Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-08-28
PRoLooUE.
The Face In the River.

V~ HIN porter O1u not KNOW, inc
station-master was not sure;
A. |kS| but both we're agreed that
~ 1t was good step to the
'all"-by which they signified the Der
byshire mansion of the third Earl OF
Melbourne.
might be you'd get a cab, might be
you wouldn't" said the porter some
what loftily-for here was passenger
who had spoken Of walking over:
"that1l depend on Jacob Price and
the beer he's drunk this night. Some
nights he can drive man and some
nights he can't. I'm not here to speak
for him more than any other"
The station.master, who had been
giving the whole weight OF his intel
ligence to a brown paper parcel with
no address upon IT, here chimed IN to
ask a question in that patrouizing
manner peculiar to station-mastcrs.
Ibid his lordship expect you, sir?"
he asked with some emphasis rs
though, had it been the case he GER
tainly should have been informed OF
It. The reply found him all civility.
'I should have been here by the
train arriving at half-past SIX" said
Gavin Ord, the passenger in question
-"it is my fault, certainly. No doubt,
they sent to meet me"
1.-THE brown shay and pair OF
losses stood in the yard more'n an
hour" exclaimed the porter with just
reproach. "Ill tell Mr.. Jacob. He
knows his betters when he sees him,
drunk or sober"
THANK you," said Gavin quietly,
"but ! will not put his knowledge to
the proof. After all, It's only Ave
miles, you say.
"And a public-house at Moretown
If the dust sticks in your throat. You'll
do better walking than up alongside
old Jacob at this time Of night, sir"
Had we known that his lordship
expected guest, we'd have answered
for a carriage" added the station-mas-
ter, still apologetlcally.
The tall, fair-haired Englishmau
perplexed him. He hardly knew
whether he addressed Duke or a
commoner. The voice and manner
suggested the former; the intention
to walk spoke of vulgar habit rather
betting his lordship's curate than the
honored guest Of Melbourne Hall.
Gavin Ord, upon his part, perhaps, de-
lighted in perplexing people. He
quite understood the kind OF curiosity
he had aroused; and, refusing to graft.
fly it, he snarched up light dressing
bag; and leaving directions for his
heavier luggage to he forwarded in
the morning, hs Sc; off briskly upon
the high road to Moretown. beyond
which, as all the world knows, lies
the Manor of Melbourne.
Going to make long stay sir?"
had been the amiable station-master's
last, shot.
"Oh, ! may settle down there for a
long time," said Ord in reply; and this
news was all over the village in an
hour.
Strangers upon the road to Mel
bourne Hall were not SO many that
one should escape remark.
"If he's for the Lady Evelyn" the
blithe porter confessed over his cups
at a later hour, "she might go farther
and get worse-looking man. Gave
me a shillin', he did, and carried his
bag hisself. That's what ! call gen.
tleman, now"
Unconscious Of this tribute to his
qualities, Gavin Ord was then more
than three miles upon his road to Mel:
bourne Hall. A hot day OF August
had given place to delicious night
fresh and cool and redolent Of sweet
perfumes. The moon stood high above
the horizon, shining with glorious
mellow light upon the gathered
sheaves. The roads themselves were
eloquent by night. When farmers
cart went ruulbling by, Gavin could
hear the echo OF the horses hoofs AND
the rolling sound Of wheels for quite
long time.
he was a man Of redoubtable ply
sique, trained by laborious days al
home and abroad to the finer qualities
of his endurance; and nothing was
more to his liking than this lonely pill
grimage to a splendid house wherein
he believed TINT an advantageous vel
come awaited him. A stranger t.
Lord Melbourne, he never allowed
himself to forget that his own talents
and achievements had made this visi
possible and opened to him the door
OF house which few even of the aris
tocracy now entered. For Gavin ORE
was called in London the first anon,
the younger school of architects-a
artist of prodigious originality an,
daring. and one with as many sides t,
his talent as a diamond has facets
Already had Burlington House heape,
her hopors upon him. The greR
Church at Kensington would, he be
lieved. stand as his memorial to al
time. But for a prodigality and re
fusnl 10 consider mere matter q
money, his plans for new cathedra
In the North would certainly hav,
ocen accepted by the committee. A
II was, critics said, There Ia the JaRl