The Washington herald., 1908-05-15
CHAPTER Iv-COntinued.

4
would like to go faster than the nurses
with the perambulators. So take her to
some place where you can let her out
Richmond Park. sir?" suggested Nor
ton
"All right: that viii do. I can lunch at
the Star and Garter"
To Lord Ancestor, who had outlived the
years when the physical Impulse domi-
mates. or to the average man. whose
mind Is diverted from it by the flight for
existence, VandFaken's point of view was
inconceivsble. It was a psychological
irony that the element in this material
youth which made him cling most tena-
ciously TO the idea of the triumph OF the
flesh over its limitations was the germ
OF Immortality. and the spiritual essence
which no so absolutely denied
The revolt of man against the weights
and measures Of physical existence and
the relentless fact OF death. has impelled
him toward recognition of some element
n himself which can defy them. But
every victory man has won in the war
with time and space has dimmed the
goal Of his ancient desire Every inven-
tlon which has pandered to the comfort
OF the body has blurred the image OF
that paradise which a more comfortable
generation had set up. It is no longer
the priest. who eases the ways OF death.
On whom civilization layishes gifts. but
The man who eases and enlsrges the ways
O. lifei the inventor, whether represented
by himself, or the corporation which has
bought OF stolen the invention. But the
priest still gets dole. ana will continue
10, so long as the fear OF death impels
mankind 10 hedge its position. And as
the speculator who hedges can no longer
see the trend OF the market. so civilized
society can only realize its true position
In the person Of such extreme manifesto
uonS as Nandraken, ana then only If ii
car follow the workings OF such q mind,
Society would have held up its hands in
horror had they been told that VAN
draken's attempt 10 extend the bound
aries Of the physical was only the ten
dency Of civilization carried swiftly to
its logical conclusion. The church was
not striking blindly when. Of old, IL
struck at Science. 1t was the instinct OF
self-preservation scenting its stalking
enemy Pointing 10 a product like Van
draken. Il would be justified in saying:
I told you so"'
In trying TO realize the tenaclty with
which Fandraken clung TO his abnormal
project, We must accept the explanation,
then, that 1t was the religious impulse
gene blind, but none the weaker for that,
he was an extreme. who had reached
such point In evolution that he was
bound 10 eXaggeratedly represent the
society so strongly which had bred him,
or TO react from that society so strongly
as to lead a tremendous spiritual move
ment, Like tower built too high he was
bound TO tOpple In one direction or the
other Without being conscious OF il he
had adopted materialism as his religion.
He was quite surprised. himself. at the
difficulty which he found in aCceding to
his friends request, particularly as An
Cester had q strong influence over him.
As the motor worked its way slowly
through the streets he debated the mat
ter with himself, calmly and sanely, and
decided not 10 abandon his project, but
later, when. they had got clear into the
country. and were travelling at a high
rate OF speed an erratic decision came
TO him-he would leave Il TO chance. An
cester had said that il would be a good
polo match-the sides were exactly even.
As Lord Ancestor was leaving the dress
ing-room at Ranelagh a note was handed
20 him.
Dear Ancestor: I'm going to leave
the decision 10 fate If your side wins.
OF draws. I'll do as you like about Won
Tarsenheim. II birmingham wins. I'll do
as I like. s. V"
Lord Ancestor set his teeth. "Confound
the young brute" he thought. Left it
to fate has he? Nice sort Of thing TO
leave il TO. Wonder whether fate Is for
the side which has the best ponies-or--
Well. anyway. I'll play polo this day,
Vandraker, a keen player himself. had
never beeh so fascinated by game OF
u F1fs ho -I aFo lraF
enormously on the result, but hardly
knew which side he wished to win.
It was a brilliant scene, this modern
tourney. Perfection everywhere--in the
fawless lawns, fecked with color from
chIfons and parasols; in the beauty Of
the women. intensified by :he excitement
produced by the concentrated physical
excellence Of men and horses in motion.
10 the music of half a dozen massed
bands from crack regiments.
Neither Hurlingham nor Ranelagh
scored for the first twenty minutes, which
was very fast. During the interval
Vandraken was strolling through the
slowly moving crowd Of pretty women
and smartly-dressed men. wishing he
could come across some one he knew,
when he felt hand on his shoulder
why it's Abinger." he said, turning
around. and recognizing a man who had
been in his house at Harrow.
Thought you were in Yankeeland.
Vaudraken." observed The other man.
shaking hands. He was one of those
sman-featured. small-eyed. well-groomed
Individual youths which English public
schools and universities turn out as by
products. in patches OF a thousand: like
enormous clutches OF weli-bTed chickens.
Youths who, by dint Of doing the same
thIngs az the same time thinking the
same thoughts, wearing the same sort OF
clothes. falling in love with the same sort
OF chorus girl. get along splendldIy as
long as they are nos called upon 90 take
initiative.
Il only came from America few days
ago" answered Vardraken, 'but the
newspapers have advertised it pretty
widely--to give the begging-letter writer's
q chance, 1 suppose"
Nothing about it in the Sporting
Times. replied Abinger. and that Is the
only paper ] ever read. Who did YOU
come down hero with?"
Ancestor asked me TO come and see
him play. We have a sort Of bet on the
result"
IT say isn't he playing up, though? !
wouldn't care 20 be one Of his ponies to-
day. If he's going to ride them all like
that"
They watched the game in silence for a
time fascinated by the pace Of the dane
ing ponies-Vandraken at least; Ablnger
was less keen. Doing anything to-
n.ght?" inquired that youth, after awhile
Nothing particular" answered Van
draken. as the second quarter ended. II
was thinking Of asking you to come and
do a music hail. or something Fact IS
/ don't know the ropes yet. Ancestor is
bored with all that kind OF thing; had
enough Of il. he says
Look bere,' cenhded Abinger. IF you
don't mind spending some sop. / can
put you onto something really worth