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

81 u
q sole cbarpe-of B, in Warwickshire.
resided in the rectory, the rector himself being
obI;ged 10 live in the south of France. Callers
of course came. but, owing to one circumstance
and another, we missed seeing most of them.
Before we had started on our round OF returning
visits, l received friendly note rom ar. Chii-
mark vicar in the neighbOrhood, stating that,
in former times lie had known my father at coll
1ora that he h.d the rural dean and few friends
cnniro 70 dine with MIN on such day, and that,
;f nv wife and would waive ceremony 1--WE had
NOT thea returned lis calD, Mrs. Chilmark and
he would be much pleased if We would join their
dinner party / should remark that my wife and
I had never seen ar or Mrs. Chil,nark; we
were ont in the parish when they called on us.
They lived about three miles on the other side of
tbe town of W. from which we were two
mile. distant. In those days l did not keep
close carriage but drove my wife in an open wae-
onette. did not know the country at all well !;
but having studied the map and got directions
from an acquaintance, had little doubt but that,
with the help OF young moon, should lind my
way. ~
It so happened that tho night of November II,
1856. was very foggy; the moon was hardly of
anv use to US We could find our way to the
town of W all right, because it was Il turn.
nike road and / was acquainted with it; but
with regard to the other side of the town and the
crossroads, hardly knew what to do. made up
INV mind to see if | could get on at al! and if I
found myself in the least degree puzzled de-
termined to so back, and get hostler from the
town, to act as guide. AS we were leaving
W, and about to drive through turn
pike, we'll appointed carriage overlook us, and
passed through The gate just before us. l asked
the woman at the gate whose carriage it was
'.Afr Singleton's" she replied. GLOW Fortunate"
exclaimed my wife; ''that is the rural dean
We know he is going to dine with the Chllmarks;
80 you have only to follow close upon him, and
we shall be all right" Acting my wife's
bright suggestion, did follow the carriage and
that closely. Lucky, my horse was good one.
Occasionally, when near water, we seemed to be
plunging through darkness, SO thick was the fog
However, all went well and at last was glad
to follow the carriage before me through an
avenue up to large house, whose hall was blaz-
ing with light, and resplendent with the lveries
of the servants We did not take much notice
then of these things, but as l Invested myself of
my wraps, and my wife was putting herself
straight in some back room, could not help
snvying Mr.. Chilmark, 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
drawing-room, the butler making, az usual, some
blunder about our names when announcing U.S.
Mr. and Mrs. Chilmark came forward and kindly
accosted us. My wife was installed ON sofa
near the IRE, anu i formed one OF n KNOT OF gen.
tlemen lounging in the background. We were
large party, about twenty in number and as
the butler left the room, l thought l heard Mrs.
Chilmark give the order, Dinner few dull
moments, as usual, before that meal when sud
denly an electrical shock of curious nature was
communicated to the majority assembled in the
drawing-room. The door was opened, and in
stead Of dinner being announced. the h". L.;
ushered in Mr. and Mrs. Templeton. There did
m tn bp nnuAual
but evidently great commotion was created.
Persons looked curiously at my wife and myself,
and at last Mr.. Chilmark touched me on the
shoulder, saying: "May speak word with
you in the library?" followed and noticed my
host, in crossing the hall, say something to one
of the servants.
As soon as we were closeted together, Mr..
Cbilmark's manner changed at once.
"Now sir" said he to me, "what is the mean
ing of al this? Who are you really? Where
do you come from 2" OF course was surprised,
and wishing my fathers peppery friend, Mr..
Chilmark, at the very opposite side of the globe,
! calmly stated who was, and reminded him of
his invitation.
81 invite you, sir !" he roared: 'you-you-.
you"-He bit his lip to check his angry words.
eyes, sir" replied, ''you did, and you asked
alse Mr.. Singleton, the rural dean, and have
come, not exactly with him, but JUST after him."
"Stop, sir; no more lies"
Excuse me, sir" replied, zone more word
and have done Either You prematurely
drunk or you arc mad, 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" 4Its
Excuse me, SIR he hissed through his teeth,
while he placed himself between me and the
door; "you will not get off go easily, young man."
Now this was pleasant predicainent thus to
he ClCsetel with mailman.
"tray, may ask what on earth you mean ?"
said l.
Pray. may l ask what on earth you mean 2"
he replied. "Do you know who 1 anywhere
you are?"
.Yes; you are Mr. Chmark, 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
10 dine; and upon my word, the sooner l get out
Of your Aospitable house, and cut your acquain-
tance for good, the better | shall be pleased
He grinned horribly as I spoke, and said 81
Lord Clayton. This is Clayton castle l
never asked YOU to dine; and, in short, you are
scamp. I have already sent for policeman,
and until he arrives, you shall not leave this
ROOM"
We'll l thought, "thank goodness he has
sent FOX policeman; SO ere long | shall get rid
Of this madmans society" What to do, knew
not. ! fixed my eye on him, and tried to master
him by staring him out Of countenance. We
We're both silent for a few moments. AT last my
friend said to me: "Your tale is ingenious,
young man; but it breaks down. If you were
going to dine with Mr.. Chimark at - rec
tory, how camesyou to be hore, distance of six
miles from your pretended destination 2"
l then explained that knew the real dean,
Mr.. Singleton-that was stranger in the coun-
ty, and was not acquainted with the roads-that
H. t,,Y,,s ,lra, ~ IL