The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-05-23

As regards tonight, / had not made up
my mind. l rather hoped to reach
Kendall. My journey is not at all an in
teresting matter to talk about" she
went on. "Tell me about your life
here. 1t sounds most delightfully."- pas
toral. Do you live here all the year
round?'
MY brother" John told her, "has
not been farther away than the near
est market town for nearly twenty
years.
Her eyes grew round with astonish-
ment.
"But you go to London sometimes"
81 was there eight years ago. Since
then / have not been further away than
Carlisle or Kendall. / go into camp
near Kendall for three weeks every
year-territorial training, you know"
But how do you pass your time?
What do you do with yourselfg' she
asked.
Farm he answered. Farming is
our daily occupation. Then for amuse-
ment we hunt, shoot and fish. The sea-
sons pass before we know it."
She looked appraisingly at John
Strangewey. Notwithstanding his sun
tanned cheeks and the splendid yigor
of his form, there was nothing in the
least agricultural about his manner or
his appearance. There was hunor as
well as intelligence in his clear, gray
eyes. She opined that the books which
lined one side of the room were at
once his property and his hobby.
1T is a very healthy life, no doubt"
she said; "but somehow it seems in
comprehensive to think Of a man like
yourself living always in such an out
of-the-way corner"
Johns lips were open to reply, but
Stephen once more interviewed.
Life means a different thing TO each
of US, madam" he said sternly. There
are many born with the lust for cities
I and the crowded places in their hearts,
born with the desire to mingle with
\ their fellows. to absorb the convention
al vices and virtues, to become one of
the multitude. 1t has been different
with US Strangeweys.
/ Jennings, at a sign from his master,
removed the tea equipage,. evidently
produced in honor of their visitor.
Three tall-stemmed glasses were
placed upon the table, and decanter
of port reyerently produced.
/ Louise had fallen for a moment or
two into fit of abstraction. Her eyes
were fixed upon the opposite wall,
from which, out Of their faded frames,
a row of grim-looking men and women,
startlingly like her two hosts, seemed
to frown down upon her.
rs that your father?" she asked,
moving her head toward one OF the
portraits.
MY grandfather, John Strangewey,r
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-
many of that period, and three times
refused to stand for parliament"
"John Strangewey! Louise repeat.
cd softly to herself. Il was looking al
your family tree upstairs" she went
on. at is curious how both my maft
and myself were struck with a sense
of familiarity about the name, as il
we had heard or read something abou
it quite lately"
Her words were almost carelesSly
F. 81
somewhat ominous silence which en-
sued. She glanced up wonderingly
and intercepted a rapid look passing
between the two men. More puzzled
than ever, she turned toward John g:
if for an explanation. He had riser
somewhat abruptly to his feet. and hi:
hand was upon the back of her chair
"Will it be disagreeable TO you if my
brother smokes a piper" he asked. g
tried to have our little drawing room
prepared for you. but the fire has no
been lit for so long that the room, an
afraid. is quite impossible"
do let me stay here with you" sh,
begged, "and l hope that both of yol
will smoke. am quite used to it."
John wheeled up an easy chair FOL
her. Stephen, stiff and upright, sat OF
the other side of the hearth. He tool
the tobacco jar and pipe that his broth
er had brought him, and slowly filleI
the bowl.
with your permission, then, ma
DAM" he said. as he struck a match.
Louise smiled graciOuSly. Some in
stinct prompted her to stifle her owl
craving for cigarette and keep he
little gold case hidden in her pocket
All the time her eyes were wandering
round the room. Suddenly she ros,
and, moving round the table. stool
once more facing the row of gloomy
looking portraits.
$50 that is your grandfather?" sht
remarked TO John, wuo had followe,
her. rs your father not here?s
He shook his head.
My fathers portrait was neve
painted"
sSTell the truth John" Stenhen en-