Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-11-20

: 4 told you that dined with sir
John Hall last night" he said In q
Sew voice;C well, young John drove
ne homo. and. Of course. he went
through the Park. Poor boy, his case
n quite hopeless. He drives his horse
10 death round and round the house
On tho Oh chance of seeing the fash
o6 her gown between the trees. Well,
no drove me home and just as we en-
tered the Park, what do you think
why, three or four men passed us at
the gallop-soldiers. say. in white
uniforms with gold sashes and gold
sword-hilts. saw them as plainly as
I zee you now-the Earl was one Of
them-the young Count another. Now,
what do you think Of It? Are they
mad, or is some great Jest being play
sdf give 1t up. This sort Of thing
Ia beyond my experience-it should
be a case for you, Frederick, though
II you can make anything Of 1t, I'm a
Dutchman."
The Doctor shook his head. He did
not doubt the truth Of the Wears
story, but he made believe to doubt it.
"You dined with John Hall, Harry?"
II have told you. So" ".r9a
"Sixty-three port, suppose, on the
top Of champagne?"
That Z mere foolishness, Fred.
f.. Admittedly, forgive mel can be
serious and am. Here's an affair
which a man might write about in
textbooks. This grown man puts on a
coat he may have worn in his youth
and rides like steeplechaser through
the Park. Why does he do it? What's
he after? I'll tell you, his lost youth,
that's what he's after. Trying to
catch up Time and give the fellow the
go-by. I've seen that disease in many
shapes, but this Is a new one. Try to
think 1t out This young Count comes
over eom Roumania; he brings these
gypsy rascals with him. Their tongue,
their dress, their music, speak to the
Earl. as his youth used to speak to
him.N He's living for moment life
he lived thirty years agof l can see
him grasping at the straws of youth
every time go up to the Hall. These
midnight carousals are SO much mid
night madness. The man is saying to
Age, you shall not have me. Ten years
of responsibility go at one fell swoop.
He'd sell those he loved best on earth
to win back one year Of the days
which have been. That's my diagno-
sis. The bacillus, La Jeunesse! And
that's bacillus you cannot cure,
Harry"
II. do believe you are right" he
said at length; there have been tales
- strange In the story Of the house.
generally concerning a lady, fear
At least Evelyn can know nothing OF
this" he added little thoughtfully;
"it would be a great misfortune for
her"
Heritage has little regard for the
fortunes of Others" said the Doctor.
II don't suppose she would have mar.
ried an Englishman-she's not the
girl to do 1t. That comes of educating
them abroad would sooner send a
daughter of mine to fight the Russians
than to school in Paris. Make Eng
Nshwomen Of them, / say, and leave
the fal-de-lals alone. What's it worth
to a girl II she can jabber French and
has lost her English heart? No, my
dear Vicar, England for me and Eng.
nsh roses for my home. Evelyn will
marry THIS man because France taught
her to think we'll Of foreigners. II
she had gone to a Derbyshire school
he might as we'll have proposed to
Cleopatra's monument on the Thames
Nmbankment. I'm sorry for her. tru.
~, but words won't change the thing
and that's the end of 1t. Let's go and
1unch. We have done nothing Ill for
enc morning, any way.
They went to lunch and afterward
20 the business Of common day. Az
II fell out, they did not meet again
until after church upon the following
Sunday, when the Vicar, still wearing
his surplice as he crossed from the
vestry to the parsonage. found the
Doctor waiting for him with the all
Of one who has important tidings and
must impart them quickly.
mo bad news from the Hall?" he
exclaimed, SO much was that great
house now In his mind.
The Doctor, however, drew hin
aside and told him In q word.
"The Counts gone." he said quick
y. "He comes back In October. The
Earl told me 80 himself. She's tc
marry him in the winter, and that's
The end OF it, Harry"
The Vicar shook his head gravely
"The beginning OF 1t, Frederick, the
beginning" he said wisely.
CHAPTER XVII.