The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-02-06
ouosr sroHN

iu an8 oat, stirring ibc fire and fleklHg
crumbs from tAc table lie had op'y
brought himself to the conclusion that
thI. strange guest was a "gUecr on, p
especially for a Christmas Eve.
In fact. they Of tie Four Swans were
not much used 20 strangers Of any sort.
They haa a quiet, ieady-guing connect
ton ltself Three or four trade clubs
. held their meetings there, aud the Fix or
seven bedrooms Of the estabi hmcut were
F kept lu Just the state Of order and CONF
fort which suited the individuality OF the
SIX OF seven Commercial gentlemen"
who, when on Norham business, had
palronized the Four Swans for the last
twenty or thirty years. fever q straBg-
er appeared, IL was generally with some
.uch introduction ne this: Landlord, Mr..
Dash, of Blank, told me you would give
mc good quarters for a Gay, or for o week
as ths case might be. Indeed the -Four
swans, bad. as Il were, hidden itself from
alt cbaueo-comcrs, Tor il was situated Id
q quiet corner of o very quiet street,
down which nobody would think Of turn
ing unless be knew something Of Il be-
iorehand; aud altogether, with its in
terror Of brown panuelling, It's wealth Of
quaint and grotesque ornaments, its red
tiled yeraudah aud its communicative
confidential old servants, the Four Swans
was an excellent type Of those honest,
hotels which are fast being improved
from the face Of the earth.
The gentleman IN the colee-room did
not notice that he had done an odd thing
By coming in without word, and re-
naming without an order, Perhaps he
had other things to think about He was
a tall, middle-aged man, with a good
deal Of hair upon his face; and, though
ho was unmistakably well-dressed, he
had that indefinite air which most men
carry who at any period Of their lives
have "knocked about in ships and col
onies, in canvas suits and corduroys.
He had como in about five O'Clock, and
six o'clock struck, and seven, and IL was
within two minutes Of eight when an old
Norham townsman came in to look over
the papers. To the intense satisfaction
Of the waiter, that etIectualy reused the
stranger But so slowly--like the awak-
ening from a long sleep. And 50 it had
been, an enchanted sleep haunted by a
dream Of liye-and.twenty years ago.
want TO stay hele for the night,
waiter, he said abruptly Any comfort
able sort of bedroom will suit me And
bring me some tea and toast.
The waiter was alert. There little
private room of here, sir, he said, throw
ing open a door I'll set your tray there
its more retired like than this.
The gentleman followed as invited. j
was square closet, with two or three
stuffed chairs, a polished round table, and
a dull oil-paintiug over the mantle. Thai
was all that would strike any strange eye.
But the gentleman walked straight TO a
, panneI beside the fireplace, aud peered al
it. Under the slow discolC ration and
many washings Of a long time, there was
still visible a slight dashing pen-and-ink
sketch of an old man, with long nose
and google spectacles.
Dear me sir, you've got quick eyes to
! find that ont directly, said the ehatty old
waiter. Clever, isn't It? A young dare
devil he was that did it, and that was a
portrait OF a London detective that had
come down TO take him Off to prison, His
last meal in Norham he atc in this here
room, sir, aud a rare lot Of ham and eggs
he did get through, sir, and never mind
6 ed q bit that the policeman was a-watch-
ing Of him.
b The gentleman said not a word.
Hes queercr than ever, condded the
waiter to the old cook, as he received the
tea and toast from her hands. began
to tell him aboot young Rogerson, but he
did not listen bit, did not even ask If he
: was hanged or anything It's like taking
~, ,,f,,,t 40 ho,,or ,,,.r ,,,i.or rnol5
.,.,.i,s In, og ,od ,o,n,i s..r,n as
,,.a.. i'll :, a;sara.o o -, f,r.,l,.
-s,.u..a 49,. ~, .,.,',. ,rto rec ,,.a,,, T.,
ta. ,.n,nas. or1 os 50 ,,hast- ,haso,s
-, ,.,.......,..,.,,.,.,,'. -, -,
-!.0.. - ~ =. ,, -, D. t..,, m ,1a.,,
,a' ,'...,'', - " ~ s'' -, 80
vi ,,e.,,,,,. I ~ -. -, ~. ,,.
90 ,.a1 1.anaaa ;o,a ,to .,e.a.ron,, and
p, - ~. ,,,,a,.,..is or ,,,s .,,.aaaaoo
l.r,a an, and nb.,,od viii, ,tcu IN ,
cheerful eonality. wherein the sole line OF