The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-10-14

in humble little cafe, refers to
former meeting and, with an unpleas
ant air of condescnslon. informs hin
that they" are after him. But this
incident is wiped from his memory
by an illness in Paris. and as soon as
he is well enough to travel he start,
for little village in England, the
cradle of his race, which his father
had told him to be sure to visit when.
ever he should be in that country
Here he establishes himself at little
inn where he is the only guest, and
in fortnight he is well, spending his
time in walks about the beautiful
country and in making friends with
the people.
So is the stage set for Mr.. Henry
NJ. Rideout's story of Fern Seed
! (Duffield, S1.75), delightful book,
for the interest is held up to the last
moment while the descriptions of
English rural life. the matched cot
tages. the fields and the villagers are
charming indeed.
But soon Corsant is aware of a
curious attitude towards him on the
part of the people; it is not in the
least unfriendly, but rather a sort OF
depressed recognition, and he has one
or two singular encounters with some
of the older inhabitants of the place.
His inquiries concerning certain peO-
pie and places are met with a sort
of surprize at first and then with a
kind of polite tolerance. One day.
while walking in the fields. he has an
encounter with young man who is
playing golf They enter into con-
versatiOn and each seems pleased
With the other, when chance remark
on the part of Corsant causes the
stranger to stifien up and leave with
out a word. On returning to the inn
Corsaut finds that he has taken the
strangers jacket by mistake and.
searching the pockets for something
that may enlighten him as to the
name and address of the owner. he
finds an open envelope addressed to
himself Thinking it might be a let !
ter of introduction he opens it and /
finds a receipted bill showing that
in London two days ago l.. Corsant I.
had slept and hreamfasted at lit /
tie out-of-the-way hotel. At first he .
thinks the man must have been using .
his name, but rejects that theory .
when he recalls the strangers face .
and manner.
The first clearance in this atmos-
)hera of mystery comes through Geo.
a handsome man, part
gypsy, who gets Corsant into the
.hurch tower with him, demands his
cal name. and threateningly asks
Why he is masquerading in the viii
age under that of COrsant. This
eads to an explanation and the air
'egins to clear. The gOlf-playing
Dung man is Laurence Corsant, the
English repr sentative of the name, /
ust back from the East where he
as been doing some work for the
government, unrecognized officially,
ut nevertheless of the greatest i'm
ortance. He had been captured and
.rtued by some of the natives at the
of a German at work for
is government in the same part of
he country, and il was no thanks to
m that Corsant had escaped with his
fe. George Grayland, who had been
it'll young Corsant for a part of the
me, at once recognizes this man in
description of the strang-
who had spoken to him in the
allan wine-shop. Young Corsant
Is come down to his old home wish
g to live quietly for a time, only to
nd his distant relative there before
IN, and mistaken for him by all the
llagers, for there is a strong re-
mblanCe between the two kinsman.
lis is a pity, for aLurence has some
pers in his possession which his
envy is anxious to obtain. and the
VS. spread through the country
lie of his return.
A few days later Leonard, needing
me money, repairs on foot to
aIby town and there discover that
e man who had spoken to him in
,me is on his track, and the rest of
e hook is taken up with the arrival
the German with a friend to aid
m in obtaining the papers, and the
.nnre of his circumventing by Leon
q aided by George Grayland. Lau-
nee goes to town and asks Leon
1 to stay at his house during his
sence. plan which suits the two
nspiratOrs extremely well. The
'eigners arrive, and there is a good
me where they are routed.
Qann N nMnn