The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-27

l simply alive with great and glorious historical associations and traditions. must take you round tomorrow. MT. if he is not too busy; which he gen. | orally is when he pays these short and feeting visits" she added, with a, charming nod and bout of reproach at the old lawyer. who shook his head and shrugged his shoulders peniently and regretfully.
 1 You are more than kind," respon- ded Dexter Reece. with grateful in clination of his head and a deferen- tial lowering of his eyes. 'I shall be delighted to accompany you. It has been the dream of my life to make acquaintance with glorious Devon.'
 'very we'll, then" she said, i've will have the phaeton directly after breakfast, and I will take you to some of my favourite spots; and please re- member that shall expect you to be enthusiastic."
 There was a pause, during which 1 MT. Lexham made some casual re- mark to Sir Reginald receiving a curt nod by way of response; then Reece. glancing round the oak-panel- led room, said:
 "The Hall is very old, is it not?"
 "Oh, very" assented Evelyn. Some of the old part dates back to the ff- teenth century; but there is only a 1 tower and a bit of wing remaining; and they are held up by the ivy only. | I think. You must see them. And the Desborougt'7 have been here all the time; that long line of portraits which stretches right round the hall 1 and up the staircase represents an unbroken succession; they are all | there-'
 She stopped suddenly, a faint colour rose to her face. her eyes dropped, and she seemed troubled by some memory. The butler, with his two noiseless satellites had placed some | decanters of claret and port on the table ,and was standing at the side with folded hands as if his task were done. Evelyn glanced at her father. and, with the smile with which the hostess mutely preludes her departure from the table. rose and left the room. Dexter Reece opened the door l for her, his head bent, his whole atti- tude one of difference, then returned I to his seat.
 Sir Reginald, as if aroused from his sl gloomy reverie by his daughters de- parture. waved his hand towards the wine, but he did not fill his own glass; and presently he said, in coldly courte- ous tones:
 'I will beg your permission to leave you. But pray do not rise; stay and
 finish your wine You will like a
 cigar afterwards. Lexham, you know
 your way to the smoking-room.
 hope you will pardon me; to sit long
 is somewhat painful to me-"
 He rose, the butler advanced and
 laying his hand on it, went out of the
 room, limping slightly. The two men
 drank their wine in silence for some
 minutes; then Reece said:
 ''Sir Reginald is in bad health, I fear?"
 Reece had made the remark an in-
 terrogation, masking his curiosity with an expression of polite, casual interest; he was really burning with
 curiosity concerning everybody and everything connected with Thorden
 Hall, which he had entered that even- : ing for the first time, though he had
 heard of it and thought of it many times.
 "Gout-I think said MT. Lexham meditatively. 'Pm not sure. Sir Reginald rarerly talks of himself, and
 never of his ailments"
 "He appears to be rather moody man." remarked Reece, still with the air of casual interest.
 "Yes,'' assented MT. Lexham ab- stractedly. 'He has reason to be- : It was characteristic of Dexter Reece that he did not ask why, as he might
 reasonably have done. Some more
 wine? No? Shall we go into the smoking
 They left the room and crossed the hall; door leading to the terrace
 was open, and Reece said: : What lovely evening! Shall we go outsider"
 They went on the terrace, and, . lighting their cigarettes, looked at the magnificent view. . Dexter Reece turned to his com , panion.
 "A fine old place." he said; "but- 9 rather grim"
 MT. Lexham cast a glance at the house and nodded. 'Tt has seen some tragedies" he said. '@There is a tradition that no master of Thorden can be happy"
 Certainly Sir Reginald's appear :, ance and manner support the tradi- 9 tion," remarked Reece. .He looks
 like a man borne down by some trou- 8 ble."
 He is," responded MT. Lexham g Tt is his son.