Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-15

"MS iord," began the priest, with as
graceful an inclination Of the body as his
iunky figure would admit, "baving learn.
I'd that your Grace has not yet made a
suitable selection among the numerous
applicants for the living of Bog Valley,
at the eleventh hour l am come to put
in my humble CLAIM"
sand do you know" returned the pre-
late, looking contemptuously at the little
black pudding 9f e man >cfo:e him, ''on
what conditions that parish is to be Civ
en-"
Yes, my lord" replied the curate,
looking the high priest full in the face
for the first time.
Then you have doubtless considered
The question, and prepared your solution
Of the difficulty" said the Bishop. shuts
ting one eye, and compressing his lips,
as if lie mean; to read the secret work
]
ings Of the little fat mans very soul.
II have, my lord, both considered the
difficulty and prepared the solution" an
swered the minister thrusting both of his
hands down into his capacious pockets,
and significantly screwing up bis mouth
something in the shape of the letter 0.
II have had many Of these curious es-
says presented to ne" dryly returned the
Bishop, 81 hope you don't mean to bore
me with any more records from the faith
ers? These musfy records have already
been exhausted to no use."
"Nothing of the kind, my lord. I per-
fccily agree with your estimate of the
fathers. However powerful in other
controversies their testimony may be,
they are Of little value in the elucidation
Of the question. | have no written stats-
ment to present"
The Bishop looked puzzled, and after
again gazing for half minute through
the window, turned to the priest, and ask
ed, as if new idea had seized him:
"Have you then discovered who were
the parents of Melchisadek p? Come, be
brief )" and his gold watch was extract,
ed with a quick jerk from the fob Of his
black satin breeches, being apparently
determined to limit the speaker to few
short minutes. After opening the con-
ference in this busness-!i ike way, the pre-
late stood, watch in band, with his shoul
der leaning against the mantle piece, re-
sardug the curate with that kind Of
searching gaze which judge Of the Su-
preme Court would be likely to rivet on
a poor culprit, before asking him the ten
der question, " Guilty or not guilty p
The minister rose to his feet, drew
himself up to his extreme stature Of five
feet and hatf; unbuttoned bis overcoat
like one who knew what lie was about,
leisurely put back his chair, slipped both
his hands into bis huge pockets, and with
great seeming labor, attended with some
hard pulling, sbufiling and twisting Of his
body, at length succeeded in drawing 10
the light of the world, two magnitudes.
in size resembling two nioepenny salt
bags, which he dumped on centre table,
with a clear ring, that would be music to
he ear of Wall street broker, in these
lull days OF shinplasiers and government
yreenbacks.
The prelate heard the joyful sound ; it
was music to bis divine ears also; and t
IS if some great mountain had dropped
rom Heaven, into, and filled up The
mighty chasm that in this world divides
-ich and poor, thus addressed the humble
brother:
"AIy dear Longpurse! What is the /,
meaning of all this? insist on an ex- +
,lanation. Please shut the door, and tell a
ne what is all this treasure brought here ;
or?' d
After obeying the Bishops last order, {
he priest united the bags. They were e
wo linen stockings, cut at.the feet, and r
he legs about foot long, stuffed chuck e
ull, with shining pieces Of metal. Hav- /"
ng undone the strings with which they a
we're tied, he took hold of the bottom j
md of the gold bag, and turned out its r
contents, about five hundred yellow gui- t.
leas, saying: b
These, my lord, is Melehisadek's fati- J
r.: and here also, your Grace, comes his Il
air mother" turning out about one hun a
Ired pounds in sterling old silver coins, Il
currency of that day. Then running his v
ingers through the shining heaps to let il
he Bishop have also the evidence of his
ense of hearing, that the piles before >,
i'm were no optical illusion created by i
he enchantment of a wizard, but bona
de gold and silver coins, stamped with v
he image of his own gracious sovereign >,