The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-23


 ieal mill owner. An internal manufac turer' cried Coningsby.
 The son of the 'infernal manufacturer was no more anxious to join the aristo- crats than Coningsby was to have him. His father had inspired him with his own hot wrath against the insolent class that denied others any rights in society or gov ernment. Try as he would. however, he could not withstand the face the fire and the charm (for Henry could not be rude to any one) of Coningsby. Before long he fell completely under his spell. until a t last his admiration had grown into a passionate friendship. Soon there was added to this purely ideal affection the gratitude that is due to one who has done the greatest conceiv able service. Mllbank was saved from drowning by Coningsby at so great risk that both were resuscitated only with dit feulty. Coningsby in turn naturally be- came interested in the youth whom he had rescued, and in the end he came to return in full measure the love that the young democrat had for him.
 From Milbank Coningsby learned more and more of the rising, already infuen- tia1 classes in England, who were not noble and yet were determined to ac- quire power. He looked with a new eye on the tangle of party politics-the cries of toryism, whiggery and conservatism, and realized that hardly anybody knew what those names really meant, if, in deed, they meant anything.
 From that time dated Coningsby's splr- itual birth He shook himself clear of all preconceived notions and began to study with an untrammeled mind: young eagle searching the ether for the course of his free flight.
 Thus he came to be IS and the day ar rived for him to quit his beautiful Eton pd mt O 0rao fo, xuit ambition e more tangible and less noble, with shining achievement to dazzle the eyes so that they are in danger of becoming blind to the purer dreams of life's springtime. He was invited to Coningsby castle to see the brilliant world that gathered around his grandfather wherever he was. The reform bill, which had passed de- spite the dire warnings of Rigbys, Papers and Tadpoles that it meant the destruc- tion of the country, had robbed Lord Monmouth of his 10 boroughs, and with them, of the almost ripened plum Of the dukedom on which he had set his heart But while his companions in misfortune were bewailing their overthrow, this ao- versity gave a stimulating interest and the st.of struggle to his daring. mind that was satiated with success and sur feited with prosperity.
 He resolved to appropriate to himself 1 the new borough of Darlford in his Vlcln- l ity and to send Rigby to Parliament from it. Therefore he opened the castle, filled it with Londons most brilliant folk, se- | cured a troop of French comedians ana | invited all his neighbors. great and small. 1 He had the worst county reputation con | ceivable. He spent hardly any time m 1 England Every little squire vowed that | he would not demean himself by appear 1 ing at the castle. He smiled sardonically, i for he knew well that his splendor would l draw them to it's flame, as it did. | Once having been drawn, they were fas- 1 c;nated. for Lord Monmouth had the most perfect manner in the world. He was l good natured. even good humored, for one l so selfish. Though he never loved any l one. he rarely took the trouble to nate l any one. except his own children. There was never cloud of caprice or 1il-temper l to prevent his fine manners from haVins l full play. ,... a well earned reputation for vice. and l having treated people with unprecedented l neglect and contumely, he could Win pack l their golden opinions in moment by the 1 magic of title, manners and wealth l Harry -Coningsby gazed with emotion 1 on the castle that bore hls name. rio could see 1t miles away, so proud was l ,ta nosition on its forested height. with l tha sun throwing rich color on the great | niIa He was met by a crowd Of re- | tainers and ushered through grand DOT | tals into a scene that was like great | theatre. so cro Woed WAS u "'n S' color and bustle.
 | Iora Monmouth placed his arm around l e.oninpsby with a dignity of affection | that would have become Louis AlV'' and l kissed him on each cheek. Then he led
 inc agitated young fellow to a circle or great ladies and gentlemen among wnon, on, l were a Princess and Imperial Grand Duke. l The Princess received him with especial
 favor. for she was the very same Prin-
 cess Colonna whom he had seen at Mon
 mouth House on his first visit. lndeeo,
 Princess Colonna was so constant guest | os Iord Monmouth that some extremely
 straighf-laced magniAcoes declared that | if was impossible to visit Coningsby. al l though the lady was never without the
 nrotection of her husband. the Prince, | and the company of her stepoaushter' | Princess Lucretia-
 vounr mans reception by his grand | father and instantly thought Of his as
 possible match for Lucretia, whose SO
 oletv she would have lost gladly, for she
 ne,ther loved her fanatcally nor did
 asa aare to share the Princes microscopic
 ,ncome with her a moment longer than
 she could help.
 Tncretia received her stepmother's sug-
 gestions with scorn. She had higher am l hitions than to pin ner IutuIe to sil~Ae
 of a poor young relative, dependent on the
 whims of a man like Lord Monmouth | Resides she had fallen under the spell of ona of the most brilliant most courted
 and most puzzling men Of his time
 ciaonia a descendant of an ancient and
 noble Jewish family of spain and
 man so wealthy that almost all the gov
 ernments of Europe were deepiy ih ms
 debt and found it vital to confer With
 him before they ventured on wars or
 great projects of peace.
 He had the depth of intellectual de- | velopment that is characteristic of the
 nure Arabian stock. He had lived in | every part of the world and had studied man in every phase-in the city ana In
 the wilderness. in squalor and Tn splen- ] dor in peace and in war. He had agents | everywhere. The secret history Of the
 world was his pastime. The hidden mo-
 lives and wiles of rulers were as an | open book to him.
 | He was intensely proud of his descent
 and of the mighty race whose blood ran
 nure in his veins. The Sdonias counted | among their number an Archbishop of
 Toledo, and once Sidonia had even ex-
 ercised the office of Grand Inqulsitor; yet 1 during all this period these Mosaic Ara bs
 never fell away from the faith of their
 fathers. but secretly adhered to all the | ancient rites and ceremonies.
 Sidonia was attracted by Lucretias in
 tellect It was the one human quality
 that interested him. The emotion of love
 was unknown to him. This. the most | lad to h