Iron County register., 1880-04-22

i DclSldu CuelcIy OI CucSp lmltdLlOiA lew.
elry. But even these had no buyers, ana
the little stir and life of the place was in
the cafes, where the brawny natives,
armed to the teeth, smoked and lounged
the livelong day, and, to all seeming,
fulfilled no other duty in existence.
l suspect l have an actual liking for
dreary and tiresome places. 1 believe
they somehow accommodate themselves
to something in my temperament which
is not misanthropy, nor mental depres-
sion, nor yet romance, but compounded
of all three. feel, besides, that imagi-
| nation scars the more freely the fewer
the distractions that surround me; but
| that l require just that small amount of
stimulant human life and its daily cares
| suggest to prevent stagnation.
was at least six days at Prevesa be-
| fore / was aware that her Britannia
Majesty had representative there. It
| was in chance ramble down little
alley that led to the bay / came upon the
British arms over low doorway 1t
was a very poor-looking tumble-down
| house, with very frail wooden balcony
over the door, distinguished by a flag
| staff, to be doubtless decorated on occa-
sion by the proud flag of England.
Framing | forget what imaginary rea-
son for inquiry, / entered and knocked
| at a door inscribed " Consular hours
| from -" and then a smudge of paint
obliterating the rest and leaving the i'm
port in doubt. Not receiving any answer
to my summons, l pushed open the door
| and entered. A man in his shirt-sleeves
and slippers was asleep on a very dirty
sofa, and so soundly that my entrance
| did not disturb him. A desk with some
much-worn books and Scattered papers,
a massive leaden inkstand, and large
official seal, were in front of him; but a
paper of Turkish tobacco, and glass of
what smelt to be gin, were also present,
and from the flushed cheek and heavy
breathing of the sleeper, appeared to
have been amongst his latest occupations.
1t is not necessary should record our
conversation. In his half-waking and
not all sober state he had mistaken me
for British sailor who had been left be-
hind somewhere, and was importuning
to be sent on to England, but whose case
evidently had inspired scant sympathy.
:" I'll not do it!'' grl1mbled out the
Consul, with his eyes more than half
closed You were drunk, or desert
er-I don't care which. My instructions
are positive, and you may 90 to the old
Nick for me. There now, that's your
answer, and you'll not get any other if
you stayed there till Dusk
"I suspect you mistake me, sir" said
I, mildly. {" / am traveller and an En-
glish gentleman.
8 I hate gentlemen, and don't love
Travellers" said he, in the same drowsy
voice as before,
'< Sorry for that, but must ask you all
the same if my passport permits me to
go into Italy?'
.'Of course it does. What sort of
traveller are you that does not know that
much, and that if you wanted a visa,
it's the Italian should giveit and there s
no Italian or Frenchman here. There s
no one here but Prussian, Strantop-
sky-dash his eyes-good morning; and
he again turned his face to the wall. I
cannot say what curiosity prompted me
to continue our little promising conver-
sation, but there was something so
| strange in the man S manner at moments
| something that seemed to indicate a
very different condition from the present
that | determined at all hazards to
linger on.
"Idon't suppose the sight of a coun-
tryman can be a very common event in
these regions" said /, ''and I might al
most hope it was not an unpleasant one!"
"Who told you that, my good fellow?"
said he, with more animation than be-
fore. "Who said that it gave me any
peculiar pleasure to see one of those peo-
| pie that remind me of other times and
very different habits?''
''At all events I, as an individual, can
not open these ungracious recollections,
| e. l~.~E- II ,~A
| even now know your name
| ply. Thomas Gardner Lydyyard, ed
ucated at All Souls, Oxford, where he
| took first class in classics and law; was
Guards, 9th, 18-; sent with Lord
Raycroft's mission to Denmark to invest
| His Christian Majesty with the insignia
of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
| Contested Marcheston -, 18-, and
was returned on a petition I'll finish
what's not in the book-backed Queen
| Nab at seven to two-got regular crop
per-had to bolt and live three years in
| Sweden-took to corn brandy and strong
cavendish and ended as you see-V. c.
| at Prevesa. Is not that brilliant end
ing for youth of promise? Do you re-
member in your experience as man of
travel that you can match it?''
BY this time he had risen to the sitting
posture, and with his hair rudely pushed
| back by his hands, and his face grown
red with passion, looked as fierce and
passionate as high excitement could make
| a man.
"rve heard your name very often,"
said 1, calmly; "Close and st. John
used to talk of you constantly; and re-
member Moresby saying you were the
| best rider of fiat race among the gen.
tlemen of England"
81 was better, ten times better, across
country. I could get more out of my
| horse than any of the so-called steeple-
chase riders; and as I seldom punished,
| the betting men never knew when my
horse was distressed. Close could have
told you that. Did he ever tell you that
was the best cricketer at Lord'sp
| What's that?" cried he, suddenly, as a
small door at the end of the room opened
| and closed again almost instantly. 30,