The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-07-09
Stleelro alisrrilauD.
THE ~PARsOS's FIX.

himself being obliged 10 live in the south OF
France. Callers Of course came, hut, owing
to one circumstance aud another We missed
seeing most ofthem, Before We had started
on our round Of returning visits, ] received
a friendly note from Mr. Chilmark, o vicar
in the neighborhood, stating that In former
times lac had known my father at college,
that he had the rural dean n q few friends
coming to dine with him ON such a day, and
that II nv wife and \ would waive cere-
mony I'VE had mol then returned his CALI
Mr.. Chilmark apdhe would be much pleased
If We would i0in their dinner party. /
ahould'remarR that my wife and | had never
seen Nj. OF Mrs Chilmark; We we've out in
the PARISH when they called on Us. They
lived about three miles on the other side OF
the town OF w., from which We were
two miles distant IN those days | did not
keep aicluse carriage. bnt drove my wife in
an open hragonette. 4 did not know the
country at all velH but having studied the
map and got directions from an acquaint-
ance. 7 had little doubt but that, with the
help Of young moon. should lind my
way. ...H
Il 20 happened that the night OF Noyem-
Der ~, l55-,was very foggy; the moon was
hardly Of any use 70 us. We could find our
way to the town Of Va all right, because
1t was a turnpike road and l wa acquaint-
GU Win AN kAAN VIVA ANhNAA W AAk kAAANA aAhA
Of the town ndthecross-rosds, hardly knew
what 70 do. Tmade up my mind 10 see i'll
could get on at ali; and If I found myself in
the degree least puzzled Ideterminedto go
oock aud gst a hostler from the town to
act as O guide As we were leaving W
and about 70 drive through 0 turnpike O
well-Uppointed carriage overlook us, and
passed through the gate just before US. /
asked the woman at the gate whose carriage
il wss.
'1Tr singelton's she replied
How fortunate, exclaimed my wife;
that is the rural dean. We know he Is 90
ing 70 dine with the Chilmarks; 50 you have
only TO follow close upon him, and we shall
be oil right D.
Acting on my wife's bright suggestion, L
did follow tho carriage and that closely.
Luckily, my horse was q good one. Occa-
sionally, when near water, we seemed 10 be
p~lunging through darkness, 30 thick was the
fog. However, all went wen; and at last l
was glad 10 folloNthe carriage before me
through On avenue UP 10 a large house,
whose hall was blazing with light, and re-
splendent with the hvsries of the servants. n
We did not take much notice then of these
things but as Gdivested myself Of my wraps,
and my wife was putting herself straight in
some back room, ] could not help envying
Nh. Chhlfnark, and thinking that his living
must be an exceedingly good one, AZ he was
able 10 have things IN such style.
In a lew minutes we were ushered into
the drawing.fOom, the butler making, as
usual, some bluhder about our names when
announcing US. Mr. and Mrs. ChilmGrk
came forward aud kindly aecosted as, My.
wife was installed Oh a sofa near the Ere,
and l formed one Of a knot Of gentleman
lounging in.the back ground We we're a
lovUr yaawkw aIatat e4waptvr a., vy,v.IaW - ~.
the butler Left the room, l thought i heard
Mrs Chilmarl give the order Dinner A
few dun moments as usual before that
meal, when suddenly an electrical shock of
a curious nature was communicated 10 the
majority assembled IN the d~rawing-room.
tn door was opened, and instead OF dinner
being announced, the butler ushered Nh.
and Mrs Templeton. There did not appear
10 me 70 be anything unusual in this, but
evidently a great commotion was created.
Persons looked cullously az my wife and my
self, n at last Mr. Chilmark touched me
on the shoulder, saying: MAY / speak 4.
word with you IN the library followed
and noticed my host, in crossing the hall,
say something 10 one OF the servants.
As soon az we were closeted together, Mr..
Chilmarks manner changed at once.
Now, SIR, said he 10 me, what is the
meaning Of all thia2 Who are YOU, really
Where do you come from2" OF course /
was surprised; and wishing my father pep
perry friend Mr.. Chilmark, at the very OPP
posite side Of the globe, 1 calmly stated
who I was and reminded him of his invita-
ton.
Il invite you, .sirp he roared; 'you-
you-you"-He bit his lip 10 check his am
cry words,
Yes, sir, " / replied, you did, aud you
pgkRn alnn Mr. kfUulafoW Fha t4Tra1 1aon
endI have come, not exactly with him, but
just after him" .
stop SIR; no more lies. %
''Excnse me, sir, % 1 replied, lone more
word and I have done, Either you are
~prematurely drunk or you are mad. I do
not care to dine with either drinkard OF
madmah. | shall call my wife out of the
drawing,room, and beg to wish You good
evening"
Excise me, sir, he Kissed through his
teeth, while he placed himself between me
and thedoori ''you win not get of so easily
young man. r.r- .I a.. r.
Now this was a pleasant predicament thus
to be closeted with msdman, .
Pray may I ask what on earth you
mean, said .' 900 1901.
Pray, may / ask what on earth you
mean, ~ he replied DO you know who I
Gm-where you ere z"
yes you are Mr., Chilmark, the rector
Of =, a very old friend Of my father the
late MI, Temple, o f-; / am standing in
your library at your rectory, having been
asked here 70 dine; and upon my word,
the sooner l get out Of your hospitable
thouse, and cut your acquaintance for good,
the better | shall be pleased"
He grinnsd horribly as / spoke and said:
II am Lord Clayton. THE is Clayton cas-
tie. I never asked you 10 dine; and, in
short, you are q scamp. have already sent
Tor a policeman, and, until he arrives, you
shall notleRYe this room"
We'll" ! thoqght, thank goodness he
has sent tol q policeman; so ere long / shall
get nd ofthis niadman's society" What 10
do, ! knew not fixed my eve on him,
and tliedito master him by staring him out
OF eountenance. We were both silent for a
few moments. At last my friend said 10 me
Your tale IL Ingenious, young man; but II
breaks down. Ifyou were going to dine
with Mr.. Chilmark. AFR rectory, how
come you to be here, a distance Of six miles
nom your pretended destination.
l h explained that / knew the real
dean, Mr.. Singleton was going TO dine with
MI ChilmarkTthat l was a stranger in the
county, and was not acquainted with roads;
that the turnpike woman toldme il was Mr..
Singletop's carriage which passed us at the
gate, and thatI had followed it and conse-
quently found myself where l now was.
Light began 10 dawn somewhat upon the
obfuscated senses Of bothfof us. II struck
me that my supposed madman was in all
probability really Lord Clayton, and that In
some way IhRd made a mess Of the meter
missed my leading, carriage ia the fog, or
done something or that kind. / imagine ii
b0uan IN affira fha aankIan,aw o,Ao.sIo sL.A