The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-08-14

Published by Special Advancement with The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate,
Incorporated
Copyright: 1886: By Mao de Ia Roche
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
Ruth and Elihu had been to auction
sales before but they had never seen
n conducted so quietly. The auction
p%aragingly, at the objects placed be-
fore him. There was no heat in the
bidding.
Ruth whispered to Elihu-"I'm just
dying to own one Of those cabinets"
Elihu had a longing to prowl about
the place by himself. A chair was va
Gated. He put Ruth into it and said:
do you mind If I go off and leave
you for a while? I've a hankering to
poke around the old place. You're bet
ter at this sort Of thing than I am.
Buy whatever you want to, dearie. I'm
not going to be mean about It,"
She gave him an understanding look
II know just how you feel. But I'm
scared about pounds and guineas. I
get so mixed up"
He grinned encouragement. Don't
you worry. I don't think you'll be up
against any high bidding" He looked
half e%nviously at the calm, uninterested
faces gathered about the table: Il don't
get what they're out for or not. I sup
pose that's why they so often get it."
He felt strangely happy at finding
himself in the grounds alone. Fol- the
first time since he had fallen / love
with Ruth he was glad to be away from
her. He wanted to be alone in this
spot where for many generations his
fofharc Lo1 1iuo1 orS HioH Hn NO1IIH
feel their spirits speaking to him from
the very grass he walked on, from the
very stones of the courtyard where he
now stood. This part was much older
than the main portion of the house. He
was almost sure that it was Tudor. II
only there were some one about who
could tell him all its history!
of the courtyard and the stables seemed
once to have been cloisters. Refresh
ments we're on sale in one of these. He
bought a sandwich and a cup of coffee
and stood looking about him in a kind
of dream. He pictured his grandfather
as a young man, on just such a Zine
November morning as this, riding out
with his brothers to the meet OF the
hunt, their horses hoofs Gathering on
these very stones. His imagination
moved to remoter days. A vista Of
strange customs opened before him. He
saw his people in a dim procession,
proud, elegant, courtly, going out to
battle. riding home victorious or de-
feated.
There was a chill in the cloisters. He
found himself shivering. He would 60
into the sun and see what the other
side of the house was like, explore the
gardens.
He found that the other side was the
front of the house. Its imposing facade
looked serenely across terraced lawns
that were deserted except for himself.
It was queer, he thought, how every
thing seemed to be arranged so that
with the place. He stood perfectly no.
tionless for a space, staring at the
house, repeopling it with the figures Of
the past-his past.
A classic hunter was on either side
of the steps where he stood, one wrest-
ling with a wild boar, the other grasp
ing a stag by the antlers, his hunting
vigor of these heroic stone figures en-
tered into Elihu. He Strengthened him.
self and a proud smile curved his lips.
He had a feeling of possession in all
this. A mad thought entered his brain.
Surprising the new Viscount Tarring-
ton and his heirs in England died!
Surprising he himself became the Wis
COuIlI harrington! ne lCGuTe fCuGIl
and himself moving into this great pile,
taking up the responsibility Of this es-
tate.
And now she was in the auction room
intent on acquiring a memento of the
heaped up tradition Of the past! The
life Of his family in the new world sud-
denly appeared blank a. fresh fallen
snow compared to the inscrutable emo
tons that for long. centuries had been
He turned away and followed a broad
path between clipped yews to where
he saw the tower Of a gray stone church.
He passed through the graveyard and
went into the chill quiet of the church.
If he had felt isolated within the past
as he stood on the terrace, here he felt
absorbed into its very heart. He was OPP
ly along the aisle toward the chancel.
The stained glass windows threw a
delicate radiance on the recumbent
marble figures on a tomb inside IN iron
grill. He went up the steps and looked
at the tomb. The figures were of a man
and woman in the dress of the day Of
Elizabeth. They lay with hands crossed
on their breasts. their faces upturned,
as though for Elihu's inspection. He
bent over the figure of the man with
a feeling almost Of awe as he saw that
the marble face was the face Of his
own father, the very face of himself.
After the sale he must bring Ruth here
to see whether his imagination had
played tricks with his good sense. But
it hadn't! He knew it hadn't! He pic
tured himself standing beside the tomb
with closed eyes and folded hands, so
Ruth might be the more impressed by
the resemblance.
I'm a blamed fool, he thought, as
he found that his eyes were blurred.
He could not clearly make out the
inscription, but the mans name was
Godfrey Harrington. G~odfrey-his own
fathers name. This Godfrey on the
tomb had been the third %viscount.
He examined tablets set in the wall
and in the stone floor, but he did not
find the name Elihu on Of them.
He was disappointed.
He looked at his watch and was
ELAPSED since he had left Ruth.+ He
must hurry back to her. He went out