The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-08-24

startllngly like her two hosts, seemed
to frown down upon her.
"Is that your father?" she asked,
moving her head toward one Of the
portraits.
my grandfather, John Strangewey,"
Stephen told her.
WAS he one Of the wanderers"
"He left Cumberland only twice
during his life. He was master of
hounds, magistrate, colonel In the yeo-
manry Of that period, and three times
refused to stand for parliament"
John Strangewey! Louise repeat
ed softly to herself. II was looking at
your family tree upstairs" she went
on. ut is curious how both my maid
and myself We're struck with sense
Of familiarity about the name, as II
we had heard or read something about
It quite lately"
Her words were almost carelessly
spoken, but she was conscious of the
somewhat ominous silence which en-
sued. She glanced up wOnderingly
and intercepted rapid look passing
between the two men. More puzzled
than ever, she turned toward John as
If for an explanation. He had risen
somewhat abruptly to his feet, and his
hand was upon the back of her chair.
'Wlll II be dlsagreeable to you If my
brother smokes pipe?" he asked. 81
tried to have our little drawing room
prepared for you, but the fire has not
been lit for so long that the room, am
afraid, is quite impossible"
'DO let me stay here with you," she
begged, "and l hope that both of you
will smoke. 1 am quite used to It,"
John wheeled up an easy chair for
her. Stephen, stiff and upright, sat on
the other side of the hearth. He took
the tobacco jar and pipe that his broth
er had brought him, and slowly filed
the bowl.
with your permission, then, ma
DAM" he said, as he struck match.
Louise smiled graciously. Some in
stinct prompted her TO stine her own
craving for a cigarette and keep her
little gold case hidden in her pocket.
All the time her eyes were wandering
round the room. Suddenly she rose
and, moving round the table, stood
once more facing the row of gloomy
looking portraits.
$50 that is your grandfather" she
remarked to John, VINO had followed
her. ''Is your father not here?"
He shook his head.
"My fathers portrait was never
painted"
"Tell the truth, John" Stephen en-
Joined, rising in his place and setting
down his pipe. "We Strangeweys
were hillfolk and farmers, by descent
and destiny, for more than four hun
dred years. Our place is here upon
the land, almost among the clouds, and
those Of us who have realized 1t have
led the lives God meant us to lead.
There have been some of our race who
have been tempted into the lowlands
and the cities. Not one of them
brought honor upon our name. Their
pictures are not here. They are not
worthy to be here"
Stephen set down the candlesticks
and returned to his place. Louise, with
her hands clasped behind her back,
glanced toward John, who still stood !
by her side.
"Tell me-" she asked him, 'have
none of your people who went out into
tho world dopa yuoII for tbamCaIvac2 2U
Scarcely one" he admitted.
"Not one,' Stephen interrupted. |
Madam" he went on, turning toward
Louise, "lest my welcome to you this
evening should have seemed lnhospita-
BILE, let me tell you this: Every
who has left our county,
and trodden the downward path of