. Short,
the butler. with Henry and Thomas, the
two footmen. in their brown liveries and
canary collars, was clearing the table.
Peace, repletiOn, drowsiness were in the
warm cir. Short, putting things away in
the great sideboard, and the footmen,
stacking glasses and plates on a wooden
tray. moved languidly as dreamers who
would never awake. and paused to look
through the open windows srcoss the sun
lit lawn at two gardeners, who were
| amusing themselves rather than working
with the pony and the moving machine.
1t was the best, the most quietly noble
room In the house-everything about it
old fashioned, old-established. solidly per-
n1anent, from the double mahogany doors
to the white busts on black pedestals. the
deep and immensely heavy leather arm
chairs. or the huge coal-box by the fire.
less hearth; and this afternoon the room
was as temple Of we'll guarded repose
Mr.. Jack Vincent reclined in one of the
armchairs. with foot on the marble
lamb Of the fireplace Every now and then
slowly and carefully blew rings and
watched them float upward. He was. in
| riding breeches and combinations, and
dress pumps. At some time since his
| morning ride he had evidently attempted
to change his clothes. but, after taking
| Off his CATERS and boots, had renowned
further effort
Young Mr.. Charles Padfeld, dressed in
dark fannels, sat cross-legged on the
chair he had used at luncheon and also
Well" said Mr.. Charles lazily, II must
be off," Then, without stirring, after a
pause. he repeated the statement. Eyes,
1 must be off,
not take the least notice Of his friends
| words.
Sir" said Short the butler to his
young master, shall We disturb your
"Eh? What?'
I'VE want to arrange the room for the
meeting. sir" and Short waited for an
| answer. IF we begin moving the furni-
ture shall we interefer with your
IF you do, you'll hear about it,
Short seemed troubled by this reply.
"oh. go onr and Mr.. Vincent laughed.
Don't mind me-
Nor me-" said Mr.. Padaeld. 1T mus,
be off, anyhow"
and his assistants pushed the big table
| farther toward the window, began to
| carry chairs and place them in rows be-
hind the table.
ulubl U0 Oil, Sdlu SIdTllG fdQUclQ,
| but I wouldn't mind another glass of
port. We left the decanter half full
and he looked at the sideboard. "Disap-
peared!'
Yes" said Jack, Short finished that
Mr.. Short stopped working Immediately.
LAS 1t happens, Mr.. John, that balls of
the wicket, sir: The port is in the pan
| try-undrunk. But 1t won't be drunk Dy
you, Mr.. Padfield. Her ladyship has be-
spoken it for one Of her invalids. If you
wish to know her name"
II DON'T
Mrs. Newboult"
Henry. the younger Of the footmen.
| here interposed vivaciously.
II wish had Mrs. Newboult's COM
plant. On behalf of sciehce 1 offer my
self for the port wine cure"
What you gassing about?" said Mr..
Padfield. mo one spoke to you.''
| beg pardon sir
Short" said Jack dreamily, whats
the move now?"
"Only these chairs, sir, and we'll leave
| you in peace
II don't mean that 1 mean the meet
ing Who's coming this afternoon
IAN the influential people Of the town,
SIR
"oh. we've had them before and Jack
spoke more dreamly. Hill Rise is sold
Why don't they shut up-own they're
beat, and make the best of 1t? =
We are an effete, played-out aristocracy
doomed to extinction
| Exactly said Charlie Padfeld, what
tell my mother: Make the best Of 1t
She won't own herself beat. Tries to
believe the sale was a trick to frighter
her-that it isn't sold really
That" said Short gloemily, was Sil
Johns hope-all our hope, sir. But that
hope was dashed to the ground the day
before yesterday. Sir John had 1t, direct
| from the solicitors.
who was it?' asked Jack. 1.-The mar
in the red tie? The governor swears Il
was some fellow In a red tie
1.-THE solicitors won't give the name til
4 It's all signed and delivered-but they'll
send on any offers. That's what Sir Johr
has called the meeting for"
"Short. will it matter? What's your owr
opinion?'
>Why, what do you think, sir?'
II don't think about it,
Devastation. sir. call 1t. My opinion
Is Sir Johns. Strain every nerve to save
something from the wreck?"
what wreck?"
j NV oil wit he