The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-11-17


In the course OF the evening. after
the supper-table had been cleared off,
the Frenchman discovered an old chess
board standing against the wainscot;
and he asked his host If he played
chess.
Eyes," said the clergyman. Il think
myself a good player"
II am glad! / have found no man lin
England who could beat me-"
The board and a box of very fine ivo-
~ pieces-a present to the curate from
a former pupil-were brought forth, a
small stand set out, and they went at
the game. The Frenchman was an ex-
cellent chess-player; but the Rev. Silas
Barclay was a better. They played from
eight O'clock until almost midnight and
the guest did not win a game. One
game was given up as o draw-by a
false move the clergyman lost his last
piece-he was telling to his antagonist
the story of his life, which had been
drawn from. him almost without his
knowledge-and in a thoughtless mo-
ment, while telling of his son in Scot
land, he lost his victory; the two kings
were left alone in their glory on the
board. And that finished the conflict.
Not once had the guest lost his per-
feet good nature, and he was content,
in the end, to acknowledge that his host
was the most skillful chess-player he had
ever met.
The board was set aside, after which
the curate led his guest to the one nice
chamber of his humble cottage and there
wished him sweet sleep and pleasant
dreams.
In the morning they were up early
The storm had passed over; the sun had
arisen brightly; the guests garments
were all dry, and had been brushed
clean by the clergyman himself. His
wife CHANGED to come upon him whilst
he was engaged at the work. and she
could not resist the impulse TO scold
him for his making Of himself a lackey
to a strolling Frenchman. And again,
laughing, the old clergyman replied, in
all innocence:
II tell thee, wife. this may be our
angel. When the bright visitents come,
they don't make themselves known at
once"
After a plain but hearty breakfast,
the guests horse was brought to the
door by the old clergyman himself; q
warm and fervent hand-shake, a pleas
ant bow, and hearty thanks to tho dame
and the Frenchman rode away.
Four days later n letter arrived at
the curate's humble cottage bearing the
postmark of the Duke of Norfolk, and
the broad seal upon the letter bore an
armorial crest. The wondering curate
opened the missive without breaking the
seal, and within found but a brief note,
written upon paper bearing a crest, as
follows:-
REV. SILAs B~ARCLAY,-I have not forgotten
your generous hospitality to q wayfaring
stranger a few days since, nor have l forgotten
the sound drubbing you gave me at chess. l
have thought much of the story you told me
of your humble life, as you were pleased to
call it,; and since your telling that story cost
me the honor of a draw, / feel that / am your
debtor. If you will kindly accept the Living
of Oakham, worth 95OO a year, IL Is open for
your immediate occupancy. If you accept,
you Will at once inform his Grace the Duke OF
Norfolk, and also thank him for having given
IL TO me for you. Trusting that you may be
blessed with a long life of enjoyment in this
new field, l am your friend sincerely,
"LoUIs DUKE OF N~IvERNAIs."
At first the poor clergyman could not
believe it. 1t must be a cruel hoax
Five hundred pounds per annum! I'm
possible! And then he bent his head end
reflected. He remembered that the
Duke of Nivernais was the French AM
bassador at the English Court. 1t must
have been he whom he had entertained.
Aye-now that he came TO call to mind
some of the remarks that had fallen
from his guests lips, he knew he must
be the man.
'Ho! wife! Now what think YEP
Said 1 not our angel would come from
FranceP"
"You had better be sure that the
living is to be yours, first" she retorted.
But she was happy, nevertheless; and
she was very, very thankful that she
had not suffered the stranger-guest to
witness her GOODNESS on the occasion of
his visit.
Our good curate-a rector now-found
his grace of Norfolk happy to greet
him, and happy to bestow upon him
the promised living. He entered upon
his new sphere of labor in earnest, and
his parishioners very quickly learned to
honor and to love him. So the evening
of his life was tranquil and happy; and
he lived long to bless the hour that
broughtthe stranger-guest of that stormy
October night to his door.
" -LL-