Evening star., 1922-11-19
The Man Who Sailed Away
From Society and What He
Found During the Voyage.
<<@NE must never forget.
said George soiemniy'
that rank has its duties
~ az well as its privileges.


as we'll as its privileges.
AS your elder brother and the head
of the family, 1 naturally take an IN
terest in your career.
Fire ahead" I replied gratefully.
I'm always ready to listen to wisdom,
especially from a cabinet minister.
There was short pause.
Well. then" said George. my ad-
vice is that you should accept this
invitation from Lady Bulstrode and
make up your mind to settle down."
ITO do what?" asked In dismay.
ITO settle down." repeated George
with some firmness. 1T would be a
good thing If you were to get mar
ried." he added.
What. on my income?" exclaimed.
TT wouldn't keep some women in
frocks.''
There are some women" replied
George, who can very we'll afford to
pay for their own frocks."
looked at him with surprise and
pain.
You are not doing anything so i'm
moral as to suggest that I should
marry for money!" asked.
George carefully removed the ash
from his cigar.
ITO contract an alliance with a
wealthy woman" he observed. us not
necessarily the same as what you are
pleased to call marrying for money.
Besides. marriage must always be a
matter of give and take. If woman
brings you a reasonable dowry. you.
on the other hand, are able to offer
her one of the Oldest names in the
country. an unimpeachable social po-
Sition. and-er-a certain measure OF
youth and good looks"
That's all very WELL" said, but
where does one find these gilded and
easily pleased females?'
Again Georges brow contracted.
There are plenty of charming girls
in society who at the same time are
by no means paupers. You are sure
to find one or two at Grendon, for in
stance"
"Oh. ho.' said I. Now I begin to
understand. BY the way, who's liv-
ing at Stra thmore pow?"
George looked at me little sus-
piciouslY.
There's no one there at present"
he replied. except old Donald Ross
and his wife. I want to sell the place
If I can. It's no good to us
oh don't sell it," I protested. Its
the only one of our numerous family
mansions | could ever stand" Then I
paused Il left a boat there last time
I was in England" I added. IF I'm
in, dow
time it's highly necessary that I
should have d short holiday first. A
smart country house party bang on
top of two months of London would
just about finish me-
"WelI?" said George, raising his
eyebrows.
Well" 1 finished, II could just put
In Il weeks sailing nicely and write
my paper for the Fortnightly at the
same time. 1 shall make a snug little
base on Kerrin Island and do my
scribbling there"
"Kerrin Island" repeated George
incredulously. "Why. the place is de-
serted. No one has been there for
years"
Yes, they have, George" I said.
II spent a fortnight there last time
was home, and. what's more. built
myself most superior hut. 1t ought
to be as sound as ever"
At this point George consulted his
watch.
We'll, please yourself" he said. so
long as you go tosGrendon suppose
that's all we can expect. I shall hope
to hear soon. however, that you are
adopting some really serious and per-
manent interest in life"
"If it should take the form Of an
heiress, George" 1 said. Il will wire
You at once without fall
ENACTLY twosdays after this sport
l. ing promise found myself in the
excellent company of the sea and the
sky about three miles Off the land.
near Inverness. I was not alone.
Sitting in the bow of the boat was
the most disreputahle rough-haired
terrier puppy that ever forced his
society upon his betters. His name
was Rufus, and he had been presented
to me by Donald Ross. Perhaps 1t
would be more accurate to say he had
presented himself and that Donald.
with the simple philosophy of his
race, had merely acquiesced in the
arrangement. For from the moment
that l had arrived at Strathmore Ru-
fus had joyously but firmly adopted
me as his new owner.
Although only a four-tonner. my
little boat, the Scandal, was a rare
ga, ooiDp craft and tho faithful Don.
aid had looked after her with such
honest care that the sails and rigging
were as sound as on the day when
laid her up.
Slowed away In the locker had a
large hamper from Harrods', change
of kit, a 'Primus" stove. and gen.
erous supply Of baccy and books.
There are two places on the, island
where you can get safe anchorage,
one a small sheltered bay on the far
ther side and the other q Kind Of
shallow estuary looking out toward
Strathmore. I decided on the latter
as being the nearer.
Rufus evidently realized we were
going ashore, for the moment I
hauled alongside the tiny collapsible
Berthan boat which we had been tow
ing behind US he jumped in hurriedly
and sat down in the stern sheets.
Then he looked up at me and grinned.
A very few strokes brought Us to
the shore. which at this point con-
sisted of marshy stretch of saltings
about twenty yards broad. I tugged
the boat up out of the water and. pre-
h1r p,,f, Mt my