The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-06-27

drawing-rooni, and see if some of your neighbor's
do not posses more information than yourself
and ask them whether NOT Mr. Temple has
not very recently come to be curate of -
''Oh, very like that is the case, sir but want
proofs that you arc that Mr.. Temple" -
proofs. man., cried. getting very impa.
tient-"prOofs, man Why, what am to do !? /
cannot refer you to my mother, for she is not
here; and my wife's evidence is, suppose, NOT
admissible. tell you, though, what can do
l beg to refer you to my pocket handkerchief my
stockings, and the tail of my shirt. If you like
to inspect them, you will find Edward Temple
written in marking ink" So saying. pulled
out my pocket handkerchief, and indignantly
| threw it on the table. Lord Clayton took it up,
carelessly glanced at it, and then, smiling. snow.
ed me II. H. c." embroidered In the cerner. To
my intense annoyance, saw that nv wife had
placed in my pocket fine scented handkerchief
OF her own, that might seem grand, suppose
and not only that, bnt the pocket-handkerohief
was one of her marriage outfit ;and marked good
ness knows for what reason though could sug-
gest many, and none of them creditable to the
fair sex-with the initials Of her maiden name
the said pocket-handkerchief mind you, being
never to be used till she became Mrs. Edward
Temple. was not pleased at all this, and you
know it, too, Lizzie" said Ned, turning to his
laughing wife, and then went on: II explain
ed matters to Lord Clayton, and said ut real.
ly looks awkward but may beg you to exam.
inc my stockings and the tail of my shirt. NV
wifes stockings would not fit me, and she can
hardly have shirt made like this" So saying,
began to kick off my Wellington boots.
Lord Clayton interrupted me: my dear sir,
l cannot allow that. Be kind enough to forgive
and excuse me for what has taken place. could
not subject a gentleman to the test you propose !;
and if have by any chance been taken in again"
and he laughed-"all can say is, 1 have been
deceived by the most perfect fac simile of gen.
tleman."
''Come, Ned, draw it mild" suggested Settler
Dick.
"Well," returned Ned, "those were the words
he used" and as he spoke, he held out his hand :
Forgive me, will you? Our hands met in mu-
tual squeeze. He sat down for a moment at the
table, wrote hasty note, and then taking my
arm within his, led me to the drawing.room As
he crossed the hall he gave the note to servant,
with message, OF which all caught was "Give
that to -"
A few moments after we entered the drawing
room, dinner was announced. Lord Clayton
took my wife in, and had an honorable com.
panlon intrusted to my care, and found myself
IN prominent position at the table, The first
glass OF champagne had just been handed round,
when, in kind of stage whisper, the butler an.
nounced to Lord Clayton, "The policeman has
come, my lord" His lordship bit his lips and
looked sheepish, but said nothing.
After dinner note was handed to him. He
hastily skinned it, and at once rose and said !:
Ladies and gentlemen, at an ordinary dinner
party speeches are detestable, and the drinking
of healths thing of bygone days and vet I
must make the one and propose the other. Lady
Clayton and had asked our new neighbors, Mr..
and Mrs. Telnpleton, to dine here to-day. We
had not met on the occasion of our calling, but
had had Mr. Templeton pointed out to me in
the street When Mr.. and Mrs Temple were in
troduced, naturally concluded they were Mr..
and Mrs IT. Iempleton, especially as my butler
pleton hardly appeared to be the same porson
who had been pointed out to me in the street as
Mr. Templeton. However, persons look differ
emit by candlelight and daylight. When Mr. and
Mrs. Templston were afterwards ushered into
the drawing-rcom, was astonished. l at once
recognized Mr.. Templeton as the gentleman who
had been pointed out to me under that name.
The question, of course, arose, who can Mr.. Tenn.
pie be? He must be an imposter We ad iourn.
ed to my library, and discussion took place be-
tween us, which, on my part, was certainly moro
animated than polite 1t ended in my being quite
satisfied that Mr.. Temple was gentleman,
though how he came to my house cannot exact
ly understand. / wrote hurried line to Mr..
Chilmark just before dinner, and Ihave now got
an answer to the effect that Mr.. Temple was to
TO learn that by accident he is enjoying what
Mr. Chilmark is pleased to call the superior hos.
FATALITIES of Clayton castle. As to superior hos.
pitalities, all can say is, that most sincerely
hope Mr.. Temple will kindly forgive my inhos.
pitablc treatment of him before dinner. l will
make him the most ample apology he likes for
my uncourteous suspicion; and let me add for
his information-for the rest of you have heard
the story-that my uncourteous suspicious arose
from the fact that well got-up, gentemanly
clergyman called here a few days ago with his
wife at luncheon-time. lie represented himself
as being the Secretary for the Society for -,
showed me his receipt book, and talked glibly of
matters and persons connected with the society.
The end of the affair was that he and his wife
lunched here paid him check for five hun
dred pounds being a legacy lately left by my
friend Mr.. -, to the society. Unfortunately
| for me, / happened to be Mr.. -'s executor.
l also paid him my annual subscription to the
society. He and his wife made good lunch,
pOcketed my silver spoons and forks, and their
coachnan stole some things from the stable and
servants hall. So you see, Mr.. Temple, am
just now more than usually suspicious Of gentle
manly parsons"
A good.natured laugh at the expense of Lord
| Clayton and myself ran round the table. 1t APP
peared, on inquiry, that Mr.. Ambrose, who was
dining with Lord Clayton, drove a pair Of greys
and close carriage, as likewise did Mr.. Single
ton, the reral dean, who was dining with Mr.
Chilmark. The turnpike woman had mistaken
one carriage for the other and, owing to the mis-
direction. l had followed the wrong carriage
Hence my fix, at the bottom Of which you will
observe was woman. However, alrs well that
ends WELL Lord Clayton took very kindly to
nae. l was constant visitor at Clayton castle !;
and when the living l now hold became vacant,
| Ipr rool ,oA, f,11