The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1911-01-10
Sir Hugh
By EDIT GRAY


/
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 judgmen,
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. Jamess as
sociated with cooks and patronized
coachmen, Unfortunately and with.
out distinction, even though she did
have 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 a
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 a
solid bit of philosophy, did she ex-
tract by subtle means from those she
called her friends. 1t is true that the
wiser and more penetrating of the
dull-eyed upper class confided among
themselves that Aileen Clinton's pur-
poses, IN this study of human char
acter, were not altogether altruistic.
She writes" they whispered, for
magazines, and seeks material"
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 certain Lloyd Coyerly,
where Miss Clinton was never made
10 doubt her welcome. Again and
again, in her cross-country rambles,
she passed through the great gateway.
beneath the arching elms on her way
10 the house beyond. The courtiy
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 holding 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
=
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 gentleman, not merely, as
some folks classify with patronizing
smile and upward lift OF brow, "one
OF natures gentlemen" but at heart
and soul a gentleman
Aliens 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-
yersation 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 TO
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
lite place before the fire: You and |.
Aileen, KNOWN spite of Lloyd's
stupidity-that there was woman
once, brave and sweet and true and
so our ScOtchman is gentleman and
always will be. His mask is clever.
but so fine and good man could
never quite deceive. l wish that you
would make story Of it, dear
The words occurred again to the
girl as she hurried. several days later,
along the bleak stretch of wind-swept
road. and caused her to laugh a little
for sheer scorn of her small art. A
story OF it! Why, who would dare to
touch the flawless Hugh?- Sir Hugh.
hn nan,oI him, In ha,. lau.1 .,a