, 1924-04-02

- o1
81 have offered myself to Mrs. Hill
ditch" Francis rejoined promptly. but
so far l have made no impression"
TRY her with n punt and a concer-
tina after dinner" Lady Cynthia sug-
gested. AFTER all. l came down here
to better my acquaintance with my
host. You flrted with me disgrace
fully when / was a debutante, and
have never taken any notice of me
since. l hate infidelity 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. 81 have no
technical ability. l should prefer to
sit at your feet"
while l punt, I 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 a back
water after dinner, Sir Timothy. I
shall wear my silver-gray and take ar
armful of those black cushions from
the drawing room. In that half light
there is no telling what success 1 may
not achieve"
Sir Timothy sighed.
"Alas!" he said. before dinner is
over o will probably have changed
your mind"
tTparba~, - r. -A Gu..s
you must remember that Mr.. Ledsam
Is my only alternative. and l am not at
all sure hat he likes me. am not SUI.
ficiently Victorian for his TASTE"
The dressing-bell rang. Sir Timothy
passed his arm through Francis.
1.-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 a glimpse of
the Walled House, an edifice 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
tached to his watch-chain. They were
In nm open park now, studded with
7 magnificent trees, in the further cor
ner of which stood an Imposing man
sion. with a 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 mt new. with great
wings supported by pillars thrown out
on either side. 1t seemed to have
been built without regard to any
definite period Of architecture. and
yet to have attained a certain
coherency-a ~far-reach!ng structure.
In the park itself were a score
or more Of horses, and In the dis
n beyond "A long line of loose
boxes with open doors. Even as they
stood there, a gray sorrel mare had
trotted up to their side n laid her
head against Sir Timothy's shoulder.
He caressed her surreptitiously. af-
fectlng not to notice the approach of
other animals from all quarters.
Let me Introduce you to the
Walled House." Its owner observed,
$50 called, / imagine. because this
wall. which Is n great deal older thai
you or l. completely encloses the es-
tate. or course, you remember the
old house. the Walled Palace, they
called II? 1t belonged for many years
to the Lynton family. and afterwards
TO the Crown"
II remember reading of your pur-
chase" Francis said, "and. OF course.
I remember the old mansion. You
seem TO have wiped 1t out pretty ef.
fectually."
81 was obliged to play the vandal,"
his host confessed. 'In It's previous
stnte. the house was picturesque. but
uninhabitable. AS you see II now. II Is
an exact reproduction of the country
home Of n OF the lesser known OF
he Borglas-Sodlna, / believe the
lady's name was. You will find Inside
some beautiful arches. and a senss
OF space which all modern houses
lack. II cost me n great deal OF money,
n II Is Inhabited. when l am In
Europe. about once n fortnight. You
know the river name for II? 'Tlmothy's
Folly ="
"But what on earth made you
build Il, so long as you don't care to
live theref" Francis inquired.
Sir Timothy smiled refiectively.
We'll" he explained. II like some
times to entertain. and | like to enter.
tain. when | do, on n grand scale. In
London. II ! give n party. the invita-.
lions are almost automatic. ! become
there a very insignificant link In the
chain OF what Is known us Society.
and Society practically Helps itself to
my entertainment. and sees thnt every
thing Is done according TO rule. Down
here things are entirely different. An
Invitation to the Walled House Is a