The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-06-02

wv nat 90 you thlnk L nave Just
bought'" to which the general response
was:
"All Josephus for tenpeGce"
1t turned out that he had Just ferret
ed it out from secondhand book
stall.
When questioned about his mysteri-
Gus powers, Mr.. Gregory always be-
came very serious, and gave no infor.
nation, but changed the subject as
soon as possible.
In consequence of all this, interest,
curiosity, uneasness, 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 no 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 the lady and gentleman
who now came among us, and who
were named Mr.. and Mrs. Grice, were
exceptions to this Showily dressed,
and loud in their conversation, they
made great efforts to mix with ease in
our company, and forsome inscrutable
reason seemed to make special endeav-
ors to become intimate with our own
party; Mr.. Grice attacking my uncle,
and his wife devo,ing herself to us.
We were at no pains to conceal our
aversion to their i'll hammered and of
fensive intrusion, but they seemed de-
termined to accept no rebuff lilly said
that we bad met here the most pleas
ant and most unpleasant persons whom
we had ever seen in our travels. The
former class, / presume, mainly embrac-
ed Mr.. Gregory.
Ever since Mr.. Smiths visit on the
previous day my uncle seemed to be
unusually worried and anxious. Some
thing had happened at the Office, it ap-
peared, which caused him great uneasi-
ness, and he kept constant watch for
the post. Lily and | were troubled
about it, but were hardly prepared for
his sudden announcement at lunch the
next day, upon receiving 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.. Gregory's
ill-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, and saw peculiar look of sig
nificance pass between them. Mr.
Gregory was sitting at the other end
of long dining table, and quite out of
earshot, but he came up Immediately
after we rose from the table, and said /:
"a very sad thing, this sudden de-
parture of yours"
"Mr Gregory" Ireplied, l "you are
perhaps aware that you are under grave
suspicious of being in league with the
powers of darkness, and this is another
lproof. How could you possibly
know!"
"Oh, i'll news travels FAST he said,
laughing. "But it is very hot after
noon, what do you say to little read.
ingi'
Lily here squeezed my arm vigorous
ly, but | answered: 81 fear my uncle
will not let us 60 out of his sight. He
feels it his duty to keep especial guard
over us while we are in such danger
ous company"
"Never mind" he said, 81 will read
TO him as well.
We are now in the corner of the
drawing-room, near window looking
out on to a covered balcony which over
looked the garden. My uncle came W
and returned Mr.. Gregory's courteou.
greeting in manner which was, / fear
not very gracious.
"May l trouble you for the paper
after you, sirf" he said.
Certainly" was the answer "Bul
may we not all enjoyit together7 With
your permission will read aloud to tn,
company"
My uncle looked considerably aston
ished at this unusual proposal. Lii,
looked up with open eyes and curiou
oppression, this being not exactly tn,
kind of reading she had intended. Blu
the offer was seriously made and re
peated, and my uncle, who dearly like
being read to, gave dubious consent
Miss Lily, with filial affection, mad
him particularly comfortable in an arm
chair, and Mr.. Gregory commence,
reading long prosy article on Frencl
politics. He read with anything bu
his usual spirit, and in a soft low, me
notonous voice. The consequence wa
AS had possibly been not wholly UT
forseen-that my uncle was soon er
joying his accustomed afternoon siest;
, The reading, having become gradual
, slower and softer, now ceased, and tn
reader, looking up, suggested by
slight gesture All adjournment to tn
garden.
Lily and tried to smother our laugl
ter and looked shocked, but we adop
ed the suggestion. "A book of poetr
was quickly produced, and found thu
there is difference between hearin
French politics read in a stuffy draw
ing room to a middle aged gentleman
and hearing "Enoch Arden" read in
cool, shady alcove, to pretty, darl
eyed, lovable maiden, with tender b.
| som having in sympathy with po,
Enochs sorrows, especially when Il
reader is handsome young bachelo
with an exquisitely modulated voic
able to do full Justice to the harmon
GUS numbers of the Laureate.
At the end of a half an hour WI
, startled by all exclamation from Lii
Looking up l saw in the garden below
sitting on seat under the trees, wit
their faces toward us, our dear friend
. Mr.. and Mrs. Grice,
1 The gentleman was keeping up, a
!. parently, desultory conversation vii
D his wife, They waved their hands @
catching our eye,and beckoned to us
+ come and join them, which we did NJ
do.