The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-12-31
Sir Hugh
BY EDITH GRAY
. - .(Copyriglt--l9lQ Associated Press)

Aileen Clinton was a queer girl
every one of Importance said that
But since those every ones consisted
Of the daughters and wives of the
millionaire settlers of the lovely sub
urb OF LlynwoOd along with their
cousins and aunts and the usual con
tingent of society folk from the city,
Miss Clinton, regardless of judgment
from without, continued in her much
lamented course. However, she lost
thereby not one whit of the love of
the small children of the district.
Not that the charming daughter of
the former rector of St James's as
ISOLATED with cooks and -patroniZed
coachmen, indiscriminately and with
out distinction, even though she did
have a way of discovering, now and
then, among the lower strata of the
exclusive suburb, individuals of gen
tleness of manner, OF general unset
fishness and sweetness of character,
often so lamentably lacking in their
social matters. This girl had
strange and lovely power of summon
ing from all she touched the very best
in thought and deed and many an
original word of comment. many
solid bit OF philosophy, did she ex-
tract by subtle.1f1eans from those she
called her friends. 1t is true that the
wiser and more penetrating of the
dull-eyed upper class confded among
themselves that &ileen,' Clinton's pur-
poses. in this study OF human char
acter. were not altogether altruistic
''She writes" they whispered, for
I s.,1
Nevertheless, her queerness was
not entirely excused on that score,
and many a cutting snub-to her
amusement be it said, hOwever-did
she receive from women who, in time
of trouble were only too ready to call
on her for aid.
However. there was one estate.
owned by a certain Lloyd Coverly,
where Miss Clinton was never made
to doubt her welcome. Again and
again. in her cross-country rambles,
she passed through the great gateway,
beneath the arching elms on her way
to the house beyond. The courtly
host and his invalid wife were always
overjOyed to see the radiant girl, but,
although she loved them well, it was
invariably her most sympathetic self
that was foremost in prominence as
she turned from the broad drive, on
her homeward trips, hurrying along
the bOX-hedged pathway in the direc-
ton Of the conservatory door beyond.
For here, amidst trellises of smilaX
and nodding rosebuds. among boxes
of carnations and frail, sweet pansy
flowers, her brave friend Hugh held
sway.
Hugh Mcdonnell was no common
gardener, no mere shipper of shoots
and sprays, neither was he a keen
eyed explainer of temperatures, nor
scientific exploiter of theories, strange
and new. This Hugh had intellect,
his broad brow and deep-set eyes
would have betrayed that to the girl
at once, even if his unusual purity of
diction and remarkable knowledge of
the worlds affairs had not from the
first attracted her. The girl used to
watch him, wondering, as his fingers
fastened straying tendrills and trans
planted tender shoots, how q mans
hands could remain so fine. so shape
ly in spite of the roughening strain OF
rigorous garden work. Truly, the
man was a gentleman, not merely, as
some folks classify with patronizing
smile and upward lift of brow, zone
of natures gentlemen" but at heart
and soul a gentleman.
Aileen's conviction Of this mans
origin had often led her to talk OF
Hugh amidst the Injuries of the draw
ing room beyond. But her host could
tell her nothing of the man, save that
when he came, his credentials had
been good and that for ten years he
had served them faithfully and we'll
He had thwarted all attempts at con
versation concerning his former life
and his master had respected his Sc
crets. Yet though Lloyd Coverly knew
that the gardener was superior to his
surroundings, he did not enshrOud his
/ past with the glamour and mystery
/ of romance, as the girl was wont tC
( do
The little invalid wife, frail and
sweet as the fragrant spray of hello
trops within her slender hand, spoke
/ conclusively one day from her favor
1 tie place before the fire: You and I
/ Aiieen, known spite of LlOyd's
stupidity-that there was woman
once, brave and sweet and true, anC
( so our Scotchman is a gentleman anC
always will be. His mask is clever
/ but so fine and good a man coulC
never quite deceive. I wish that yol
would make story of it, dear"
I The words occurred again to the
girl as she hurried. several days later
along the bleak stretch of wind-swep
for sheer scorn of her small art 4
/ story of it, Why. who would dare t.
touch the fawless Hugh Sir Hugh