Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-14

fists thrust down into his pockets frown-
ing heavily and with a fixed intentness
at the nearest armchair.
Sir Richard Anstruther is tall and
broad, ruddy of face, with a prominent
nose and great square chin, whose grim
ness is Offset bv a mouth singularly sweet
and tender, and the kindly light Of blue
eyes; he is in very truth a gentleman.
Indeed, as he stood there, in his plain
blue coat with its high roll collar and
shining silver buttons, his spotless mole
skins and heavy square-toed riding boots,
he was as fair a type as might be Of the
English country gentleman. 1t is such
men as he, who, fearless upon the lit
tered quarter-decks of reeling battleships,
undismayed amid the smoke and death
OF stricken fields, their duty well and
nobly done. have turned their feet home
ward to pass their latter days amid
their turnips and cabbages, beating their
swords into pruning hooks, and glad
enough TO do it,
Peter" said he, suddenly.
"Sir?' said l.
"You never saw your father to remen-
Der, did you?"
mo, Sir Richard"
Nor your mother"
Nor my mother"
Poor boy-poor boy,
You knew my mother?"
Yes, Peter, / knew your mother" said
| Sir Richard, staring very hard at the
char again, and 7 saw that his mouth
| had grown wonderfully tender. yours
has been a very secluded life hitherto,
Peter" he went on after a moment.
Entirely So" said 1, with the exeep-
| ton Of my never-to-be-forgotten visits to
| the Hall
"Ah, yes; I taught you to ride, re-
| member"
"You are associated with every boyish
pleasure I ever knew" said I, laying my
| hand upon his arm. Sir Richard coughed
and grew suddenly red in the face.
"Why-ah--you see, Peter" he began,
| picking up his riding whip and staring at
/ IT, you see your uncle was never very
| fond OF company at any time, whereas
| l."
! whereas you could always hnd time
TO remember the lonely boy left when all
| his companions were gone on their holi-
! days-left 10 his books and the dreary
desolation Of the empty schoolhouse and
| echoing cloisters-"
Pooh" exclaimed Sir Richard, redder
than ever. "BoshP
| do you think / can ever forget the
| glorious day when you drove over in your
/ coach and four, and carried me of IN
| triumph, and how we raced the white
| hated fellow in the tilbury--?'
And beat himl" added Sir Richard
TOOK OFT his near wheel on the turn, '
said l.
THE FOOLS own fault" said Sir Rich,
ard.
"And left him in the ditch. cursing usr
said l.
"Egad. yes Peter! Oh. but those were
hne horses-and though / say it, no bet
ter team in the south country. You'll
remember the on wheeler broke his les
shortly after and had TO be shot, pool
| devil"
"And later at Oxford" / began
What now, Peter?' said Sir Richard
| froWning darkly.
do you remember the bronze vase thai
used 70 stand on the mantelpieee in my
| study?"
Bronze vase?" repeated Sir Richard
intent upon his whip again.
II used TO hnd bank notes in Il aftei
you had visited me, and when / hid ths
vase they turned up just the same II
most unexpected places"
Young fellow-must have money
necessary-now and then" muttered 81
Richard.
AZ this juncture with q discreet knock
the butler appeared 10 announce thal
Sir Richards horse was waiting Here