El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-09
By Roda Roda.
(" HE eight hours journey was over
at last. Heavens! How horrible

" HE eight hours journey was over
at last Heavens How horrible
= it had beeni The sitting heat
the dust and smoke. Zelstadt lay there
as peaceful as it had lain 20 years ago
prosperous and rich, owing to he wis
dom of it's counsellor
Just in time, Matthias, mis- old coach
man drew the horses up.
Pardon, sir, but the train is pune
tual today"
Matthias had evidently not allowed
for such an accident.
Well, how is everything getting on"
George was about to ask, but stopped
suddenly. What was the good of such
a question when he knew? He just
nodded to Matthias. TT does not mat
er. The train is only just in"
Matthias left the box and got up behind
in the servants place. The young mas
ter would drive himself. In the old
times Mat had always been allowed to
sit beside his master. who had pre-
scented him with cigars from the town
and had listened to all the news. Today
he must sit behind-neglected. alone
condemned to silence, and Mathas's
heart was very sad.
They reached the first village. Geese,
hens and children, all playing together
in the dust, fled away into safety
Dogs barked at the wheels, accompa-
MED the carriage a little way, then
stopped behind with a pleasant con-
sciousness Of duty fulfilled. The pea
SAINTS lifted their hats-it was not
George they greeted. They took off
their hats to the yellow carriage-to
Mathas's blue livery, as their fathers
had done befbre them-to another yell
dow carriage and another blue livery,
expecting no notice of thanks in return
In those times another Baron Neusoi
oil hQ
same, their greeting was for the whole
race.
George turned sharply to the right
in the middle of the fourth village. turn
ed into a park. and drew up before his
own door.
without noticing Matthias. he strobe
up the steps leading to the house
Mathas's wife. formerly cook to his
parents, came to meet him. He return
ed her greeting with a short nod.
The business must be got through as
quickly as possible, and with as little
pain to himself There was a long,
dull document to be read. that two
suspicious lawyers had prepared, both
eager to get the better of the other
Tomorrow he would sign his name to IL,
and then that would finish the matter
The past would be buried, his fathers
house-the memories of his childhood
yes, and Win them his worries and
debts-all buried. as If they had never
existed.
Here was the study, and on The right
of the hall was his nursery Just time
enough before dinner for a walk in
the park.
George stepped out from the drawing
room on to a little terrace above the
garden where in the old days they
used to drink coffee. On either side
great fir trees stretched out their
branches toward each other like lovers.
eternally parted, who had escaped from
the woods surrounding the park
George wandered aimlessly about. He
stroIed along the chestnut walk to
the rose garden, where even the gaudy
asters faded into insignificance- He
heard the gong sound for his dinner
Mathas's wife had prepared iC for him,
and it ought to have pleased him.
1.-The meal before the execution" he
thought grhmly. and he could hardly
swallow a mouthful. He sat quite alone
at the head of the table, round which
so many of them had sat gaily in the
days of his youth.
What had become of all those who
had once sat there? What would they
think if they knew he was going to sell
the home of his ancestors? His eyes
rested on the shelf that ran round the
walls Of the dining room The Meizner
plates-the pride of his grandfather-
hung there Must they GO too2
We'll whatever could he do with
them?
= The clock? And that picture of wo-
man smiling sadly down on him? Who
was she? What had become of her?
George got up suddenly from his din
ner and went into the library
You had better go to bed Matthias. You
have to fetch two gentlemen from the
station early tomorrow-your new mas
ters.'
"Oh, sfr-Mr. George"