Belt Valley times., 1924-03-20

/ ditch, Francis rejoined promptly, "bul
SO far have made no impression"
TRY her with punt and concer
tina after dinner" Lady Cynthia sug-
gested. after all, came down here
to better my acquaintance with my
host. You filrted with me disgrace
fully when l was a debutante, and
have never taken any notice OF me
since. hate infidellty In a man. Sir
Timothy. shall devote myself to you.
Can you play a concertlna?"
where the higher forms Of music
are concerned he replied. a have no
technical ability. / should prefer 70
sit at your feet"
"while punt. supposeT'
"There are backwaters." he sug-
gested
Lady Cynthia slipped her cocktail ap-
preciatively.
Il wonder how 1t is,' she observed.
that In these days, although we have
become callous to everything else In
life. cocktails and fiirtations still at
tract us. You shall take me to back
water after dinner. Sir Timothy I
shall wear my sllver-gray and take an
armful OF those black cushions from
the drawing froom. In that half light
there is no telling what success may
not achieve
Sir Timothy sighed.
~.Alasw he said, before dinner is
over you will probably have changed
your mind"
Perhaps so" she admitted. "but
you must remember that Mr.. Ledsam
is my only alternative, and am NOT at
all sure that he likes me. am not suf-
fciently Victorian for his taste"
The dressing-bell rang Sir Timothy
passed his arm through Francis.
"The sentimental side Of my do
MAN," he said, "the others may show
you. My rose garden across the stream
has been very much admired. am
now going to give You glimpse Of
the Walled House, an edlfice the pos
session Of which has made me more or
less famous"
He led the way through a little
shrubbery, across a further strip OF
garden and through a door In a high
wall, which he opened with a key at 4
tached to his watch-chain. They were
In an open park now, studded with
magnificent trees, In the further cor
ner OF which stood an imposing man
sion, with great domed room In the
center, and broad stone terraces, one
of which led down to the river. The
house itself was an amazingly blend
ed mixture Of old and new. with great
wings supported by pillars thrown out
on either side. II seemed to have |
been built without regard to any |
definite period Of architecture, and
yet to have attained a certain /
far-reachlng structure.
with long lines OF outbuildIngs.
In the park itself were score
Or more of horses, and In the dis
lance beyond long line of loose
boxes with open doors. Even as they
stood there, gray sorrel mare had
.rotted up to their side and laid her
read against Sir Timothy's shoulder.
he eafessed her surreptitiously. af.
'ecting not to notice the approach Of
)ther animals from all quarters.
LET me Introduce you to the
Vailed House." its owner observed.
so called. imagine, because this
vail. which Is a great deal older than
you or l. completely encloses the es-
ate. OF course. you remember the
Id house, the Walled Palace, they
allied it7 1t belonged for many years
o the Lynton family, and afterwards
0 the Crown"
II remember reading Of your pur-
hase," Francis said, "and, Of course,
remember the old mansion. You
eem to have wiped 1t out pretty ef-
Il was obliged to play the yandal,r
Is host confessed. "In its previous
tate, the house was picturesque, but
AS you see II now, II is
n exact reproduction Of the country
ONE OF one Of the lesser known OF ,
ne Borgias-Sodina. / believe the
ldy's name was. You will find inside I
lme beautiful arches. and sense (
space which all modern houses :
Ick. 1t cost me great deal Of money,
nd It Is inhabited, when / am in J
urope. about once a fortnight. You :
now the river name for it, 'Tlmothys a
ollyF"
but what on earth made you S
lid It, so long as you don't care to A
We there77 Francis inquired. @
Sir Timothy smiled refiectIveIy. v
-WeIl," he explained. Il like some .
mes to entertain, and like TO enter {
In. when do. on a grand scale. In q
ondons Il give party. the, invita-. c
pms are almost automatic. become c
ere a very Insignificant link IN the '
ain Of what Il known IS Society, b
ID Society practically Helps Itself 10 Il
= entertainment, and sees that every d
Ing is done according to rule. Down
re thfngs are entirely different An
vftation to the Walled House is a
fHonai matter. Society has nothing