The Portland daily press., 1868-07-03
selected story.
THE PARSONS FIX,
fErom Chambers,s Journal.l

missed seeing most OF them. Before we had
started on our found of returning visits. |
received friendly note from Mr.. Cbilmark
vicar in the neigLborhood, stating that in
former times, he had known my father at
college: that he had he rural dean and a few
friends coming TO dine with HIM on such a
day, and that if my wife and / would waive
ceremony 1--WE had not then returned his CALI
Mis- Chimark and he would be much pleas
ed II we would join their dinner party |
should remark that my wife and L had never
seen Mi. or Mrs. ChIlmark; we were out in
the parish when they called on u.s. Thay
lived about three mics on the other side n,
the town OF W, from which we were two
miles distant. in those days did not keen
a close carriage but drove my wife in an omen
wagonette. dld not know the country az
all well but having studied the map and col
directions from an acquaintance | han
little doubt but that with the help OF
young moon, / should find my way
1t SO happened that the night OF November
-, loo-, was very Ioggy; the moon was OF
harlly any use to us. We could find our
way TO the town OF W--all right, because
u was turnpike road, and L was acquainted
with 1t; but with regard to the other siue oil
the town and the CT SIS roads hardly knew
what to do. made up my mind to see it
could get ON at all; anu il found myself in
the least degree puzzied determined to 60
as guide. As we were leaving W. and
about to drive through a turnpike, well-ap
pointed carriage overlook us, and passed
through the gale just before u.s. [ asked the
woman at the gate whose carriage it was
"Mr. Sngleton's" she replied. "How iortu-
nate" exclaimed my wife; shat is the rural
dean. we know he is going to dine with the
Cuimarks; so you have only to follow close
upon hlm and we shall be all right" Acting
on my wiIe's bright suggestion did follow
the carriage, and that CLOSELY Luckily. m,
horse was good one. Occasionally, when
near wafer, we seemed to be plungine through
darkness, SO thick was the fog. However. all
went well; and at last 1 was glad to follow
the carriage before lie through au avenue up
to large house, whose hall Was blazing with
light, and Respondent with the veries of the
servants. We did not take much notice then
OF these things; but as L divested myseIt OF
my wraps, and my vile was putting herself
straight III some back room: | could not help
envying Mr.. Cbilmark, and thinking that his
living must be an exceedingly good one, as he
was able to have things in such style.
In few minutes we were ushered into the
drawinS-room, the butler making, as usual.
some b.under about our names when an
nounclng us. Mr.. and Mrs. Chilmalk came
forward and kindly accosted US. NV wife
was installed on a sofa near the fire, and |
Termed one OF knot OF gentlemen loungine
III Gne DachSrounu. we were large party,
about twenty in number and as the hutler
lett the ROOM, thought l heard Mrs. Chill
mark give the order, Dinner" A few dun
moments, as usual before that meal, when
suddenly an electrical shock OF a curious ma
ture was communicated to the majority as
sembled in the drawing room. The door was |
opened, and instead OF dinner being announc-
Ell, the butler ushered in MI. and Mrs. Tenn
pleton. There did not appear to me to be |
anything unusual in this, but evidently |
great commotion was erected. Persons look |
ed curiously at my wife and myself, and at |
last MIR. Chilmark touched me Oh the shout |
der, saying: MAY L speak word with YOU |
IN the l.brary?"
followed, and noticed my host, in cross
ing the hall, say something to one of the SER
wants.
"As soon as we were closeted together
Mr.. Chilmarks manner changed at once.
NOW, sir" said he to me, "what is the mean |
ing OF all this? Who are, YOU? Where do |
you come from?" OF course / was surprised
and wishing my fathers peppeiy friend, Mr. |
Chiimark, at the very opposite side of the |
globe. | calmly stated who | was. and re-
minded him OF his invitation.
81 invite you, sir!" he roared: "you-you-I
you'-he bit his lip to check his angry
words.
Eyes, sir" l replied, "you did, and YOU
asked also Mr.. Singleton, the rural dean, and |
L nave come, not exactly with him, but lust |
after him"
"Stop, sir; no more lies"
Excuse me, sir," replied, zone more word |
and have done. Either you are premature
ly drunk or you are mad do not care to dine |
with either drunkard or madman. l shall |
call my vile out OF the drawing-room, and |
beg to wish you good evening""
"kxcuse me, sir" he Kissed through his |
teeth, while be placed himself between me |
nd -
young man."
Now this was pleasant predicanent. thus |
TO to be closeted with mad man.
fray, may l ask what on earth do you |
mean?' SAID [.
"Pray, may l ask what on earth do YOU |
mean?' he replied, "Do you know who / |
am-where You aIe?"
Yes; y'u are MIR. Chilmark, the rector OF
-, a very old friend OF my father, the late |
MIR. Temple OF -; L am standing in YOUR
library at your rectory, having been asked |
mere 10 dlne; and upon my word tne sooner |
get out of your hospitabe house, and cut |
your acquaintance tor good, the better 1 shall |
be pleased"
He grinred horribly as spoke, and said !:
am Lord Clay don. This is Clayton castle |
never asked y ou to dine; and, in short. YOU |
are scamp. have already sent for police |
man, and until he arrives, you shall not leave
this rcom."
"Well," thought, "thank goodness he has
sent ior policeman; so ere long [ shall
get rid OF this madman's society,"" What TO |
do knew not l fixed my eye on him. and |
trled 10 master him by staring him out OF |
countenance. We were both silent for a |
lew moments. At last my friend said to |
me: ~ our tale is ingenious oung man. but
II breaks down. Ii you were going to dine
with Mr.. ChilmaIk at - rectofy. how
come you to be here, distance OF six miles
IRON your pretended destination ?,
then explained that knew the rural dean
Mr.: Singleton, was going to dine with Mr..
Chilmark-that ! was stranger in the conn.
w., and was not acquainted with the roads |
that the turnpike woman told me il was |
Mr. sing eton's carriage whith passed us at |
the gate, and hat had followed it. and con.
sequedtly found myself where | now was.
Light began to dawn on the obfusticated
senses OF both OF us. 1t struck me that nv
supposed madman was in all probability
really Lord Clayton, and thall in some way
L had made mess of the matter-missed
my leading riage in the fog, or done some
thing OF that kind. l imagine it began to
strike the gentleman opposite that possibld
after all might not be an imposter Lord
Claydon-forso SO l must call him-tben said:
You tell me you are Mr.. Temple, the new cut
rate Oh. What proofs cal you give me that
you are What you represent Yourself ?n
fenty, tomorrow" replied I; s.but not
many at present. Look at me. however do
not appear gentleman and clergyman 2v |
win KIND of CHASTITY grin Lord Claydon |
said: THAT goes for nothing. You are not |
Dit better got up than-in fact not so well |
proofs "' inoie
"Proofw replied l. "Why, 90 into vour
drawing-room, and see if some of YOUR neioh-
bors do not possess mole information than
yourself, and ask them whether or not a Mr..
Temple has not very recently come TO be cur
Oh, very like that is the case, sir: but I
want proofs that you are that Mr.. TEMPLE
Proofs, man" | cried, getting very i'm
patient-"proofs, man! Why what am I to
40! cannot refer you to my mother Tor she
is not here; and my wiIe's evidence is. | sum-
pose, not admissible. l tell you though.
what can dol beg to refer Won to INV
poeKet handkerchief my stockings and the
tall OF my shirt. If you like to inspect them,
you VIII find Edward Temple written in
marking INK. SO saying, pulled out NV
pocKet-handkerchief, and Indignantly tbraw |
1t on the table. Lord Clayton took if nm
calelessly glanced at it, and then, smilinr
showed me "E. FL. c." embroiderel in ~,
corner. To my intense ANNOYANCE. / saw
that my wife had placed in my pocket a fine
scented handkerchief of her own. that I
might seem grand, L suppose; and not only
that, but the pocket handkerchief was ono of
her marriage outfit; and marked-ooodnoSs
KNOWS lOr what reason, though / conld oro