The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-10-03

mcnt, gave Dlank stare, incn an III
perceptible nod, and once more glow
cred down upon the fire.
"IIerc, little ones, do you see this
conjuror? he's conjuror. Know what
Il conuror is, Tommy cried the par
son, catching up mite ofthrce or four
from the floor. 'No, otyou; nor you
Sarah, nor you Jacky"-and he ran
through all their names.
They had now ceased their gambols
and were staring hard at their visitors
the moment was propitious; Jack
Ncwbiggin began. lie had fortunately
filed his pockets with nuts, oranges and
cake before leaving the parsonage, so
he had half his apparatus ready to
hand.
The pretty boy had very soon left the
father at the fire, and had come over to
Ijoin in the fun, going back, however, to
exhibit his share OF the spoil, and des-
cribc volumnously what had occurred.
This and repeated shouts of laughter
seemed to produce some impression on
him. Presently he looked over his
shoulder. and said-but without anina-
tion:
at be very good of you, surely; very
good for to take so kindly to the little
|
bit. and it amt much as they have had
to make them laugh lately"
at is good for all of us, now and
again, take it," said Jack, dcsistng
and going towards him-thc children
gradually collecting in far of corner
aud comparing notes.
"You can't laugh, sir, if your hearts
heavy; il you do, ii can be only Il
sham"
While he was speaking he had taken
the Bible from the shelf. and resuming
his seat. began to turn the leaves slow
ly over.
"l'm an untaught rough countryman,
sir, but ! have hoard tell that these
strange things you do are only tricks,
ain't 1t so?
Here was, indeed, hopeful sympt-
ON, lie was reused, then, to take
some interest in what had occurred.
"All trick. of course: il all comes of
long practice, said Jack, as he proceed
ed TO explain some of the processes,
hoping to cnchain the mans attention.
CHATS what | thought, sir, or I'd
have given you job TO do. I've been
in want of a real coniuror for many a
long day. and nothing else will do. See
here. Sir" he said as he took a small,
carefully folded paper from between
the leaves of the Bible: edo yon see
thisl"
1t was a bank of England note for
elOO.
"Now, sir, could any coninrer help
me to the other half?"
"IIow did you come by it?' Jack
asked at once.
sIslI tnl vott short | can
make it. Conjuror or no coniuror, you
have got "A kindly heart, aud I'm main
sure lliat You'll help me it you can
Dan then described how. he had pick
!, ed up the basket from the 1874 O'Clock
Liverpool express.
"Thcrc was the linen; Eve kept it,
Sec here: all marked quite pretty and
proper, with lace round the edges, n
though the mother liked TO make the
, little one smart"
Jack examined the linen; it bore ;
monogram and crest. The first hC
made out to mean II. l.. NJ. and the
crest was plainly two hammers crossct
, aud the motto, 81 strikc'--not com
mon crcst-and he never remembered
u to have seen it before.
"And this was all
h poor old purse, with pawn ticket an,
thimblc. kept them ALL
Like u tue detective Jack examined
1 every article minutely. The purse bor
e the name Hester Gorrigan in rude let
II tcrs inside, and the pawn ticket wa
It made out in the same name.
:, al cannot give vou much hope that
= shall succeed, but will do my best
|
IS time!"
;. "Surely, sir, with the greatest q
l. pleasure. If You could but find th
d other half it would give Harry-that'
J. what we call him-such grand start i
o life; schooling and the price of bindin
d him to some honest trade.
)f Jack took tho mans hand, promise
IS TO do his hest, and left the cottage.
> When Jack Ncwbiggin got back
4 the parsonage he found that his hos
d had accepted an invitation for thcl
both TO dine at the big House," as
d was called, the couatry seat of the squiI
N of the parish.
ID They were cordially received at I'll
h, 'Big House., Jack was handed ovC
y forthwith to his old friends, who, iigu
a ativcly, rushed into his arps. The
( I; of the sort we meet here and thel
IN and everywhere during the season, wi
nd care for us, aud we for them, rs mu'
II as Tor South Sea Islanders, but who
we greet with rapturous eilusion wht
IL we meet them in strange place. Ja'
&c knew the lady whom he escorted in
til dinner as a gossipy dame, who, wh'
g. his back was turned, made as mn
\ a 81 % LII Of N It fri
IN 81 have been fighting your battles
ry day" began Mrs. Sitwell.
I'd, "Was it necessary? | should ha
el, thought myself too insignificant"
est "They were talking at lunch of yo
md some one said the skill might prove
er, convenient when you played cards,
, Is instance"
nu 'nsui a charitable impuiaiionl W
'nu n,', whom did il originate!'
81! "Sir Lewis Mallnby.'
W "Please point him out 10 me-"
'ue- ,v, lie was shown grave, scowling {
~ upon the right of the hostess-a 4
op- like a mask, its surface rough ,
ny wrinked, through which the e
shown out with balcful light like cor
,n' candles in n sci Il C or.
~ eT a "Pleasant creaturel I'd rather
!. ,a' meet him alone on n dark night"
n, "IIe has terrible character, cert
,Snt ly. Turned his wife out of doors
'naa ,a cause she would not give him an heir
ioso is this want of children to inherit
sDu title ami estates which preNs upon
'ano ,No mind, they say, aud makes him 50
,sn5 'nJ rose and melancholy"
hans jack let his ceffiiii ia,,tiiiies elattee on