The Shasta courier., 1867-10-12

armed with glittering lance, seemed to be
about to make target of his breast Mr..
Slade reeled instinctively back against the
door, and then perceived that his assailant
was only the case of a warrior being, in
fact, a magnificent suit of Milan armor-
silken surcoat and all, complete-and which,
being placed across mighty block of wood,
in default of steed, represented knight in
the tilt yard in act to charge. A diadem en-
circling the wrought helm denoted that this
costly equipment had enclosed the limbs
Of some chivalrous Prince in ages passed
away. =
The good curate was still rubbing mis- eyes,
and maryeling at such an,object encounter
ed in such a place, when Mr.. Smith hustled
in.
"Why, Smith, what have you got here :?
My good friend, this is a treasure indeed"
All | thought you d like my Lazy Sally,
and was 'oping you'd look in," replied the
yirtuoso. . There, you needn't go too close.
1t looks 'alf as well again at distance," he
added, neryously.
Your Lazy Sallyl' calculated Slade-
Why do you call it SO ?''
Cause that's its name" retorted Mr.
Smith. " Look ere !" and he pointed to u
device and legend on the shield borne by the
hlpSiy champion.
" Short sighted Mr.. Slade put on his
glasses, and made out for device, a bulls
head and neck encircled by broken chain :;
and, for motto, the well known words in
which the marshal of tournament gave
signal to engage: . Laissez aller."
Lazy Sally [ said so," exclaimed the
lover of art. - | wish it wasn'tquite so big,
though. Wherever it's to stand-"
why, Smith, you are collecting quite a
museum ?'' remarked the curate. . You
will want custodian shortly"
well | don't think it'll come to that. 4"
said Smith. Il shant outrun the consta-
ble."
Mr.. Slade laughed and observed that his
friend had Slightly mistaken his meaning
The curate's prophecy seemed likely to
come true. Other objects of art continued
to arrive at uncertain intervals, until not a
room in the house but could boast of at least
cne rich and beautiful specimen, selected by
taste as pure as the expenditure it must
have involved was liberal Mr.. Smiths
collection arrived at the value of, at least,
fifteen thousand pounds; and it was not
unusual for persons in the country, who de-
lighted IN such things, to travel considerable
distances to visit the accomplished propre.
tor, and congratulate him on his acquisitions
and the refined art knowledge which dictated
their selection. The suit of Milan armor
was an especial attraction, and was rendered
more interesting by the circumstance that
an inscription had been discovered on the
breast-plate beneath the surcoat 1t had,
however, been purposely obliterated, and
now only conveyed a suspicion that it had
been in modern English, without affordng
any clue to its significance.
Thus matters went on, until the @ unmoved
Fates," who spare the harmless as little as
the oppressor knocked at the quiet door in
Allsop- and imperatively demanded
the body of Mr.. John Smith.
The pretence was this. One day. towards
the closing of the trout season, when your
sworn piscator grows keen and Jealous of
his diminishing sport, Mr.. Smith-while
in the heat of life and death contest with a
four pound patriarch, whose time John felt
was more than up-slipped down the bank,
and into deep pool. lie was, it is true
rescued by some husbandmen and fshed up,
not only alive, but victorious, still holding to
his prize. But the results were serious-
The poor little man caught a cold that sets
its fangs in his delicate chest and ultimately
sucked away his life.
When conscious of his approaching end,
he sent for his friend Slade, and requested
him to allow himself to be named CO execu-
tor with their gossip Tom Gripper, to carry
out, among other things, a purpose he had
greatly at heart. 1t need hardly be said
that his old friend consented, and, thereupon,
John Smith disburdened his mind of a little
romance Of private life, which may possibly
be held not unworthy of page in these re-
cords of the rolling year.
A hOnt t1rp hof, IL =,
years subsequent to his fathers death. John
received mysterious consignment. which.
being opened, revealed that exquisite silver
chalice which first attracted his neighbor's
curiosity. A card accompanied it, on which
in beautiful female hand, were written
these words:
+" 70 J. s.; From the deeply grateful and
admlrlng PRoLL."
And, in plain but unobtrusive characters,
below the rim of the chalice was engraven
To the intrepid Smith"
Perplexed in the extreme, John carefully
laid up the chalice, hoping that the mystery
would in some manner elucidate itself. and
not without fear that he might be suddenly
called upon to account for appropriating 9
what was certainly intended for another Of
his by no means uncommon name And
" Proli, who on earth was :" Proll?'' Was
1t Proll? Yes. There was no mistake as to
the spelling. Poll might have been more
natural more familiar. No Prol it was.
All doubts, however, were dispelled by
the alarming receipt of the second present.
the vase, accompanied by note from Proll,
expressing her regret that Mr.. Smith S
modesty-a quality that always attends true
courage-should have deferred him from
exhibiting to his friends the former testimony
of her gratitude and enthusiastic admiration.
know you," Proll continued, g John
Smith, of Allsop terrace, though you know
not me. And your Proll, your grateful but
invisible protectress, Proll, will remain
until my dying day."
Whatever I've done for TO make any
body so grateful, " said poor little Smith, his
wan smile wanner than ever, . can { uh-
derstand."
Slade could not help him on this polnt' so
to turn the conversation, asked bis friehu
why he had evinced so marked dlslncilna-
ton to having Prolls gifts closely examin-
ed
John seemed embarrassed for a moment,
then he said: a.
"Well. it don't matter now; so mere tue
truth Some of my friends-not you, Slade,
laffectionately pressing his hand,) ave been
IN the ,abit of chatting me, cause l was
nervous sort of timid chap, and these cups
and things of Proll's seemed as If they was