Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-10

ground behind the odd numbers on the
easiest, practically nominal terms. The
noble landlady, indeed. without being ap-
preached on the subject. transmitted
through her deputies handsome donation
| toward the cost Of leveling the fields from
which she was renouncing future profit.
| When things seemed to demand discus
sion-when tenants had fancy for struc-
tural changes or additions-there would
come down. for suave debate. Mr.. Abin-
ger. He was a sort of splendid surveyor
| or steward-not really gentleman out
just like a gentleman-known to all ten
ants as Mr.. A. welcomed by all and
entertained Hospitality by all. Indeed. as
he drove up in his fly from the station
and turned into Hill Rise. one might say
there were twenty hot luncheons waiting
for him.
Come in, Mr. Abinger." the tenants
would say They were all the same in
their welcome to Mr. A. Warm empered
Admiral I1rdner, naughty Col Beau
mont. old Mrs. Padfield. who was very
difficult lady: Mrs. Granville. Mrs. Page,
ETC. they all made much of Mr.. A, meet
ing him in the hall, ordering servants to
| take his overcoat and rug and umbrella
ushering him forthwith to the dining
room.
sit We down. Mr. Abinger. Not a
word of business till you've had snack
of lunch. You must be famished after
your journey. No hurry about my little
affair. l know 1 am in good hands.
| leave the decision to you absolutely III
| tell you what 1 wish, and 1 won't press
it. But l believe you'll decide that what
l am asking is not unreasonable"
| On several occasions this magnificent
steward lunched with Sir John at Hill
| House. and twice or thrice even had the
/ honor of sitting at meat with Lady Vim
cent. Although, of course, Sir John was
not tenant, it seemed fit that he should
entertain Mr. a. He was the owner of
the adjoining freehold-the next big land
owner (omitting the CROWN. the man OF
rank highest and nearest to the exalted
| rank of the countess.
| And doubtless Sir John talked pleasant
! ly enough to the guast-keeping his proper
distance, yet throwing over light bridges
Of conversation to enable Mr. "A. TO ad-
vance and retire. Mr.. A. never forgot,
| never presumed
How is her ladyship. Mr.. Abinger?"
"Wonderful-no other word for it. l
| was down at Burroughclere last week -
! and Sir John would nod his head as
though he were familiar with Burrough-
| clere, Lady Haddingham's majestic coun-
| try seat-"Bitter bleak m Jrning - but
there my lady in her pony carriage to
meet me at every turn Mr. Abinger,
| she sad, I like to see for myself. l
don't like giving things up
All well, Mr.. Abinger'-this would be
after fitting compliments to be conveyed
| to the aged countess when opportunity
ing doors-they hang on
And then, perhaps, Sir John told Mr.. A.
about that most notorious creaking door,
his old cousin at Bournemouth. Every
body knew about her. When she q. ed her
money would come to Sir John. 1t was
all settled; she couldn't leave 1t away
from him, but she could keep him walt
ing for it-and she did so. She was de-
plorably aff1icted-a dreadful paralysis.
First she lost the use of her feet, then OF
her hands, etc.
Heaven knows" said Sir John. Il
would not hasten any ones end-or wish
any one out of the way for the paltry
money. But-poor old dear!-I ask you
what pleasure can she have in life?'
Lady Vincent. the kindest of women,>
would agree-would be constrained to own
that neither lie nor paltry cash could be
of much value to poor dear cousin Har-
riet, though she still chung to both.
Young ladies at the tennis, opening
large eyes as they talked Of Sir Johns
cousin. said the money was anything but
paltry.
Il do call it rough luck on Sir John"
But he doesn't want it. He Is rich
enough already. He must be very rich
Yes. but it Is nice to become richer
however rich you are"
What could he do with it?'
Anyhow. young Mr. Vincent could
spend it, He could marry and have a fine
establishment of his own. He is old
enough to do that
L don't believe said a young lady
with w.stful eyes, that Mr.. Jack will
ever marry"
Il don't believe he is fond of girls
"Oh, isn't he? What about the bar
maids at the White Hart-and the
actresses that come with every musical
comedy?'
one could not blame these young ladies
of the Hill for the wistfulness in their
eyes or the tone of deep respect in their
voices when they came thus to speak OF
money, because throughout Hill Rise
there was not much ready cash, and
nearly all that there was fell into the
hands of the sons and little enough was
left for the daughters.
The heads OF families were gentry
neither more or less They based on this
proud title all their pompful pretensions,
and never asked the world to believe that
they were secret millonaires Mr.. Gar
rett. although a solicitor, was man of
good family; Dr. Blake, who practfced
medicine was extremely well connected;
these We're the only two residents tainted
with damaging derogatory professions,
and on the plea of good birth they were
pardoned. For the rest, there were Ad-
miral Lardner, Col. Beaumont Maj Mel
dew, Capt. Shoto. and so on; Mrs. Gran
Vile and Mrs. Padfield and other widows;
the three Miss Vigors, who made joint
household of No 10. and who were so
religious that if you wished to see them
your better chance would be 10 seek tnem
rather in the church of st. Barnabas
than in their own home, etc, etc.-all gen.
tlefolk from No. l to No. 20
There were many sons and daughters;
every house possessed its second genera
ton-except of course, the house of the
Misses Vigor-to carry on the good Hill
traditions The Hill Rise girls had a
splendid style Of their own, a manner and
tone which might be initiated by the rest
of the community, but which could not be
reproduced. They ran in upon one an
other from house to house; they called
each other by their Christian name; they
were really one large family, though not
under one roof
They were neglected, almost ignored by
their brothers; but they had their own
little sports-the golf, the tennis, rides
with Mr.. Banker the riding master, and
one may suppose, their own little love af-
fairs, which culminat ed-one out of each
five hundred-in orange wreath and organ
mu sic-a real Hill Rise wedding. with I'd
cloth, beadle and policeman at st. Barna-
bas', with all the town girls hurrying up
the hill to see the rare and brave sight
of the Hill Rise young men in topperS and
| black coats, with Sir John and Lady Vim
| cent driving down from Hill House in
| the victoria and pair. cockaded coachman
! and footman in white gloves the box
| seat
| They Were happy. high-spirited girls in
/ spite of brotherly inaltention, and they
! could reflect that they had all other girls
| in the universe beneath Hill Rise to look
down upon Beyond this comforting re-