The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-11-24

that whatever he might formerly have been
he could now be nothing more nor less
than a gentleman living on his private
means.
From the first day Mr.. Twoshoes had
bargained for the use of latchley, with
free permission to come in and 60 out at
whatever hours of the day and night he
might think proper; and he was not long
before he made frequent use of the privi-
lege we had so readily conceded him. Not
unfrequently he would leave the house at
dusk, and not return till two or three
o'clock next morning at other times, he
would set off early in the morning, and
remain out the whole of the day. "When
one of my whims lays hold of me-" he
laughingly observed to my wife on one oc-
casion, "and whispers to me that had
better take ramble, then must / obey,
and call Shanks' mare into immediate
requisition, whatever hour of the day or
night it may be-"
confess, however, that it gave me ia
turn" as my wife would say, when ON
reaching home one evening, just after dusk
l encountered Mr.. Twoshoes on the steps,
as he was in the act of closing the door be-
hind him, habited from head to foot in the
garb of groom. could hardly believe
in the reality of what saw but there he
stood, benignantly smiling down upon me
from the height of the steps, not disconcert-
ed in the least, but calmly putting away
from the little black pipe between his lips.
On his head he wore Glengarry bonnet /;
round his neck blue-and- white scarf,
fastened with horseshoe pin a waistcoat
low down on the hips; short cutaway
coat, breeches and CATERS; decidedly
"horsey." All these particulars 1 could
make out by the light of the opposite lamp.
He remarked that one of his whirhs had
overtaken him, bade me cheerful good
night, and walked off at leisurely pace
down the street. 1t was three o'clock
next morning before Mr.. Twoshoes re-
turned, and having let himself quietly in,
stole upstairs to his bedroom so gently
that he would hardly have disturbed a
mouse.
But worse was to follow.
Mr.. Twoshoes had been with us about q
month, when was one day sent to R,
q neighboring town about thirteen miles
away, on business for the firm. There
being no railway between the two towns, l
had to hire horse and gig. had finished
my business at R, and was setting out
late in the afternoon on my return, when it
began to rain heavily, for which reason l
determined to take the shortest road home.
The road in question was not very plea
SAINT one, running as it did through wide
tract of barren moorland, dreary and DESC
late, in the extreme, with not more than
half dozen houses on it in distance Of as
many miles. The weather, however, de-
cided me to adopt this route and had got
half way across the moor on my return
when my horse, which was but poor
innkeeper's hack, betrayed such unmistalx.
able signs of distress, that pulled up at a
roadside inn, the only one within a distance
of several miles, in order to have my horse
|
While the ostler was busy outside, en-.
tered the little taproom to obtain some re.
freshment for myself. On one side of the
room sat two or three individuals in the
dress of laboring men, while opposite tC
them, and quite alone, sat man on whom
the whole of my attention was immediatel,
concentrated. If not Mr.. Twoshoes him
self, twas his living presentment / started
back in amazement, as though had seer
a ghost, when my eyes first fell on him
and the next moment was about to accos
him familiarly, but some inward feeling
made me hesitate just rs the words wert
forming on my lips. The stranger, i
stranger he were, gave me one long steady
glance, and then resumed his perusaI of
ragged country newspaper. Was righ
or wrong in imagining that faint CLEAN
Of surprise shot for moment out Of hi
eyes, to be Immediately quenched in that
dull, unacceptable stare AS far as dres
went, he certainly bore no resemblance Il
Mr.. Twoshoes, for he was habited in sui
of blue cloth with gilt buttons, after th,
} fashion Of mate OF captain In the mer
; chant service. He sat in silence during th,
} whole time was there, neither speakin,
to, nor being addressed by, any OF tn,
company. To make his likeness to thu
} genuine Mr.. Twoshoes still more startling
he had the very same slight stoop forwar,
with his head and shoulders and the SAM
intent look about his eyes--as though h
were listening TO some imaginary converse
| tion--vhich knaw on wall Tn oho,,t -,