The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-03

y
at last Mr., GEiImark touched me on
the shoulder, saying: May I speak
Q word with you in the EbraryP" I
followed, and. noticed my host, in
crossing the hal. say something to
one of. the servants. &
+ As soon as we were closeted toge-
ther, Mr.. Chilmark' g manner changed
at once, 'sNow, sir,p said he to me,
'what is the meaning Of all this?
Who are you reallyp. Where do you
come from?" OF course, I was sur
prised; and wishing my fathers pep
perry friend, Mr.. Chilmark, at the
very opposite side Of the globe, I
calmly stated who I was. and re-
minded him Of his invitation.
''I invite you, sirl", he roared;
''you-you-you-" He bit his
lips to check his angry words.
eyes, sir" 1 replied, ''you did;
and you asked also Mr.. Singleton,
thesrural dean, and I have come, not
exactly with him, but just after him. I"
"Stop sir; no more lies"
"Excuse me, sir" replied; zone
more word, and I have done. Either
you are prematurely drunk, or you
are mad. I do not care to dine with
either drunkard or mailman. shall
call my wife out of the drawing
room, and beg to 'wish you good
evening""
"Excuse me, sir, he Kissed through
his teeth, while he placed himself
between me and the door; "you will
not get off so easily, young man"
Now this was pleasant predica-
ment, thus to be closeted with mad
man.
'.Pray, may I ask you what on
earth you mean?" said I.
"Pray, may I ask you what on
earth you mean?" he replied. "Do
you know who I anywhere you
are?"
eyes; you are Mr.. Chilmark, the
rector Of, q very old friend of
my father, the late Mr.. Temple, of
-; am standing in your library,
at your rectory, having been asked
here to dine; and, upon my word, the
sooner I get out of your hospitable
house, and cut your acquain tance
for good, the better I shall be
pleased.
He grinned horribly as I spoke,
and said: 81 am Lord Clayton.
This is Clayton Castle. I never
asked you to dine; and, in short,
you are a scamp. I have already
sent for q policeman, and, till he
arrives. you shall not leave this
"Well," thought I, "thank good
ness, he has sent for policeman; so
ere long I shall get rid of this mad
mans society" What to do I knew
not. I fixed my eye on him, and
tried to master him by staring
him out Of countenance. We were
both silent for a few moments.
At last, my friend said to me:
''Your tale is ingenious, young
man; but it breaks down. II you
were going to dine with Mr.. Chill
mark, at - Rectory, how come
you to be here, distance of six
miles from your pretended destina-
tion?"
81 then explained that knew the
rural dean, Mr.. Singleton, was going
to dine with Mr. Chilmark- /
was a stranger in the County, and
was not acquainted with the roads
that the turnpike woman told me it
was MIR. Singleton's carrige which
passed us at the gate, and that I had
followed it, and consequently found
myself where was now."
Light began to dawn somewhat
upon the obfuscated senses of both
of us. 1t struck me that my sup
posed madman was in all probability
really Lord Clayton, and that in
some way l had made mess of the
matter-missed my leading carriage
in the fog, or done something of
that kind. I imagine it began to
strike the gentleman opposite, that
possibly, after all, I might not be on
imposter. Lord Claydop-for so I
must call him-then said: ''You tell
me that you are Mr.. Temple, the
new curate of -. What proofs can
you give me that you ore what you
represent YOURSELF"
.Plenty, tomorrow, replied I; "but
not many at present. Look ct me,
however do I not appear gentle.
man and clergyman?"
With kind of ghastly grin, Lord
Clayton said: "That goes for