The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-19
sDANNABT AND THE RAVEN

-or rather rides-the elegant John Ches- ter, Esq. He came riding down to the Maypole inn. where he was received with great deference by John Willet, called for the best room in the house and dis patched Barnaby, who was lettering about with a letter to MT. Haredale. The assembled cronies concluded that 1t must be a challenge and awaited the re-. suit with intense interest. They all knew the relations between the two men. MT. Haredale was of an old Catholic family, | while MT. Chester was a Protestant, and | the two religions just then in England l stood extremely antagonstic to each l other. The Haredales were not wealthy and Chester relied upon his son taking a rich wife in order to restore his own ! ruined fortunes. In all matters of thought and action the two, though old school fel- lows, were antagonistio-Chester polished, polite, insincere; Haredale frank but gloomy and abhorring the character of men such as Chester
 But no duel took place when Geoffrey Haredale stood before John Chester in
 
 man from London awaited him. Hare dale l am very glad to see you. You are looking extremely well, upon my word you are,'' said Chester. Let us dis pense with idle compliments" replied Haredale. You have asked for this in terview, and I am here' "still the same frank and sturdy character, I see,' an- fIa this parrying MT. Chester stated the ob- ject of his visit. He had come to the knowledge that his son and Miss Hare dale were in love and that Edward and Miss Haredale carried on a secret corre- fspondence and were encouraged in their mutual affection by others" By whom?' exclaimed Harsdale. All the good people hereabouts, I should say and the mes- sengsr I dispatched to you today first of all" '.rhe idiot, Barnaby?" You are surprised: I am glad to see it. So was l. I wrung that from his mother when my son was injured and lay in her house. A decent sort of woman. From her I first learned how serious the matter had be- come. Good soul, she thought she was aiding the lovers in telling me. Won't you really take some wine, Haredale?'
 Haredals stsrnly made negative ges- ture well" resumed Chester, your health then. But really. you seq. the match wont do. I have looked forward to Ned marrying well as a decent provi- sion for me in the autumn of life. Now, Haredale, I shall do all can to break off the affair and I expect you. to do the same.' "I will second your efforts in every possible way consistent with honor." said Haredale. This is the one topic in the whole wide range of human thought upon which we both agree. We will act in concert, but apart I hope it will not be necessary for us to meet again" Hare dale abruptly turned, and left the room. ''F1e. fie.' said Chester to himself, what a coarse fellow; quite a brute" John Chester slept well that night. When a few days later he came to talk on the subject with his son he found the young man less complaisant than Haredale. Ed ward absolutely refused to give up Emma no matter who interfered or what the consequences might be. "Oh dear" said Chester, you are simply incorrigible. have na alternative but to curse you and bid you go your way. Peak. show MT. Chester the door-snd if he calls again I am not at home"
 While Chester had been at the Maypole he had seen Hugh. For some reason. which neither of them could then guess. the two-this shabby, semi-human crea- turs and this cultivated, delicate gentle rnan-were at once interested in each other seizing. an opportunity when no one was by. Chester had given Hugh his riding whip. telling his to bring 1t to his London address when he had anything of |fimportancs to say to him. and by inslnu- ation more than direct command placed the creature on watch for him to see what communications. If any, passed between Miss Haredals. and Edward. %
 So it happened that one morning as paux yardsn was tripping It across the