Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-04-26

lry, II you please"
"Thought Mr.. Meredith might be ex-
pected. sir" murmured the butler
humbly.
Sir John was reading the evening
paper, or appearing to read 1t, although
he had not his glasses.
"Oblige me by refraining from
thought" he said urbanely.
So the coffee was brought, and Sir
John consumed it in silent majesty.
While he was pouring out his second
cup-o of a diminutive size - the bell
rang. He set down the silver coffee
DOT with plebeian clatter, as If his
nerves were not quite so good as they
ased to be.
It was not Jack, but note from
him.
| Nv Dear Observation-Disclosures have
| necessitated the breaking off of my en-
| gagement at the last moment. Tomor-
! rows ceremony will not take place AS
the above named circumstances were
| partly under your control need hardiy
| offer an explanation. I leave town and
| probably England tonight. l an, your
affectionate son, JOHN MEREDITH.
There were no signs Of haste OF dis
composure. The letter was neatly
written in the somewhat large calig-
raphy, firm, bold, ornate, which Sir
| John had insisted on Jacks learning.
The stationery bore club crest. 1t
was an eminently gentlemanly COM
munication. Sir John read it and
gravely tore it up, throwing it into
the fire, where he watched it burn.
Nothing was further from his mind
| than sentiment. He was not much
| given to sentiment, this hard hearted
| old sire Of an ancient stock. He never
thought of the apocryphal day when
he, being laid in his grave, should at
| last win the gratitude Of his son.
"When am dead and gone you may
be sorry for it," were not the words
that any man should hear from his
lips.
More than once during their lives
Lady Cantourne had said:
"You never change you mind, John,
referring to one thing or another. And
he had invariably answered:
"No, am not the sort of man to
| change"
He had always known his own mind.
| When he had been in q position TO
rule he had done so with a rod OF
| iron. His purpose had ever been IL
| flexible. Jack had been the only per-
son who had ever openly opposed his
desire In this, as in other matters,
bis indomitable will had carried the
day, and in the moment of triumph it
| is only the weak who repine. Success
should have no Disappointment for
the man who has striyen for it If his
will be strong.
Sir John rather liked the letter. 1t
could only have been written by
son of his-admitting nothing, not even
| defeat. But he was disappointed. He
had hoped that Jack would come-that
! some sort of reconciliation would be
PATCHED I'D. And somehow the disap-
pointment affected him physically. IT
| attacked him in the back and IN
tensified the pain there. 1t made him
feel weak and unlike himself. he
rang the bell.
go round" he said to the butler
"to DR.. Damer and ask him to call III
during the evening if he has time"
The butler busted himself with the
coffee tray, hesitating, DESTROYS OF
gaining time.
Anything wrong, sir? l hope you
are not feeling ill.," he said nervously.
'Ill sir" cried Sir John. Hang it.,
| no: do l look ill? Just obey my orders,
if you please"
|
NV Dear Jack-At the risk of being
| considered an interfering old woman, l
write to ask you whether you are not
soon coming to England again. AS you
arc aware, your father and 1 knew each
| other as children. We have known each
| other ever since-we are now almost the
| onlv survivors of our generation. My
| reason for troubling you with this com
| munication is that during the last SIX
| months I have noticed q very palnfui
change in your father. He is getting
| very old. He has no one but Servants
about him. You know his manner; It Is
| difficult for any one to approach him'
| even for me-. If you could come nome
by accident-I think that you VIII never
regret 1t in after life. I need not sug-
sest- discretion as to this letter. Your al
fectionate friend,
CAROLINE CANTOURNE.
Jack Meredith read this letter in the
coffee room Of the hotel Of the -Four
Seasons in Wiesbaden. 1t was lovely
morning; the sun shone down through
the trees of the Friedrichstrasse upon
that spotless pavement, Of which the
stricken wot. The fresh breeze came
bowling down from the Taurus noun
tains all balsamic and invigorating. II
picked up the odOrs of the syringa ano
towering currant in the Kurgarten and
threw itself in at the open WINDOW OF
the coffee room Of the hotel Of the -Four
Seasons.
Jack Meredith was restless. Sucf
odors as are borne on the morning
breeze are apt to make those men rest
less who have not all that they want
And is not their name legion! Th'
morning breeze is to the strong tht
moonlight of the sentimental Thai
which makes one vaguely yearn incites
the other to get up and take.
By the train leaving Wiesbaden fol
Cologne, "over Mainz," as the guid'
book hath it, Jack Meredith left fol
England, in which country he had no
set foot for fifteen months. Guy Oscarl
was in Cashmere. The simiaclne was