Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-03-27
The Fighting
~ -. By...
Chance. e eS,sST. y.
Copyright. ss oy the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyri.ht Ias by Robert W. Chambers.

Z ---nhiamxL - s1~-~-
The sTward house was old only in
the comparative Manhattan meaning
Of the word. for In New York nothing
Is really very old except the faces or
the young men.
Decades ago II had been considered
a big house. and IL was still so spoken
ola solid. dingy. red brick structure.
cublcal in proportions. surmounted by
heavy chimneys. the depth OF Its sunk
en- windows limiting OF the thickness OF
wall and foundation. Window eur
ta,ns of obsolete pattern, all alike AMI
all drawn. masked the blank panes
Three massive wistaria vines. the
guaried stems as thick as tree trunks,
crawleti upward to the roof, dividing
the facade equally and furnishing
some relief to Its hatness. otherwise
unbroken except by the deep reveals
81 window and door. Two huge and
unsymmetrical catalpa trees stood sen
tinels before II, dividing curb from
asphalt. and from the centers Of the
shriveled brown grass plots ianking
the stOop under the basement windows
two aged Rose of Sharon trees b. .stled
naked to the height of the white mar
bic capitals of the taking pillars sup
porting the stained pOrticO.
mice old family mausoleum," COM
mented Fleetwood. descending from
the hanson. followed by Plank.
The door was opened by very old
man wearing the black swallowtaii
clothes and choker Of an old time but
Ter, spotless. quite immaculate, but
cut after a fashion no young man re-
members
Good evening. Gumble." said Fleet
wood. entering, followed on tiptoe by
Plank.
Good evening. sir" A pause and in
the unsteady voice Of age: "Mr. Fleet
wood. sir Mr. A bow and the
,l.a eyes peering up at Plank, who
stood fumbling for his cardcase.
Fleetwood dropped both cards on the
salver unsteadily extended. The but
Ter ushered them into dim room on
the right.
How Is Mr.. Siward?" asked Fleet
wood, pausing on the threshold and
dropping his voice.
The old man hesltated, looking
do Il. then still looking away from
Fleetw ood: "Bravely. sir; bravely, Mr..
Fleetwood"
The Siwards were always that,
e"'d the young man gently.
"Yes. sir. Thank you. Mr.. Stephen
Mr.. .iiward." he corrected quantity
ais iDdisposed, sir. 1t was "a great
shock 10 us all, sir" He bowed and
turned away. holding his salver stifiiy
and they heard him muttering under
his breath: "Bravely. sir; bravely. A.
great shock. sir Thank you"
The butler returned presently, say
ing that Mr. Siward was at home and
would receive them IN the library
above, rs he was not yet able to pas!
up and down stairs.
Siward was sitting In an armchair
by the window, one leg extended, hi
left foot, stiffly cased in bandages
AColiuS VII Il loOlSlool,
"Why, Stephen" exclaimed Fleet
wood. Fastening forward, Il didn'
know you were mid up like this.'
Siward offered his hand inquiringly
then his eyes turned toward Plank
who stood behind Fleetwood, and
slowly disengaging his hand from
Fleetwood's sympathetic grip. he Of
fered 1t to Plank.
ut is very kind Of yOu.'' he said
~Gumble. Mr.. Fleetwood prefers ry
for some inscrutabie reasOn MIR
Plank?' His smile was question.
''If you don't mind" said Plank, 81
should like to have some tea-that Is
IT,
'Tea, Gumble, FIR two. Well tippl'
In company. Mr.. Plank" he added
And the cigars are at your elbow
Billy" with anc ther smile ut Fleet
wood.
"Now." said the latter after he ha'
lighted his clgar. what is the mat
ter, Stephen"
Siward glanced at his stiffly extend
ed foot. Nothing much" He red
deped family. \ slipped. It's onl
q twisted ankle" .
For moment or two the answer sal
isfled Fleetwood; then sudden, cur
GUS fash Of suspicion came into hi
eyes. He glanced sharply at Siwart
who lowered his eyes. while the re
tint in his hollow cheeks deepened.
Neither spoke for awhile. Plank sir
ped the tea which Wands, the secon
man, brought Siward brooded owe
his cup. head bent. Fleetwood mad
more noise than necessary with hi
ice.
~Why did you drop the Saddle clul
Stephen? asked Fleetwood.
I'm not riding. have no use fC
IT," replied Siward.
you've cut out the Proscenium clul
too. and the Owls Head and til
Trophy. It's shame, Stephen"
I'm tired Of clubs"
Don't talk that way"
every we'll. won't" said Siwar'
smiling. Tell me what Is happenin
out there" He made gesture towal
the window. IAN the gossip the new
papers MISS I've talked DR.. Grisby
death: I've talked Gumble to dealt
I've read myself stupid. What's golI
on. Biily?"
So Fleetwood sketched for him
gay cartoon Of events, caricaturing v
rious episodes i'm the social kaleid
scope which might interest him. Pc
itics was touched upon, and the
spoke of the possibility, Of Ferrall g
ing to the assembly, the sport Of boz
d. batting havir
EH become fashio
O. AN0 able among am
M WA teurs and provi