Evening star., 1933-06-04


~ shadowed entrance to Hartland Hall.
~ In years gone by many brave and
Y merry troop had mounted it. But
today the pomp and gallantry was
dust Only smoldering pride remained
Through the open gateway and up the sweep
of road a very old and very ragged Negro made
his way. grotesque fgure-until one saw
his eyes, In their depths the light Of
vast understanding and a loyalty that knew
no question
His gaze whipped to group of galloping
yearlng thoroughbreds and the erect figure OF
a woman astride saddle mare at the paddock
gate Difhdently he approached, his hat
clutched in one long hand.
"Ev'nin' Mis- Lei" he said. Then, haltngly,
"Ah'm back"
For moment the woman stared in amaze
ment. Then she smiled.
Il see you are she said. But quizzically,
twill you tell me who you are?"
The upturned eyes lost their light. why
Mis- Lei, Ah'm Richard"
The laugh checked on her lips.
"Por Richard" she whispered. Things
have changed since you went away
"Yasm," he answered solemnly, they has"
He stopped SO long that the woman had to
help him.
"You heard that we had broken up?"
''Yas'm," said Richard. He drew a deep
breath and plunged ahead.
"Ah don't need no money, Mis- Lel-jess a
place to sleep an lii bit to eat an
again"
The womans lashes were moist when she
spoke Good old Richard, of course, you can
stay. Go see old Tobey."
Richard peered after her as she put her
mount to trot for the stables
"She was cryin,' he groaned and turning
to the paddock fence, he shook his wizeneu
head at satin-coated filly on the other side.
I'VE ALL" he said gravely, has got to stop
that"
LIEN HART PRENTICE broke the news of
l. the prodgal's return at the dinner table
that evening. To her fatherless son, George
Hart Prentice, it meant nothing. Richard was
before the youngsters time. But to old Mai.
Sanderson Hart, her father, it brought back
mellow memories.
It was early in July when Richard returned
to Hartland and in the few weeks that inter-
vened until mid-August he found the first warm
glow Of companionship and affection in his bat
tered existence. 1t Mis- Lels boy George
Hart Prentice, who wrought the miracle.
Richard adored Mis- Lei" But he wor-
SHIPPED Mist Gawge." They became insep-
arabic. And it was from George that Richard
first traced the events Of recent years.
How come" he asked one day, I'VE dom
turn out them mares into tn big fiep?"
The boy looked across the grouped paddocks
to a broad 2o0-acre> strip that skirted the
north boundary of the dwindling estate
See those post holes runnin' straight across
the middle of the fied?" he asked. We'll we
don't own any of it on the other side of
those holes n we promised not to run stock
in there till the fence is built We had to sell
1t to pay taxes" he concluded.
Richard made sympathetic clucking sounds
with his tongue. No wonder Mis- Lei had been
crying.
"Who," he queried, done bought it?"
why, John Martin Park" George answered,
surprised. Hes the man." he explained
"who's bought every bit of land we've had to
sell"
And so Richard set about immediately to
collect all possible information about Mr.. John
Martin Park.
CEvERAL years before an offer from an
~ Eastern client had been sent to Mai Hart
for Hartland Hall. The answer had been a
terse and definite mol"
Within short time businesslike and per-
Sonable young man had come to Hartland ex-
planned his capacity agent for John Martin
Park and suggested that the major name his
own price The major had stated in no uncer-
tain terms that he'd pa'cel it off to the hands
befo' he'd SELL" Miss Lei had nodded in vigor-
GUS assent The young man had grinned rue
fully and departed.
But financial affairs at Hartland came to a
critical stage, and one day Lei walked into the
old bank where Hart affairs had been mulled
over for decades. The next morning discreet
inquiries were made for purchasers of 60 acres
on the Spring Station Pike part OF the old
Hart estate, and by noon the sale had been
made week later Lei discovered that John
Martin Park had gained foothold. In due
course house built on the strip and Park
moved in, quietly and without communicating
with his neighbors.
That the beginning. Each year or so
saw difficulties and the necessity for par
ceiling Oft another strip. And always it