Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-08-08
The Sale Of ClOugh Manor

( Published By special Arrangement with The
/ Chicago Tribune-New York NeWs Syndicate,
Incorporated
Copyright: 1885: By hEaRo de In Roche
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
Ruth and Elihu had been to auction
sales before but they had never seen
I one conducted so quietly. The auction
eer looked dispassionately, almost dis
/ paragingiy. at the objects placed be-
/ fore him. There was no heat In the
bidding.
Ruth whispered 20 EIihu-'T'm Just
dying to own one OF those cabinets"
EIihu had 8 longing to prowl about
the place by himself. A chair was va
Gated. He put Ruth into 1t and said.
DO you mind II 60 off and leave
you for while? I've q hankering to
poke around the old place. You're bet
ter at this sort OF thing than am.
Buy whatever you want to. dearie. I'm
not going TO be mean about It,"
She gave him an understanding look
I know just how you feel But I'm
scared about pounds and guineas.
get so mixed up"
He grinned encouragement Don't
you worry. don't think youu be up
against any high bidding" He looked
half enviously at the calm, uninterested
faces gathered about the table Il don't
believe they care q darn whether they
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. For the
first time since he had fallen in love
with Ruth he was glad to be away from
her. He wanted to be alone in this
spot where for many generations his
fathers had lived and died. He could
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. If
only there were some one about who
could tell him all it's historyl
There was an old well in the middle
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 3 cup of coffee
and stood looking about him in kind
OF dream. He pictured his grandfather
as a young man, on just such a fine
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- I
feated.
There was chill in the cloisters. He
found himself shivering. He would go
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. It's imposing facade
looked serenely across terraced lawns
that were deserted except for himself.
1t was queer, he thought, how every
thing seemed to be arranged SO that
he could have this solitary communion
with the place. He stood perfectly mo
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
0f the steps where he stood, one wreSt-
ling with a wild boar, the other grasp
ing stag by the antlers, his hunting
knife In his hand. Something OF the
gigor of these heroic stone figures en-
cred into Elihu. He Strengthened him
self and proud smile curved his lips
&c had a feeling Of possession in all
his. A mad thought entered his brain.
Supp0sing the new Viscount Tarring-
on and his heirs in England diedi
he himself became the Wis
,ount Tarringtonl He pictured Ruth
md himself moving into this great pile,
aking up the responsibility Of this es-
ate.
And now she was In the auction room
intent on acquiring a memento of the
1eaped up tradition of the past! The
ife Of his family In the new world sud-
lenly appeared blank as fresh fallen
now compared to the inscrutable emo
ions that for long centuries had been
Inscribed by this air.
he turned away and followed q broad ,
'ath between clipped yews to where
e saw the tower OF a gray stone church.
lie passed through the graveyard and
ne had felt isolated within the past
S he stood on the terrace. here he felt !
bsorbed into its very heart He was op-
reSSed by its weight as he walked slow
Y along the aisle toward the chancel.
he stained glass windows threw !
elicate radiance on the recumbent
Marble figures on tomb inside an iron :
rill He went up the steps and looked !
t the tomb The figures were of man !
nd woman In the dress Of the day of
Elizabeth. They lay with hands crossed 7
n their breasts, their faces upturned, :
S though for Elihu's inspection. He :
ent over the figure Of the man with :
feeling almost of awe as he saw that
ne marble face was the face Of his Z
wn father, the very face of himself !
fter the sale he must bring Ruth here \
, see whether his imagination had =
layed tricks with his good sense But :
hadn't! He knew it hadn't He pic 4,
lred himself standing beside the tomb Z,
It'll closed eyes and folded hands, so !
nth might be the more impressed by !
lie resemblance. y
I'm a blamed fool, he thought, as y
; found that his eyes were blurred =
e could not clearly make out the Z
scrfption, but the mans name was r
odfrey Harrington Godfrey-his own =.
theirs name. This Godfrey on the
- L