The Holly chieftain., 1915-06-18


the near distance; Ashleighs befrilled
and bewigged; Ashleighs in the court
dress of the Georges-judges, sailors.
statesmen and soldiers. A collection
of armor which would have gladdened
the eye of many an antiquarian. was
ranged along the black-paneled walls.
Everything was in harmony. even the
grave precision of the solemn-faced
butler and the powdered hair of the
two footmen. Quest. perhaps for the
first time in his life. felt almost lost.
hopelessly out of touch with his sur
roundings, and a struggling figure.
Nevertheless. he entertained the little
party with many stories. He struggled
all the time against that queer sense
of anachronism which now and then
became almost oppressive.
The professors pleasure at finding
himself once more amongst these IA
miliar surroundings was obvious and
intense. The conversation between
him and his brother never tagged.
There were tenants and neighbors to
be asked after. matters concerning the
estate on which he demanded infor.
nation. Even the very servants
names he remembered.
1T was queer turn of fate, George"
he declared. as he held out before him
wonderfully chased glass filled with
amber wine. which sent you into the
world few seconds before me and
made you lord of Ashleigh and me a
struggling scientific man."
The world has benefited by It,"
Lord Ashleigh remarked. with more
than fraternal courtesy. 1--WE hear
great things of you over here, Edgar.
We hear that you have been on the
point Of proving most unpleasant
things with regard to our origin
oh! there is no doubt about that"
the professor observed. Where we
came from and where we are coins to
are questions which no longer afrOrd
room for the slightest doubt to the
really scientific mind. What sometimes
does elude US is the nature of our
tendencies while we are here on EARTH"
There was brief silence. The port
had been placed upon the table and cof-
fee served. The servants, according
to the custom of the house. had de-
parted. The great apartment was
empty. Even Quest was impressed
by some peculiar significance in the
silence. He looked
around him uneasily. The growing re-
gard of that long line of painted war
riors seemed somehow to be full of
menace. There was something grim.
too. in the sight of those empty suits
of armor.
Il may be superstitious." Lord Ash.
leigh said, "but there are times, espe-
cially just lately, when seem to find
a new and hateful quality in silence.
What is it. wonder? ask you, but I
think l know. 1t is the conviction that
there is some alien presence, some
thing disturbing. lurking close at
hand"
He suddenly rose to his feet, pushed
his chair back and walked to the win.
dow. which opened level with the
ground. He threw it up and listened.
The others came over and Joined him.
There was nothing to be heard but the
distant hooting of an owl, and farther
away the barking of some farmhouse
dog. Lord Ashleigh stood there with
eyes, gazing out across the
park.
There was something here" he
muttered; something which has gone.
What's that? Quest, your eyes are
younger than mine. Can you see any.
thing underneath that tree?"
Quest peered out into the gray dark.
ness.
Il fancied I saw something moving
in the shadow Of that oak" he NUT.
tered. Wait"
He crossed the terrace, swung down
on to the path, across the lawn, over
a wire fence and into the park itself.
All the time he kept his eyes fixed on
a certain spot. When at last he
reached the tree there was nothing
there. He looked all around him. He
stood and listened for several mo-
ments. A more utterly peaceful night
or more utter peace 1t would be hard
to imagine. Slowly he made his way
back to the house.
Il imagine we are all little nervy
tonight" he remarked. There's moth
ing doing out there"
They strolled about for a hour or
more, looking into different rooms,
showing their guest the finest pictures.
even taking him down into the wonder
full cellars. They parted early. but