The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-01


one. .t@.ts G't no
GAN the works of Josephus for ten
pence" replied Mr.. Gregory.
Immediately afterward Mr.. Briggs
entered the room and said to the COM
pany:
What do you think 1 have just
bought ?" to which the general response
was
"All Josephus for tenpence."
1t turned out that he had just fer
reted it out from a secondhand book
stall,
When questioned about his mysterious
powers Mr.. Gregory always became very
serious, and gave no information, but
changed the subject as soon as posi-
BILE.
In consequence of all this, interest,
curiosity, uneasiness and even alarm,
were in varying degrees excited in the
breasts OF the several members of our
company. Most of the ladies declared
that they were daily expecting some
thing serious to happen. That those
expectations were not altogether un-
fulfilled will now be made plain.
There were two new arrivals on the
day on which our story opens. Our
company had hitherto been pleasant and
select, but tho lady and gentleman who
now came among us, and who were
named Mr.. and Mrs. Grice, were ex-
ceptions to this. Showily dressed, and
loud in their conversation, they made
great efforts to mix with ease in our COM
pany, and for sons inscrutable reason
seemed to make special endeavors to
become intimate with our own party !;
Mr.. Grice attacking my uncle, and his
wife devoting herself to us.
We were at no pains to conceal our
aversion to their ill-mapnered and offen-
sive intrusion, but they seemed deter
mined to accept no rebuff. Lilly said
that we had met here the most pleasant
and the most unpleasant persons whom
we had ever seen in our travels. The
former Glass; presume, mainly embraced
Mr.. Gregory.
Ever since Mr. Smiths visit on the
previous day, my uncle had seemed 10
be unusually worried and anxious.
Something had Happened at the Office,
it appeared, which caused him very
great uneasiness, and he kept a constant
watch for the post. Lily and l were
troubled about it, but were hardly pre-.
pared for his sudden announcement at
lunch the next day, upon receiving a
letter from town, that we must pack up
at once and return by the first morning
train.
We had no objection to escape from
the Grices, but in spite of Mr.. Gregcry's
lll-repute for his mysterious arts, we
were very sorry to leave him, to say
nothing of the abrupt and unexpected
termination of our holiday.
The Grices were sitting next to US
when my uncle made this announce
ment, AMI saw peculiar look OF sig
nifcance pass between them. Mr.
Gregory was sitting at the other end Of
long dining-table, and quite out of
earshot, but he came mp Immediately
after we rose from the table, and said:
"a very sad thing, this sudden de.
parture Of yoursW
"Mr. Gregory, replied, "you are
perhaps aware that you are under grave
suspicious of being in league with the
powers of darkness, and this is another
proof? how could you possibly
know ?"
ooh, i'll news travel FAST he said,
laughing. But it is a very hot after
noon; what do You say to a little read
ing?'
Lily here squeezed my arm vigorous
", but 1 answered.: "I fear my uncle
will not let us go out of his sight. He
feels it his duty to keep special guard
over us while we are in such dangerous
company"
"Never mind" he said, 81 will read
to him as we'll"
We were now in the corner of the
drawing room, near q window looking
out on to covered balcony which
overlooked the garden. My uncle came
up and returned Mr. Gregory courteous
greeting in manner which was, 1 fear,
not very gracious.
"May [ trouble you for the paper
after you, sir?' he said.
Certainly" was the answer. " "But
may we not all enjoy it together? With
your permission 1 will read aloud to
the company"
My uncle looked considerably aston
ished at this unusual proposal. Lily
looked up with open eyes and curious
expression, this being net exactly the
kind reading she had intended. But
the offer was seriously made and Te,
peated, and my uncle, who dearly liked
being read to, gave q dubious consent.
Miss Lily, with filial affection, made
him particularly comfortable in an arm
chair, and Mr.. Gregory commenced
reading a long, prosy article on French
politics. He read with anything but
his usual spirit, and in soft, low,
monotonous voice. The consequence
was-as had possibly been not wholly un-
forseen-that my uncle was soon enjoy
ing his accustomed afternoon siesta.
The reading, having become gradually
slower and softer, now ceased, and the
reader, looking up, suggested by q
slight gesture an adjournment to the
garden. ...... ' .H't
Lily and J tried to smother oui
laughter and look shocked, but We
adopted the suggestion. A book oi
poetry was soon produced, and found
that there is difference between hear.
ing French politics read in stuffy
drawing to a middle-aged gentle
man, and hearing "Enoch Arden" read
in a cool, shady alcove, to a pretty
dark-eyed, lovable maiden, with tender
bosom heaving in sympathy with pool
Enoch's sorrows, especially when the
reader is handsome young bachelor
with an exquisitely modulated oice
able to do full justice to the harmoniou;
numbers of the laureate.
At the end of half an hour l wa