The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-05-18

The "Green Dragon" at OrpiDgton,
assuming to be an inn, is, in reality
little more than a way-side public.
house. Mr.. Hunter, landlord and
proprietor, was therefore not little
surprised and flurried when, upon q
raw October afternoon, young man
having a great coat over his arm, 3
light bag IN one hand, and a stick in
the other, presented himself at the
bar Of the "Green Dragon" and asked
| languidly IL he could be aceOmmo-
dated with bed and sitting-Toom.
"a bed, sir ?' replied Mr.. Hunter, 9
big man, with red face and gray hair,
Eyes, think we can manage to give
you q bed"
"And a sitting-room ?" continued
the stranger.
"a sitting-room, echoed the land.
1ard. in -AhA- tnnl of nnA- -..-l.--.----
sidering some great undertaking ;
'ione minute, il you please, sir" and
Mr.. Hunter disappeared into little
room Immediately adjoining the bar,
there to hold counsel with some Sec
ond person, the upshot being that, in
q few minutes, Mrs. Hunter, Miss
Hunter, and few Hunters just out OF
the crawling state, issued forth, bear.
ing respectively working materials
socks in process of being mended, and
whistles, and decapitsted dolls.
"Yoa can have this room ali tC
yourself, sir,H said Mr.. Hunter tri.
umphantly.
"You really must not let me disturb
YOU" rejoined the traveller.
"Don't You mention it," replied the
landlord, in tone which was at once
genial and confidential. 1--WE would
not turn a customer away from oul
doors. You see, we do not have much
paflor company
have disengaged Ff
"Well, yes, sir; this is the only
room at present-Susan Goals for the
gentleman's fire."
The traveller having as he thought
shown a due amount of consideration
for the comfort of Mrs. Hunter and
the young Hunters, was glad enough
70 enter the apartme ent before alluded
10, and to draw close to the fire the
one dilRpidated armchair.
Arthur Seton, barrister by pro-
fession, and literary by choice, was
not really more than thirty, though
he looked considerably older for the
dark hair and beard were streaked
with gray, and the face, with its reg.
ular, handsome features, wore habit
ually look of such intense mental
WEAKNESS as would have saddened
the most hopeful man had he looked
on il for long.
For some time he leant indolently
back, his hands clssped behind his
head at length he rose and took from
his bag a Iocked-up diary and ink
which stood upon the table, made the
following entry
OCT. II, 1674.-Got up late. Cslled
on the Brainstones George was out
Had q pleasant chat with Annie
went, like fool, to Richmond-and,
like fool, haunted the Well Rouse
1t looked Just the same as in the old
dear days, but l heard children play.
ing in the garden. The house is let,
! believe, to city people. Came back t.
London dined st the Pail Mall
went 10 the club. Got back to cham,
bers late. Wrote a column g. Re.
view" A weary, weary day. Shal
| / never know moments fOrgetful
ness2
He drew then from the leaves Of ths
diary letter written in a delicate
feminine hand, and addressed Gar.
thur Seton, Esq, II Gray's Inn.'
This letter he regarded with long
sad, loving look; then, resting hi
head on bis hand, he read it through
very slowly. 1t ran as follows:
MY DEAR ARTHUR: If you will bC
so suspicious, so jealous, and exacting
can not see how We are ever to b,
happy. Faith without works is dead
and love without faith is no blessing
but s weary burden. | am tired O
cross words and dark looks. Som,
women, 1 believe, like the feverist
excitement of quarrels, but l only
) wish for peace. This miserable petty
jealousy is quite unworthy Of you
Do try and put it from you and re
member that love, once wounded, Il
sometimes hurt past hope of recovery
I received your article quite safely
I but can not speak about it now
You have made me too sad, to-
weary, and even little indignant.
Yours affectionateiy,
ALICE CEAREFIELD.
Well House, Richmond, Oct, 1871
{ He replaced the letter, closed tn
diary, took up his pipe and begal
smoking. The early part Of this Dis,
had been fine and mild, but to
ward the afternoon the sky grew al
at once leaden and the wind shifte
; to the northeast. Now the wind wa
rising and the rain was falling
4 cold, penetrating, impetlous, de
termined rain. The country, whicl
but a brief while since had looked s
I fair in bland October sunlight, nos
seemed q thing to shudder at. TIL
dun-colOred woods, wet and forloru
1 seemed to have no hope of any re
turning summer, and to know the nj
ter desolation Of the end.
1t was impossible indeed to in
!, agine that in the green, soakin
. fields, where now 3 few cows weF
'' budding together, and lowing di;
}. consolatsly, glad children could eve
have tossed each other in the warm
sWeet-smelling hay the rain drov
idrearily against the window, and tn
wind shrieked round the house, an
occasionally thundered in the chin
3 ney, and, at the bar, where, in spit
d of the wet weather, Mr.. Hunte
l. seemed to be doing a brisk business