The Barrier.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 12

The Barrier.

By FRANK SAVILE. [AH Rights Reserved.]

TvTien Sir George Anstruther went «3oWn to "The Valley' I—the1 — the inhabitants talk as if there was only one in England r— and bought Countsnoll Manor, he made two mistakes. He didn't examine its surroundings and he made no enquiries a& to his neighbours. He was an impulsive man. "I've seen the house you recommended," he told his lawyers on his return. »'I like it. Buy it ! Good morning !" Without giving the matter another thought he took a taxi to the city to attend one of his numerous board meetings. The mistakes became apparent when Jie made his second visit to his new .purchase, taking with him his daughter Eileen, and her godfather, John Inglefirth, the artist. It was a beautiful June day, and, as Sir George's car was out of commission owing to nis chauffeur having had a one-sided argument with a lamp post, they jogged up from the station in a •dilapidated fly. Ingleiirth went into ecstasies over the "old world" surroundings, even when he found that they included a, ford in the middle of the park drive — a ford for which the former owners had considered a bridge totally .unnecessary. Sir George registered/ a private vow to turn the stream into a culvert at the earliest possible moment. ±Ie had no objection to the picturesque, but he believed in keeping it subdued to more practical issues. Beyond" the ford the drive rose sharply. They had to top a considerable ridge before the house came into view. When it did Inglefirtli positively bellowed with, poy. Ifc was built of ancient red brick, with great beams and weather boardings of oak— oak stained black by centuries of •storm and shine. There was a flagged courtyard— -there was a dovecot— -there ,-were scores of chimneys, twisted and fretted, with countless Jacobean, patterns! There were oriels and batUemented roof parapets. The artist foawled liis admiration. Sir George stroked liis moustache, pleased enough,' tout the main part of his glance was given to his daughter. She looked long and silently. Then she came and rested her hand upon his arm. "O Dadl'' she breathed, looking into his eyes, and he smiled and patted her cheek. Together they turned to Ingle'firth, who was capering like an infant. "\Vliy have they hidden it?"' he Was demanding wrathfully. "This ridge >may screen the house from the road, but it screens a hundred . beautif ul things from the house. It's artificial, too ! GOo you see that?" He pointed a finger 'accusingly. They turned and looked. They saw 4hat they were standing upon the highest point of a. turf-covered barrier, stretching from a point of rising ground ,on their Left to meet a sloping meadow half-a-mile away to the fight. The drive, in fact, ran down the centre of a shallow valley and the ridge cut directly across it. It was the work of humain hands, that was certain. Inglefirth pointed out the grooves and pits from. ,-wliich the material had been dugi in ag&s pafct. , "You'll have to cut an. opening, George." he advised. "It is absolutely necessary, and will give you a most perifect vi&fea." "It'll be easy enough," agreed his friend. "A little matter for the local unemployed. You shall come and superintend them, old boy. It will be quite suitable as you're one of them yourself." Anstruther wotikt never allow that artists or writers did work. Their occupations he- stigmatised as "mere an[ticking." Suddenly a new and unexpected voice gained; the discussion. "J3eg pardon, sir," said the cabman, [touching his hat, "but you can't." Aastruther went ac red at» a Socialist necktie. "Gad!" he exploded, "the fellow's drunk!" Eileen and the artist, too, stared at their charioteer much as they would have started at the horse if h« Iliad joined in the conversation. The cabman grinned cheerfully and touched his hat again. "Not so much as 'atf a pint this morning, sir" he declared. "What JC .means to feay is that you can't Ctft through this 'ere '11 and live in that there 'ouse. 'Gt'iise why^ You'd be drowned, hotit!" Inglefiffch whirled round, Then life flung up his hands. "Lord — 'he's right!" he cried. "Don't you- see the river the other fcide of those meadows? This "is built to keep the winteT floods back — we've all heard of The Valley floods at this end of England. That vista's no go, Georgethere isn't a doubt about it. "Isn't there?" growled Anshuther. •"We'll see about that!" He began to' study the landscape intently, paying no attention to the others. He bent his brows darkly upon the land at hie feet. Gradually his ex- ' p'r'eFEion relaxed. ' "There'll bo no trouble," he anilOttnced. "We'll build another barrier at right angles to this one and alongside the road. It will slant across the valley and ke&p bacK th& -tvotW horn the y/hole of this end. It will be a vast improvement, and then we can make our gap here." "How far does your land go?" asked Inglefirth. Sir George, pointed «twa,y into the heat haze. "As far hs the railway embankment/'^ •lie said. "My new dyke had better jointhat and so complete the whole enclosure." /Hie other two studied this proposition. Then'tnylefirth shook his head. "How will you gut cattle or carts into the fields on the far side of the embankment?" ho objected. "You can't have gatcH." "[ can," contradicted Austruther. "Flood gates— rows of thick beams dropped ittio grooved stctne pillars like you see in tho fon country. They can be taken down in summer. Anything dse?" ' tnglefirth shrugged his shoulders, but the cabman, tinsiippreseed, touched his hat again. "Beg pardon, sir/ he reiterated, "but you can't." Sir George almost skipped, "What's that?" he blustered. "What's that?" "Beggln' yottr pardon, sir," persisted the man, "but you can't build o, dyke like that. Yo i'd force all the water on to Squire Lovell 'ft land, 'fi'fl got plenty as it is, but you'd double and treble it and Yd persecute you '*' Sir George gobbled. "Prosecute me for building a dyke- on my own land !' Prosecute me for that t" The man nodded eolchinly, "There ain'l. a donbt about it, sir. That's Valley la.w and Hinglish law likewise. You can't turn flood water over ' another man's land. Man and boy I've | knowed the rights of that for fifty j years !" Anstruther motioned the other two to re-enter the fly. "Drive on— drive on, you old lunatic !" ho sighed, "In another minute I'd *— I'd lose my temper !" : With no sign of resentment the man Shipped up, merely looking over his

shoulder to make sure that the door was closed. Did his left eyelid quiver as hie glance met Eileen's? She was not cure, but she was sure that her father's glaaico was seeking hers with a sort of speculative inquisition. The colour mounted to her cheek. She had a go6d idea, of what he was thinking about. As the fly pulled up at the hall door he got out and then turned to her. ■ "John Foster Lovell comes from this part of the world, I believe." he remarked. "Is ha my neighobur?" She nodded silently. "You didn't tell mo that before I bought this place," he eaid. and there was irritation in. his tone. "Why should I?" she asked simply. "You don't like John Lovell." Inglefirth turned from examining the facade. "John Lovell?" he echoed. "Not the John Loveil ? Is lie the man you're proposing to flood, George? By Jove! you d better not ! England would rise up and destioy you !" "England can spare him," retorted Sir George sourly. "A tuppeny-half-pen-ny scribbler like that ! Fancy a brawny lump of a fellow like that wasting time writing plays !" "They "re the best plays written in our generation !" cried lnglslirth hotly., "You ought to rejoice at having such a neighbour !" "He'll stay a neighbour as far as I'm concerned," said Anstruther. "He won't darken my door— -at any rate not till he proves he's a man ! Playwriting ! Why can't he Avork?" Inglefirth made a gesture of despair. He turned to Eileen. "We all know your father's mad, my dear," he deplored, "but I'm blessed if J realised how mad ! Can't you do something?" Eileen smiled—a distinctly defiant little smile. "I've already tried my best," she said quietly. "Mr. Lovell and 1 are engaged to be married." Inglefirth nearly sat down on the flags. Then he took Eileen's hands in his and shook them energetically. "That's famous news !" he shouted. "My child — lie's one of the best — a\ man in a million !" Anstruther turned on him fiercely. I "That'll do, John !" he snapped. "My daughter is not engaged to John Foster Lovell— at any rate not with my consent. So I'll thank you to drop the subject once and for all. Come into the house !" Ingtefirth stared at him, shrugged his shoulders^ and then turned his glance j upon his god daughter. She gave a little significant nod and lie smiled encouragingly. Then the two of them followed Sir George into the shadowed hall. They had no further opportunity .that day for private conference, and on their return to 'London Inglefirth accepted a commission which took Mm abroad until winter. But a certain day in December found him at Paddington, his fac« set towards the West Country. ' The moment of starting had arrived, the guard's whistle was actually at his mouth, when the door of Inglefirtli's carriage was dashed open and a man leaped -aboard — a tall, muscular, well' set-up young fellow with the carriage of a soldier and the build of a blacksmith. Inglefirth yelled his delight. ' "Lovell !" he cried. "You're going to Oountßnoll. too?" The other nodded. "To Countßiioll station,!' he agreed. "Hardly to Countsnoll Manor." , The artist's faco fell. "I thought, perhaps, it was all right now," he explained. "I've been out of England for six months. Thou what are you going down for?" "Principally to see Eileen," grinned Lovell. "Secondly, to arrange to commence an action for damages against her father." Inglefirth started. "No — o--o!" he' cried. "Not that dyke business he threatened? He's not actually flooding you out after all?" "Isn't he just!" said the young man, and immediately grew eloquent on the subject of his wrongs. Sir George, it appeared, had dona all that ha promised. A newly-built ridge flankedths road and connected the old ridge with the Tailway embankment. The gates into tho road were flood gates, closed now by flood boards six feet high. The drive from the station at present led along the border of a. lake formed by tho floods which the new made barrier ■was holding up on two narrow meadows of Anstrutker'g own, but over practically th 6 -whole of Lovell's modest estate. His tenants were up in arms— in. fact, the' whole countryside was in a fertntot. An action for damages had become unavoidable. Inglefirth nodded his approval. "I m fond of George," he ullowed, "but he needs a thorough setting down — there's no question about it. 1 hope you'll make it hot for him. But Eile&n, now? What has she to say?" A new light shone in the young man's eye— this time distinctly not the light of battle. "The darling!" he breathed, softly, more to himself than to his companion. "Well— l'm not allowed to darken her father's door, Inglefirth. So she comes out and brightens his park entrance gates. I'm going to meet he. there this afternoon. I was going to walk up, but now you shall drive me." "More than delighted!" said Inglefirth, and meant it. The Manor motor-car met him, and i Inglefirth recognised that a light of perplexity shone in tne chauffeur's eye when he saw who took a seat at tho side of tho awaited guest. ' Bub the man was far too well trained a servant to do rnoro than touch his hat and let the merest glint of emotion thrill his leatures. But Inglefirth chuckled again. - j "It's dio secret 4,hen!" ho commented ( to himself. "It's a tight in tho open. So much tho better ! More room for the crowd around the ropes!" ■ The car darted along tho frozen high road between fields white with rime, but as they approached tho Manor these gave place to wide expanse of black and shining ice. At the lodge gates, indeed, on one side nothing was to be seen but the apparently limitless waste of frozen , flood reaching to, and lost in, the mists above the river- Inglefirth rapped upon the pane to signal the chauffeur to stop. "I'll walk the rest," he explained, and with his companion got out. He stood still a moment. Then he gave a whistle. "Lord but he's lived up to his threats! he cried. "Why, it's an inland sea !" Stark, streaked and hideous, a huge barrow of new-turned clay flanked the road, stretching from the original dyke a full mile to reach tho railway embankment. The drive, new metalled, ran like a neat white ribbon between the perfectly repaired walls to disappear through a new cut rnvine in tho old, bitsh-covored ridge. And the bushes and trees had been thoroughly pruned. Inglefirth groaned. "The Goth—the Vandal!" he exploded. "To think of the dear old cart track we found ambling along here, with those pleasant meadows besido it ! And now— and now !" He turned and shook his fist in the direction of the house, "He's watching you !" said Lovell with a grin, Inglefiith gave a start. Suddenly he recognised that two figures, coming to-

wards them about a quarter of a mile distant, were Eileen and her father. He wheeled and surveyed Lovell enquiringly. "Let's go and meet them." said the young man, and proceeded to lead the way. With tt little gasp and a laugh. Inglefirth followed. The four mot. Inglefirth kissed his-god-daughter and shook hands with his host, but while he did so his eye wns cocked upon the other two. They exchanged ardent looks and warm 'pressure of ( the hands. Sir George, while welcoming his friend effusively, made i tio sign of 1 ccognising the presence of a fourth party. j "ifou know Lovell, George?" said Inglefirth. taking the bull by the horns. Anstruther did not turn hi* head. "No!" he said, laconically, ' and wheeled so as to give the young man the beet possible view of his' back. Lovell mniled. "I think I must insist on remaking your accji>ajntance, Sir George." he said. "I have formally to require you to remove this embankment, which is causing damage to myself and to others. I havo taken legal opinion, and there is no floubt of the soundness of my case.'' A'usthither stared at him like an entomologist surveying a beetle. "At the present moment you're trespassing," he said coldly. "Any communication you have to make may be sent to my solicitors." Lovell nodded. "That is not altogether the main point," he said. "I don't think you altogether understand how touchy Valley people are on questions of Valley law and Valley custom. A gdod many of your humbler neighbours want to blow a hole in your dyke. I have had some difficulty in restraining them." Sir George's eyes flashed. "I'm being threatened— am I?" he cried. "I shall know how to deal with that!" He was standing beside one of the gateways, now filled with flood boards, and he rapped the wooden barrier smartly with his cane to give emphasis to his remarks. Alid then a queer thing happened. A moaning, tingling sound echoed across the frozen waste. A sharp crack followed. A great white rent suddenly blurred the surface of the ice, widening as they Watched it. And that was not all. A tiny gap appeared in the bank of clay — a little gout of water spurted through it. Lovell gave a quick, anxious cry. He leaped towards the bank and laid his hands upon the great stone pillar in which the flood boards were ranked. Inglefirth saw^ that the stona was distinctly quivering. _ "Run ! Run !" commanded Lovell. "This has been tampered with — some scoundrel has under-cut it!" lie made a furious gesture to goad his companions to action. "The whole bank ma.y give !" he cried. "Run— and take her!' He pointed to Eileen, his voice passionate with appeal. He crouched, as he spoke, and set his shoulder against the stone. For a moment they hesitated. There was another crack of the ice, and this time a, huge gush of water spouted between the pillar and the adjacent clay. With one accoid the two men made a rush at Eileen and began to race with her along the road. She resisted — she protested. Inexorably they dragged her along. She cried out that they were cowards to leave him — > that she would stay — she must — she must ! They had no breath for argument. They only knew that those ominous cracks sounded louder and louder and that the voice of the escaping waters was rising like the hiss of many rapids. Two furlongs away lay the safety of the old dyke. _ They staggered towards it, dragging their prisoner relentlessly. And Lovell! It was as if he had voluntarily set himself in the jaws of a monstrous snare. Wider and yet wider grew the gap — the water spouted over him in torrents, filling hia nostrils, his mouth, his eyes ! Ho could scarcely breathe— he was blinded. But this he knew — that his passive body and his strength were still a prop between the earth and the half unseated stone, and that, were they withdrawn, it would roll unhindered outwards to release the flood boards and the full powers of the prisoned waters into the narrow channel of the road. He set his teeth. Another minute— another two minutes ! What his own fate would be when the inevitable end came was a matter outside the concentration of his soul. All purpose and all energy, as far as he was concerned, centred in holding out till the others won the safety which they were seeking. Each second counted— each moment was a new victory won from impending Fate. But Fate has a short way with mortals who defy her will. There came a new an 3 resounding tremor of the ice— with incredible swiftness a second great white riff shot out across the surface, tearing it as the cutwater tears the foam. In the same moment the pillar and the flood boards collapsed. The great wave of following water flung all before it. Lovell lefiped up and forward. A board dashed against hie legs, He staggered, "omul footing, plunged towards the bank. The torrent foamed from his knees to his waist and sucked him down. Again Ke rose — again stum- j bled — staggered a few yards — for the Second time fell. A cry rang out — the agonised cry of the. watchers who in that very moment were climbing on to the safety of the further ridge. It did not reach him. He was deaf — in his ears was no sound but the roar of the engulfing flood. He was blind too—with the merciful blindness of unconsciousness. The waters had their will of him now. Inert, a human log, they bore him furiously foiward on the crest of tho mighty wave which rio He'd along the channel of the drive and roared^ into tho new-made gap. But Fate's will was not allowed to work unresifited. As the huge billow foamed below him Anstruther leaped out into its fringe with hands outstretched. Inglefirth followed. Their waiting fingers closed upon Lovell's collar. Tho man's inert weight and tho shock of meeting it broke their hold. They j lost it, only to close desperately upon it again. This time they maintained it. Slowly — ever bo slowly but surely — they fought back inch' by inch. * They gained purchase. They flung otf tho flanking waters and emerged at last triumphant, staggering as drunker men stagger, the battle won. , ' They stood gasping, easing their overtaxed lungs. Then Anstruther bent to his enemy's shoulders, making a silent but significant gesture towards tne | house, Inglefirth nodded' and bent down, j Together the_ two lifted their burden and stalked with it along the ridge head. Twenty minutes later they splashed through the shallows which had already begun to widen across the terraces and so up tho path and through the open doorway. Eileen followed them. In "her eyes hope and fear lost and won a hundred battles through every minute of that intolerable score. It was a washed-ottt, rather haggard, but very cheerful Lovell who, us the dusk was falling, came into the hall and confronted its owner. Sir George's eyes held queer gleams as ho surveyed his guest. Lovell grinned in the direction of the door. "I've darkened it — after all !" he chuckled, "though Inglefirth tells me you swore T never should !" "Inylefhth lies!" said Sir George grimly. "I said you shouldn't till you'd done something." lie paused, looking up alertly ag hfi

heard the rustle of skirts. Eileen came swiftly down the ptaircase. and, without further ado, walked deliberately into Lovell's waiting arms. From that refugo she observed her father calmly*. "Well — you've done it!" allowed Sir Georgp. and, kissing his daughter, offered her lover a welcoming grip of tho hand.