Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-05-03

Never saw him In my life before
was the answer,
Sure enough his name proved to be
Smith, and he returned to town that
night 'aiier long private interview
with my uncle nor had he, he told US
In answer to our inquiries, ever seen or
heard Of Mr., Gregory before.
On Saturday morning also the Rev.
Mr., Briggs, taking walk on the
beach, meditating on his Sunday text,
had encountered Mr.. Gregory, who
volunteered information rs to the said
text, with chapter and verse, all cor
rect, to the petriiaction Of the reverend
gentleman.
On another occasion, when our
elderly lady friend mentioned that she
had been out making small purchase,
Mr.. Gregory informed me soto voce
that u bottle of hairwash constituted
the purchase in question. This COM
munication was very unfortunately
overheard. Its correctness was not at
the time dcdnately .ablished, but it
was shortly after this that she first pro-
pounded her own particular theory on
the subject, which she put forward
with renewed confidence in the conver-
sation given above, after fresh dis
play of the unholy phenomenon as she
called ii. This was the occasion there
of. Mr.. Briggs had been seen COM
ing up the walk in great glce with a
parcel under his arm.
what has he got thcrc?' said some
one.
'All the works of Josephus for ten
pence replied Mr.. Gregory.
Immediately aftcrward Mr.. Briggs
entered the room and said to the COM
pany:
What do you think | 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 secondhand book
stall.
When questioned about his mysteri-
Gus powers Mr.. GREGORY always be-
came every serious, and gave no infor-
nation, but changed the subject as soon
as possible.
In consequence of all this, interest,
curiosity, ueeasiness 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 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 for some inscrutable
reason seemed to make special en-
deavors 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-mannered and otfen-
sive intrusion, but they seemed deter
mined to accept no rebuff. Lily said
that we had met here the most pleasant
and the most unpleasant persons whom
we had ever seen in our travels. The
former class, I presumee mainly en-
braced Mr.. Gregory.
Ever since Mr.. Smiths visit on the
previous day, my uncle had seemed to
be unusually worried and ANXIOUS
Something had happened at the office,
it appeared, which caused him very
great uneasiness, and he kept con-
slant watch for the post. Lily and
were troubled about it, but were hardly
for his sudden announcement
at lupch 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.. Greg
ory's ill-repute for his mysterious arts,
we were very sorry to leave him, to
say nothing of the abrupt and unexpect-
ed termination of our holiday.
The Grices were sitting next to us
when my uncle made this announce
ment, and l saw a peculiar look Of sig
nificancc pass between them. Mr..