The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-24

sun ueScflcu platform, ANU ouulH'H'' wv
tardy orators of the night with rounds of
Kentish fire. They came at last, and were
received with burst Of applause compared
with which that of Drury Lane was a
whisper.
"That's Short said Courtenay TO his
companion "the big man with white
beard talking TO the chairman"
"Who's the chairman p
Haven't notion military looking
party"
A gentleman, conspicuous in the white tie
and long coat of the Established Church,
came forward, and, having commanded
silence Ivy a motion of the hand delivered 4
short extcmporaueous prayer TO which the
vast audience uttered n sonorous Amen
Then n second gentleman, in obviously
tintod linen, and looking generally like
caricature Of his ConfrCrc, gave out hymn,
two lines at time, which was sung with n
somewhat rude but genuine fervor. The
chairman then announced that Mrs, Rachael
Founder would address the meeting. Mrs.
Founder, an economically constructed lady
clad in shining and cracking silks, advanced
to the handrail, with the aspect of a fem
mime policeman bent on taking her whole
audience into instant custody, George had
never dreamed of anything like her, even in
nightmare, and listened to her commin-
atory periods, delivered in u voice like q
steam whistle, with short lived interest
which speedily dogenerated into boredom.
Mrs. Founder, having few ideas, hid poverty
of thought under iluency of language. Such
IDEAS as she had were chiefly disagrcoahle,
and comprised the questionable dogma that
everybody not belonging to the peculiar
branch of the Temperance League of which
she was member would discover his mis-
take, too late to rcctify it, i'll future state
Of considerable discomfort. However, she
subsidized at last, apparently to the saustac-
ton of her audience. who applauded her but
feebly.
Then came disaster.
The chairman said that before requesting
Mr.. Short to address the meeting he would
avail himself of hint which he owed to that
gentleman, by inviting such as were present,
and felt the spirit move them, TO encourage
their neghbors in the path of temperance,
by quoting such short passages from the
Scriptures or the poets in which the beauties
of that virtue were praised. The invitation
was accepted. " Look not upon the wine
when it is red. AT the last IL stngeth
like an adder and biteth like a serpent"
" Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging"
and kindred texts were repeated in success
sion from different parts of the building, in
every variety of voice and key. One yOrn s
man in the near neighborhood of the plat
form secured enthusiastic applause Ivy u
repetition of the Shaliespearcan lines
a. For In my youth never did apply
Hot aud rcbeious liquors to the blood,
And so mine age vs. Ike n lusy winter,
Frosty-but kindly
Then. moved doubtless Ivy the nstgation
of the devil, arose Mr. George Eyton. His
1,, Al al al al
from those of the rest of the audience, Mt.
trauted great attention, which grew as he
slowly adjusted his coat and fitted his eye
glass They waited the more enthusiastic
of them drawing deep breath the better tc
applaud the sentiment he had risen to utter
N came:
| "Takc little, for the stomach sake"
| There was a moments dead silence, and
| then tumult, wild and understandable, and
| Mr.. Eyton, borne upon the crest of n human
wave, found himself in the deserted street
with no very clear idea of how he got there
| His hat was gone, his light dust overcoa
hung about him in ribbons. He leauc,
against a convenient lamp post and laughed
until the street reGchoed. Presently, wipin.
the tears from his eyes, he behold Courtenay
partner in his expulsion and his merrimcnt
J " TWAS too bad, George" said Courtcnay
gasping.
81 couldn't have helped it if I'd beer
hanged for it,, answered Eyton. "Conloun'
it all, the chairman asked for texts. CAV
one, didn't | | say, Courtcnay, old man
| can't walk home in this state. Fetch
cab tor me, there's good fellow, while
have my laugh out"
Cuurtcuay moved away TO fulfill his friend
behost, but suddenly stood stone still.
| 81 say! Eytou! Look here !"
whats the matter -
Courtenays sole answer was to point to
flaming poster on the wall. George followc
the direction of his friends furcIinger. an
read, with dropping jaw:
The chair to lie taken at o'cluck
General Sit MaNimuS Boswell X. C. Il.
CHAPTER III.
Upon the morning following the events I,
corded in the last chapter Miss Kitty, u
gagged in the household of Gen. Boswell Il
lady's maid to that gallant officers daughter
was much exercised in mind regarding Til
movements and intentions of Il mysteriOu
stranger, who had, for the last half houl
been taking secret views of the house frol
behind various trees, and otherwise conduc
ing himself in an unusual and remarkabl
manner. The stranger was eminently IT
spectacle and indeed mildly clerical in ~
pearancc. He was clean shaven, and woi
blue glasses and long frock-coat, but Ii
behavior was incongruous, and therefore,
| the mind of the faithful Kitty, suspicion
| Having for some time watched his NOV ement
from the shadow of an arlor, she emerge,
and betook herself, in an innocent al
dGgdgG manner, to the culling of nosegg
, from the garden beds. The mysterious OF
| la IA, IL. fIrn, t,,
) with apparent non-success. She saw Ii
signals. but gave no sign in return. Wa
; ing holder, the stranger carefully ensconcii
himself behind tree, called her by her nam
, whereat the maiden, with stiied scrcai
dropped the half-completed nosegay, n
Y scutted back TO the arbor, with nigh
| fOu- from of petticoats. The stranger mac
himself as small AS he could and waite
The dam5el presently returned with ginger
steps.
1 "Kitty 2" repeated the stranger.
0 "Oh, good gracious - said the youl
r lady, and started of again, but checked he
[ self.
4 "Kitty Don't you know me % ask
= the mysterious one, coming for a second in
I full view, and taking on the blue glass,
70 The girl gave a second little scream, aud
$ young man lodged precipitately behind i
a shelter.
o "Mr. Eytou Well, never! In bl
i glasses! And, oh, good gracious me, wha
r gone of your mustaches %
y Hush-h-h-h !" said George in trem
= lous whisper. "lIush-h.h Where's I
8 General 2"
Il 4" He's upstairs in his study reading t
> paper. Well, of all the sur"
X. eyes, know Where's Miss Boswell
e "Shes gone into the village to see
IS Mrs Slocomb. Well, ifeverl"
r GAN right; never mind all that. Lo
e here, you see this letter. I'll putt here
this cleft of the tree. You can come out a
I. get it aud give it to Miss Boswell Don
y let her see the General till she's read
Where's Mrs. Treshami''
> She's in the dining room"
"Asleep2"
81 don't know. ! should think SO"
t. SEQ and see, there's Il good girl. If 8
le Is give me signal and I'll come in,
/ ,,,,sI nnn,, lao Innr for ma aud