Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-10
%. BY -.
ROBERT w.
CHAMBERS.
Copyright 1906, by the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright 1905, by Robert w. Chambers

soft gentleman with white downy
chop whiskers and the profile OF De-
nevolent buck rabbit. 49,.
"How do you do, Mr.. BelwetherF
said Siward in q low voice without
offering his hand.
Then Major Belwether saw him.
bless you-yes, indeed! And, though
Siward continued not to offer his hand
Major Belwether meant to have II,
bless your heart, and he fused ana
fused and beamed cordiality until he
secured it in his plump white fingers
and pressed it efusively.
There was something about his SOFT
warm hands which had always re-
minded Siward of the temperature and
texture Of newly Matched bird. II
had been some time since he had
shaken hands with Major Belwether.
1t was apparent that the bird had not
aged any.
Slipping his arm through the pivot
sleeve of Lord Alderdene's shooting
Jacket. hooking the other in Siwards
reluctant elbow and driving Mortimer
ahead of him, Major Belwether went
garruously away up the stairs. MS
lordship's handy little legs trotting be-
side him, the soaking CATERS and shoes
stopping at every step.
Siward turned off down his corri-
dor, unaware that the Sycamore pup
was following close at his heels until
he heard Quarters even, colorless
voice. "Ferrall, would you be good
enough to send Sycamore to your KEN
nelsY'
"Oh, he's your dog! forgot" said
Siward, turning around.
Quarter looked at him, pausing a
moment.
eyes" he said coldly; "he's my dog"
For a fraction Of second the two
mems eyes encountered; then Siward
glanced at the dog and turned on his
heel with the slightest shrug, and that
Is all there was to the incident-an
anxious, perplexed puppy lugged on
by a servant, turning jerking, twist
ing. resisting, looking piteously back as
his unwilling feet slid over the pol
ished floor.
So Siward walked on alone through
the long eastern wing to his room
overlooking the sea. He sat down on
the edge of his bed glancing at the
clothing laid out for him. He felt
tired and disinclined for the exertion
of undressing. The shades were up.
Night ouicksilvered the window panes
so that they were like a dark mirror
rejecting his face. He inspected his
darkened features curiously. The
blurred and somber tinted visage re-
| turned the stare.
"Not q man at all-the shadow OF
man." he said aloud, with no will. no
courage. always putting off the battle,
always avoiding conclusions. always
skulking. What chance Is there for
q man like that"
AS one who raises a glass to drink
wine and unexpectedly finds water, he
shrugged his shoulders disgustedly and
got up A bath followed. He dressed
leisurely and was pacing the room,
fussing with his collar, when Ferrall
knocked and entered. finding seat
on the bed.
stephen" he said bluntly, 81 have
not seen you since that break of yours
at the club"
Rotten, wasn't it?' commented ST.
ward, tying his tie.
Perfectly. OF course 1t doesn't make
any difference to Grace or to me, but
/ fancy you've already heard from It,"
ooh, yes. All l care about Is how
my mother took it."
"Of course she was cut up, | sup
pose"
eyes. You know how she would
look at thing of that sort-not that
any of the nine and seventy Earring
sets would care, but those few thou
sands invading the edges. butting In,
half or quarters inside. are the
people who can't afford to overlook
the victim of fashionable clubs dis
pleasure-those and woman like my
mother and several other decent mind
ed people who happen - to count In
, town"
Ferrall, his legs swinging busily.
thought again, then, "Who was the
girl, Stephen
II don't think the papers mentioned
her NAME" said Siward gravely.
ooh, I beg your pardon. | thought
she was some notorious actress. Every
body said so. Who were those callow
fools who put you up to 1t? Never
mind if you don't care to tell. But 1t
strikes nue. they are candidates for club
discipline as well as you. 1t was up
to them to face the governors, think"
"No, think not"
Ferrall, legs swinging busily, con-
sidered him.
"Too bad" he unused. 'They need
not have dropped you"
ooh, they had to. But as long as
the Lenox takes no action l can live
that down"
Ferrall nodded: 81 came In to say
something's message from Grace
confound it, what was It? Oh, could
you-before dinner -now-just sit
down and with that Internal facility
of yours make a sketch of man chas-
ing a gun shy dogY
"Why, yes, If Mrs. Ferrall wishes"
He walked over to the desk in his
shirt sleeves, sat down, drew a blank
sheet of paper toward him and, dip
ping his pen, drew carelessly a gun
shy setter dog rushing frantically