Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-25
s.SAME OLD LIE.o
How an Elderly College Visitor Had
the Memories Of His Youth Revived.

The Whitehall Rerie1r relates the following
>FOur or five of us were enjoying our last pipe
for the night in the smokng-room at Craigfal-
lOch- We had had long days tramp over the
moors. and the conversation lay chiefly between
Jack Winstanley and Charley Yane. These two
had been at OXbridge about the same time, ana
discovered that, though they had never met
there, they had lot of friends in common or
course they began telling each other who had
gone into the church. who into the civil service,
who was dragging out life at an up-country
station in India. who had got shot in South
Africa, and who had made fortune in colored
yarns.
Ibid you know Merton:" asked Winstan-
ley
II think I've met him. Wasn't he a ST. Bird
gets MANI:
Eyes; "a tall. pale fellow if you remember.
with straw-eolored hat and a delicate eossa-
mer beard that he never would shave off,
''Rather good family, eh:"
''Daresay. He was very decent fellow, if he
was a little strat-laced. parson now, of
course. Did you ever hear Of visit he once rot
from "a fine old English gentleman, all of the
Olden time:'"
NO. Tell us the story
.:.Wen. Merton was really good fellow but
ne had been brought up at home-eOached at
the family rectory; you understand: He never
got into scrapes like the rest of us and in fact
.
One term, MillGanks eldest sister. mature
lady of some thirty summers. came down to stay
with some friends near Ox5ridge. and the day
after her arrival. wishing to give dear William
surprise, she ran over to see him early in the
afternoon. OF course he got cup of coffee for
her, and they We're having pleasant chat i'm his
slttlng-rOOm. when the scout comes i'm with a
card. Mr.. Edward Mandelay.'
The gen man sends his compliments, sir
and hopes it would he convenient for you to see
his rooms He had these roOms. ne says. sir
when he was up here fifty years ago. and he has
great fancy to see them again
Every natural very natural. Pm sure.
shall be delighted, Thomas. But wait q mo-
ment. Agatha
.'.Will II look odd for me to be here DEAR
''Oh. no; but you see. if the old gentleman
sees you he will be tempted to sit down and
talk, and We shall lose all the morning. Here's
the scouts closet. Run in, and Ill get rid of
him as soon as can
.'The fact is that Merton was so awfully
AFRAID of being chafled that he wouldn't have
had it come TO cur ears on any account that
stranger had found him entertaining lady i'm
his rooms. Agatha was rather shy and very
glad to take refuge in the scouts closet.
presently in comes Squire Mandelay. A
nne bluff old fellow. something over seventy,
little shaky on his pins. red face. white mutton
chop whiskerS, white hat. check tie-ycu know
the style:
Happy to make your acquaintance. sir
Hope I'm not in your way. The scout told
you. perhaps. that used to have these rooms
all a good fifty-three years ago-before your
father was born. | dareSay? Dear mel How
time flies, 1t q | looks like yesterday-like yes.
terday, The same old view into the masters
garden. Yes. the same old view. The same
old pictures too: and the old boy got up and
tapped the frames; and declare, the same old
sofa Dear mel
Next. he walked round the room. stonpinr
at the fireplace Same old mantelpiece, Then
he got to the door OF the scouts rOom and
turned the handle.
''Same old He had just opened the
door. when he caught the futter of petticoat
and suddenly closed it.
% All. says he. shaking his head, same old
games same old mameS.'
- Sir gasps Merton. in an awful funk; sir,
that's IGy sister. She-that is
We'll, l declare, Same old lie, Same old
iel'