was a rattling gossip and told him first her own here was the village and yet no more custom coming to her because of the beer house the very mention of this institution moved her directly a pretty gentleman said she to his own beer and a poor widow that have been here all her days and her father before her i but the colonel won t let me be driven out altogether no more will mr walter he do manage for the old gentleman now and waited for the name of hope but it did not come the good lady him with the things that interested her she was to have a bit of a farm added on to the cow it was to be grass land and not much labor wanted she couldn t undertake that was it likely but for of cows and by a secret butter or cheese that she was as good at as here and there one and if she could have the custom of the for her milk but la sir said she ril go as that there will take and set up a against me as he have a beer shop said ay sir him as owns the mine and the beer shop and all worse luck for me who is he oh one of those that rise from nothing nowadays game here to farm but that was a blind the colonel says sunk a mine he did and built a pit and turns everything into brass money but there you are a stranger sir what is all this to you why it is very interesting said mistress i always like to hear the whole history of every place i stop at especially from a sensible woman like you that sees to the bottom of things do have another glass why i should be as dull as ditch water now if i had not your company la sir fm sure you welcome to my company in a civil way and for the matter of that you are right life is life and there s plenty to be learned in a public � do but open your eyes and ears have another glass with me i am praised for my punch you deserve it sir better was never she and and her lips till it was all gone this glass colored her cheeks brightened her eyes and even loosened her tongue though that was pretty well by nature well sir said she you are a bird of passage here to day and gone to morrow and it don t matter much what i tell you so long as i don t tell no lies be a row in this having delivered this formidable prophecy the dame pushed her glass to her companion for more and leaning back in the old fashioned high backed chair observed the effect of her thunder bolt rubbed his hands i m glad of it said he that is to say provided my good hostess does not suffer by it i m much to you sir said the lady you are the gentleman i have entertained this many a day here s your health and wishing you luck in your business and many happy days well spent my service to you sir the same to you ma am well sir in regard to a row between the � not that i call that there one � judge for yourself you are a man of the world and a man of business and an elderly man apparently at all events i am older than you madam that is as may be said mrs we t got the parish register here and all the better for me so once more i say judge for yourself well madam said i will try if you will oblige me with the facts that is reasonable said mrs but after some little consideration the facts i will declare and not a lie among em that will be a novelty thought her cynical but he held his tongue and looked respectfully attentive colonel said mrs hates like poison and him the colonel vows he will have him off the land and out of the of the earth and he have sent him a lawyer s letter for every thing out in this village along of the servants chattering he don t value a lawyer s letter no more than that he the colonel and they ll go at it hammer and at the sizes and spend a of money by is a perilous secret in law one side of the question but there s another master walter is deep in love with miss mary who is she who is she why s daughter to be sure not as i d believe it if i hadn t known her mother for she is no more like him in her looks or her ways than a is to a she is the loveliest girl in the county and better than she s you don t catch her drawing bridle at her papa s beer house and she never passes my picture it s oh mrs i am so thirsty a glass of your good please and a little hay and water for that s her way bless your silly heart she ain t dry and he s full of beans and his coat s like satin but that s miss mary s way of letting me know that she s my customer and nobody else s in the town god bless her and send her many happy days with the man of her heart and that is walter for she is just as fond of him as he is of her i seen it all from the first day twas love at first sight and still a growing to this day them old may tear each other to pieces but they won t part such lovers as those 