The Washington herald., 1908-07-19

inferred that Sir Giles was not Quite sure
Of himself: a terrible catastrophe to hap
pen 10 a MOttisfont. and he the head OF
the family
Joy undertakes too much" said Miss
Priscilla.
she is up 10 date" said Miss I.avfula.
7 dislike that word. Don't let ne hear
it in this house," Sir Giles glared help
iessly at his sisters sensible that JOY
would have her own way in the end. and
that he was powerless 20 grapple with a
new world in which the new woman was
tAe most conspicuous figure In the land
scape. be rumbled on:
Joy places the responsibility of-of this
on-me."
"On you. GHesgr
She does. indeed. She upsets ne very
much. more than I allow her to realize
I God knows have tried 10 do my duty. I
I have lived here; I have spent my money
amongst my own people. Joy says I rear
too many pheasants'
What has that 10 do with diphtheria? -
You may well ask. I have always
reared a certain number Of birds We
I were fortunate this year IN escaping the
gapes. and there was a very pretty show.
I Il I say t. And I've always cared more
about quality than quantity. And you
two know that generally walk with the
beaters- It's years since I occupied one
Of the good stands. And I'm as fond of a
| high bird as any man, although I don't
pull EN- down as I used 10. Yes. she
throws that IN my teeth Too many
pheasants- And this scOurge is my fault 90
George Yennable ought to speak TO her
( seriously Sometines-I dislike 70 say Il,
but. between ourselves Il really think
that Joy. without meaning II, Is almost
blasphemous.
The stout butler. with voice soft as
mayonnaise sauce. announced:
Mr.. Vennable."
The parson accepted cup OF tea from
the hands Of Miss Priscilla He had come
to the Park for no reason other than 10
discuss critical situation, but it would
have been a violation OF q code dear 10
the aunts had he plunged indecentIy in
TO It.
You walked, GeOrge?"
Yes"
The roads at this time Of year are very
muddy"
True" The parson slipped his tea.
thinking OF his errand. but from long
habit he returned plautude for platitude.
And the motors cut 'em 10 ribands."
Al the word motors Sir Giles face
darkened- Motors were a symbol OF prog
ress which he abhOrred- He regarded
them with the same cOngested eyes with
which his father had looked at locomo-
tives- And always he would growI out;
Motors, won't have one hate EN-
Don't talk 70 ne about motors
The roads viii be worse before they
are better" interpolaIed Miss Lavinia.
We shall have snow within tventy-four
hours. unless I am greatly mistaken"
The glass IS falling added the elder
sister.
Yes; and there's a case Of diphtheria In
Hernshaw Magma" said the parson-
Good gracious
"Oh. damn it, exclaimed Sir Giles.
George vennable gave particulars In
his clear. slightly cold voice. His pre-
sentiment OF facts was admirable. but he
allowed Joy. as a rule. 10 deal with them
The family does indeed become the unit
OF national life when the daughter prac-
tees what the father breaches When
the pars0n finished, a silence fell on the
MottisfOnts a rambling inartiCulate. I
vague recital would have provoked a tor
rent Of questions. but the grandson Of a I
lord chancellor Is likely 70 think and
speak with a truly exasperating lucidity
and fnality-
At Pundle Green" began Sir Giles /
YES, yes. Giles: YOU are the scapegOat- I
Of course. Meanwhile. this disease is rag
ing IN your cottages Joy tells ne she I
screwed fifty pounds out OF you this [
morning"
I want 70 SPEAK u E0A4H Nrt'AiA e-Af~ IA d
JOY. You allow her TOO free a hand
And too free a tongue" added Miss /
Lavinia, with a significant cough.
Giles, you must make II q hundred. and /
the rest Of Us viii do wh& we can Joy 1
has written 10 MOllie: I saw the letter. 1
She wrote: If you are hard up. sell your
diamond and turquoise aigrette-
The parson chuckled. the Misses Motifs /
font looked down their aQUiline noses
- TD-Fc
austerely.
-'MoIlie viii send a check"
The family viii do It's duty. trust, /
George, but 7 think-we all think-that /
you allow Joy to usurp your prerogatives- /
You ought to have approached Giles. you 4
ought TO have written TO MOllie''
Tut, tut said George Valnable- IN 1
the bosom Of this family. let It be can 4
didly admitted that 7 ought 10 do many
things which. ConstitutionaIly an5 tenn
my dear Priscilla. am IN 4
able 10 do Leave il at that. like a dear. /
good soul, One more cup Of tea, please; |
and, Giles. make it a hundred"
Z haven't got a hundred"
Sell that cabinet"
He indicated. with an inexorable fore
finger, a beautiful specimen OF Sberaton's
best period Sir Giles gasped. The aunts
raised their hands in horror
Really. George. you are too absurd"
It's worth $500, at least said the par
son. lying back and enjoying himself
And know a clever little man in West
chester who'll copy Il exactly for $50.
The difference viii put everything
straight, and leave you enough over TO
1uy sherry instead Of marsha"
That cabinet belonged to my great
This is enough TO make her turn IN
Ter grave said Miss Priscilla Il
Tut. TUT said George Venuabie again /
The good soul Is wiser now than when
he lived in the Forest Of Us"
Joy gets her ideas from you" said Sir
ziles. in a hollow tone. 7 knew tt
new it,
You are mistaken. Giles. I got my
deas from her. And. mark you. they are
4 the air; England is saturated with
hem. Would you rather see your own
,eople die than sell cabinet which be
Onged to your great-grandmOther?" His
one became contemptuous, although a
,leasant smile tempered It Well well, I
m getting too warm Joys young blood
Ias infected me. And it's easier TO preach u
han TO practice, which was about the
My really adequate reason for my be I
oming a parson- You viii. OF course, do
5 you please"
IF 1 must make It a hundred. I shall
make it a hundred" said Sir Giles. with :
majestic simplicity Long ago he had
zen gTieved-and had not scrupled TO say
o TO his sisters-because George Ven
-able's manner was so UnparOchiaL
Capital said George vennable- Tn
lad l came up And you two VIII help"
Ie smiled pleasantly. rubbing his thin
cholar's hands together.