Shoshone journal., 1923-12-14
CHAPTER VIII

A week after the liner Atlantic had
docked at Southampton, Sam Marlowe
might have been observed-and was OBJ
served by various Of the resldents-sit-
ting on a bench on the esplanade of
that repellent watering-place, Bingley-
on-the-Sea, In Sussex. All watering
places on the south coast Of England
are blots on the landscape, but, though
I am aware that by saying 1t | shall
offend the civic pride OF some of the
others, none are so peculiarly foul as
Bingley-on-the-Sea The asphalt on
the Bingley esplanade is several de-
grees more depressing than the asphalt
on other esplanades. The Swiss walt
ers at the Hotel Magnificent, where
Sam was stopping, are in class Of
bungling incompetence by themselves,
the envy and despair of all the other
Magnificent along the coast. For
dreariness of aspect Bingley-on-the-Sea
stands alone. The very waves that
break on the shingle seem to creep up
the beach reluctantly. as If 1t revolted
them to come to such place.
Why, then, was Sam Marlowe visiting
this ozone-swept Gehenna? Why, with
all the rest Of England at his disposal,
had he chosen to spend q week at
breezy, blighted Bingley?
Simply because he had been disap-
pointed in love. He had sought relief
by sinking off alone to the most be-
nighted spot he knew, in the same
spirit as other men in similar circum-
stances had gone of TO the Rockies to
shoot grizzly bears.
To a certain extent the experiment
had proved successful. If the Hotel
Magnificent had not cured his agony,
the service and the cooking there had
at least done much to take his mind OF
1t. His heart still ached. but he felt
equal TO going to London and seeing
his father, which, of course, he ought
to have done Immediately upon his ar
rival in England.
He rose from his bench and, going
back to the hotel to inquire about
trains, observed a familiar figure in the
lobby. Eustace Hignett was leaning
over the counter, in conversation with
the desk-clerk.
"Hullo, Eustacel" said Sam.
"Hullo, SAINT" said Eustace.
There was a brief silence. The con-
yersational opening had been a little
unfortunately chosen, for it reminded
both men of a painful episode in their
recent lives.
what are you doing here?" asked
Eustace
what are you doing hereY asked
Sam.
Il came TO see you," said Eustace,
leading his cousin out of the lobby and
onto the bleak esplanade. A fine rain
had begun to fall, and Bingley looked.
II possible, worse than ever. Il asked
for you at your club, and they told me
you had come down here"
"What did you want to see me
about?"
"The fact is. old man. I'm in bit of
a hole"
whats the matter?
Its a rather long story" said Eus-
tace deprecatingly.
go ahead"
81 don't know where to begin"
Have a dash at starting at the be
ginning"
Eustace stared gloomily at a strand
ed crab on the beach below. The crab
stared gloomily back.
well, you remember my telling yor
abou, the girl met on the boat?"
"Jane Something7"
"Jane Hubbard" said rustace rev.
erenuy "sam. love that grL"
II know. You told me"
but ! didn't tell her. tried 10
muster up the nerve. but we got 10
Southampton without my having
licked. What a dashed difficult thing
! proposal Is 10 bring OF, isn't " ]
iidn't bring IL on, and is began 20 >sox
10 me as though 4 was In the sobe.
And then sle told me something wbict
gave me an Idea. She said the Ben
ietts had invited her 90 stay With
hem Ia The country when she gof 70
England Old Mr Bennett aud his
,al Mortimer BTeam's father Hers
rylng a. eei D house somewhere Which
hey could share, Only ~ faT they
lainf managed fo md fhf house ihey
wanted When J heard fbai spid.