The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-25
By ". B. MAXWELL, Authsr s1 sThe Guarded Tla1sss The Nagged MessengsRs
 ~vtvanS Etc.

As the good swift train carried her westward to the land of yellow gorse, black rocks, purple heather, she knew that her old self was gone never to return. She had taken to her bed as a foolish, overgrown child; she had risen from 1t 8 responsible woman. No more nonsense now; she would eat plenty of Cornish cream. drink in the strong. clean wind. harden her limbs with arduous climbing and tramping: get thoroughly strong and well. and bring home to father wise, staunch, unfiinching daughter. This must be her task: to live down and expiate the follies of youth by a blameiess and steady middle-age. .
 CHAPTER XII.
 The date of the sale had come and gone.s
 Nothing had issued from ali the ex- citeinent and all the meetings. The Town would not interfere; the Hill was not ready with any definite plan of action. It was as though after opening the campaign 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 Medford to see what hap pShSu titG 0idft l<uHQOn dt . Ht. precisely. Medford read in the news papers of the catastrephe. The prop erty had been offered in one lot and knocked down for f37,o00. Was this real bid, or merely the auctioneers buying in for the owners? No one in Medford seemed to know for certain. but the London newspapers said it was sale. Local rumor added that Sir John-still active--had heard from newspaper reports. The auctioneer's down blow, but the purchase was not yet completed. Until the completion of the purchase the solicitors must withhold the purchasers name.
 One afternoon of late August Mir. Jack Vincent and friend discussed the position 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 presence of a nearly consummated 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 liyeries and canary collars. was clearing the table. Peace, repletion, drowsfness were in the warm air. Short putting things away in the great side board. and the footmen. stacking glass; es and plates on a wooden tray, moved languidly as dreamers who would new CT awake. and paused to look through the open windows across the sunlit lawn at two gardeners. who were amusing themselves rather than work. ing with the pony and the moving machine.
 It was the best, the most quietly noble room in the house--everything about it old-fashioned. old establish ed, solidly permanent. from the double mahogany doors to the white busts on black pedestals. the deep and im- mehseiy heavy leather armchairs. or the huge coal-box by the fireless hearthi and this afternoon the room was as temple of well-guarded re- pose.
 Mir. Jack Vincent reclined in one of the arm chairs. with foot on the marble jamb of the fireplace. Every now and then he took the cigarette from his mouth and slowly and care fully blew rings and watched them float upward. He was in riding brooches and combinations. and dress pumps. At some time since his morn ing ride he had evidently attempted to change his clothes. but, after taking off his gaiters and boots. had renounc- ed further effort.
 Young MT. Charles PadfeId. dressed in dark fiannels, sat cross-legged on the chair he had used at luncheon. and also smoked cigarette. but blew no rings.
 Well" said Mir. Charles lazily. q must be off.' Then. without stirring, after pause. he repeated the state- ment. "Yes, I must be off,"
 MT. Vincent, looking at the cell ing, did not take the least notice of his friends words.
 sir" said Short the butler. to his young master. shall we disturb your"
 "Eh? What?"
 We want to arrange the room for the meeting. sir" and Short waited for an answer. ''If we begin moving the furniture shall we interfere with your"
 "If you do. you,l hear about it."
 Short seemed troubled by this reply. But. sir"
 ooh. go onw and Mir. Vincent laugh ed. Don't mind me-"
 Nor me-" said Mir. Padfeld. 'T must be of. anyhow"
 Contented with this permission, Short and hbs assistants pushed the big ta- ble farther towards the window. began to carry chairs and place them in rows behind the table.
 'I must be off," said Charlie Padfield. ''but I wouldn't mind another glass of port. we IClL tU6 ubGAHt6T HdlI IulI, and he looked at the sideboard. Dis appeared!"
 aYes." said Jack. -short finished that in his pantry"
 Mir. Short stopped working immedi- ately.
 "As 1t happens Mir. John. thSt balls off the wicket. sir. The port is in the pantry-undrunk. But it won't be drunk by you. Mir. Padfeld. Her Iadyship has bespoken 1t for one of her invalids. If you wish to know her name"
 q don't"
 Mrs. Newboult."
 Henry. the younger of the footmen, here interposed vivaciously.
 .'I wish had Mrs. Newboult's com alaint. On behalf of science I offer myself for the port wine cure"
 What you gassing about?" said Mir. Padfeld. "No 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"
 q don't mean that. mean the meeting. Who's coming this after noon?"
 "AIl the influential people of the town, sir.