The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-06-15
INSTALLMENT NO. 5.

and at last the silence in the picture
gallery was broken by voices pene
trating into it from the drawing
room Felix rose to a sitting position
on the sofa He had recognized the
voice of Alfred Hardyman saying
Don't disturb Lady Lydiard,' and the
voice OF Moody answering, Il will just
knock at the door of her ladyship' s
room, sir; you will find Mr.. Sweetsir
in the picture gallery
The curtains over the archway
parted, and disclosed the figure of a
tall, lean man, with a closely cropped
head set a little stiffly on his shout
ders. The immovable gravity of face
and manner which every Englishman
seems to acquire who lives constantly
in the society of horses, was the gray
ity which this gentleman displayed as
he entered the picture gallery. He was
a finely made, sinewy man, with clear
ly cut, regular features. If he had not
been affected with horses on the brain
he would doubtless have been person
ally popular with the women. AS it
was, the serene and hippic gloom of
the handsome horsebreeder daunted
the daughters of Eve, and they failed
to make up their minds about the
exact value of him, socially consid
cred. Alfred Hardyman was, neverthe-
less, a remarkable man in his way.
He had been offered the customary
alternatives submitted to the younger
sons of the nobility-the church or the |
diplomatic service-and had refused |
the one and the other. 81 like horses" |
he said, land l mean to get my living |
out of them. Don't talk to me about |
my position in the world Talk to my
eldest brother, who gets the money
and the title" Starting in life with
these sensible views, and with small
capital of five thousand pounds,
Hardyman took his own place in the
sphere that was fitted for him. At
the period of this narrative he was al
ready a rich man, and one of the
greatest authorities ON horse-breeding
in England. His prosperity made no
change in him. He was always the
same grave, quiet, obstinately resolute
man, true to the few friends whom he
admitted to his intimacy, and sincere
to a fault in the expression of his q
feelings among persons whom he dis q
trusted or disiked. AS he entered the c
picture gallery and paused for a mo- 4
ment looking at Felix on the sofa, his t
large, cold, steady gray eyes rested u
On the little man with an indifference D
that just verged on contempt Felix, +
IN the other hand, sprung to his feet W
with alert politeness, and greeted his Il
riend with exuberant cordially. L
Dear old boy This is so good of s.
,ou," he began q feel it; do assure a
vou l feel it," 81
''You needn't trouble yourself to feel !
t. was the quietly ungracious an a.
wer Lady Lydiard brings me here.
come to see the house-and the d
log. He looked round the gallery in u
lis gravely attentive way 81 don't I'M tt
erstand pictures, he remarked, re- 81
ignedly. 81 shall go back to the
rawing room"
After moments consideration NJ
elk followed him into the drawing ne
DOM, with the air of man who was tn
etermined not to be repealed al
"Well?v asked Hardyman. what M
, it?" ca
about that matter?" Felix said, in al
uiringly. &c
What matter?" ST
"Oh, you know. Will next week do?" I'll
Next week won't do an
Mr.. Felix Sweetsir cast one look at
is friend His friend was too in H;
entity occupied with the decorations slC
{ the drawing room to notice the ia.
'ok. be
'Will tomorrow do?" Felix resumed, hi!
ter an interval. ba
Eyes" ex
cat what time?" ms
Between IL and 1 in the afternoon fol
Between IL and 1 in the after
,on," Felix repeated. He looked again he
Hardyman, and took his hat make me
y apologies to my aunt" he said.
you must introduce yourself to her alt
dyship. l can't wait here any long DIRE
:" He walked out of the room, hav- ual
G deliberately returned the con- his
mntuous indifference of Hardvman oh
a similar Indifference on his own To-