At Love's Cost

He paused and shook his head, and Stafford remained silent: he was too

wise to break in upon the narrative. The landlord sighed and looked

lovingly at his cigar, then went on: "They offered that squire--Miss Ida's grandfather--a peerage; the

Herons had often been offered a baronetcy; but they'd always refused,

and the squire declined the peerage. He said that no man could wish to

be higher than Heron, of Herondale; that better men than he had been

contented with it, and he was quite satisfied with the rank which had

satisfied his forefathers. When he died, the followers at the funeral

made a procession a mile and a quarter long."

"How did the family lose its money, drop its greatness?" Stafford

asked.

The landlord screwed up his eyes thoughtfully.

"Well, it's hard to tell, sir," he replied. "Of course there was always

a tremendous drain going on; for it was not only down here that the

squire spent the money freely; but it was just the same or worse when

he was in London; he had a big house there, and entertained as

splendidly, perhaps more so, than he did at the Hall. In those days,

too, sir, there was as much gaming and betting as there is now, perhaps

more--though I'm told that great folks are more given nowadays to

gambling on the Stock Exchange than at cards or race-horses; begging

your pardon, sir!"

"I'm afraid you're right," assented Stafford, with his short laugh. "I

prefer the old way myself."

"Just so, sir," said the landlord, with an approving nod. "Well, what

with the money going here and there and everywhere, they found when the

present squire's father died that there was very little left; and worse

than all, that some of the land was sold, and what remained was heavily

mortgaged. It's what often happens to old families, sir, more's the

pity!"

"Yes," said Stafford. "And is the present squire like his father?"

"No, sir, not a bit," replied the landlord, with a thoughtful and

somewhat puzzled frown. "Quite the reverse. His father was free and

easy with everybody, and had a pleasant word and shake of the hand for

everyone he met; but the present squire was always shy and quiet as a

boy; kind of reserved and stand-offish, if you know what I mean, sir.

When he came into the property, he became more reserved than ever,

avoided all his father's old friends and shut himself up at the Hall

and kept himself to himself. He was a college gentleman and fond of

books, and he spent all his time alone in his library like a--a hermit.

He went abroad for a time, to Italy, they thought, and he came back

with a wife; but she didn't make things more lively, for she died soon

after Miss Ida was born. Miss Ida was the only child. She was sent away

for some time to be taken care of by one of the relatives, and she's

only been back for a couple of years."