The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-07-21


 had been alarmed and hidden the plate for time, intending to return and fetch it away.
 Mir Ormsby took the seer into his study and gave him a piece of paper stating that for a great service rendered to him by Patrick O'Raffeny he had, in the name of him and his, promised him undisturbed possession of the farm so long as he or his should farm 1t them selves and pay the present rent.
 Pats modesty vanished a, the Squire $ gate; he bragged up and down the vil- lage, and henceforth nobody disputed his soofahip in those parts. But one day the Sassenach came down with his cold increduliy. a
 A neighbors estate, mortgaged up to the eyes, was sold under the hammer. and Sir Henry Steele bought it. and laid some of 1t down in grass. He was a breeder of stock. He marked out park wall, and did not include certain little orchard and triangular plot. The seer observed, and applied for them. Sir Henry. who did his own business. re- eeived the application. noted i. down. and asked him for reference He gave Squire Ormsby.
 Il will make inquiries, said Sir Henry. Good morning.
 He knew Ormsby in London. and when he became his neighbor the Irish gentle man was all hospitality. One day Sir Henry told him of O'Rafer,y's applica- ton. and asked about him.
 soh. said Ormsby. ",ha, is our seer"
 "Your what :'
 Our wise man, our diviner of se- crets: and some wonderful things he has done"
 He then related the loss of his plate, and its supernatural recovery.
 The Sassenach listened with cold in- credulous eye and sardonic grin.
 Then the lrishman go, ho. and accu- mnlated examples.
 Then the Sassenaeh. with the obstinacy of his race. said he would put these pre- tensions 10 the test. He had picked out oi the various narratives that ,his seer was very fond of d good dinner. and pre- tended Il tended to enlighten his mind . sa he lad his trap accordingly.
 \, his request Patrick was informed that neN, Tuesday. at one o'clock, Ii ne chose io submit ,e fair test of his dvining powers, the parcel of land he had asked for should be let to hlm or easy terms.
 Patrick assen,ed Jauntily. B1t in hls secret soul he fel; uneasy at having te encounter this Sassenach gentleman Sir Henry was the fortunate possessor of what Pa, was pleased 10 cal nasty sliuering eye." aad over that eye Ia, doubted his ability te draw the wool ;s he had done over Celtic orbs
 However, he came Up ,o the scratch like man. After all. he had nothing to lose this time, and he vowed to submit 10 no test that was not preceded by good dinner. He was ushered into Sir Henry S,eeles study. and there he found tha, gentleman and Mir. O!ms5y. Oae com fort. there was cloth laid. and certain silver dishes on the hobs and Tn the fen der
 Well. Nf. . afefty,. said his host, .. believe you like a good dinner =
 " Thrue for you. sotr. sad Pa.
 :" Ne,i. then. we ein com 5.ne business w::a pleasure yoa sha,l aase good dinner.
 " Long life to your honor
 ' 1 cooked l; for you myself
 God bless yout honor tor your con descnsion.'
 You are to eat the dinner first. and then lus, tel me wha; the mea. Is, and the parcel of land is yours on easy terms.
 Fa,rick's confidence arose. Sure. thin. i; is fair bargain said he.
 The dishes were uncovered There were vegetables cooked mos, dehciously |: the mea; was a chet-d ue ivre Il sor, of rich ragou, done to a turn. and SO fra gran; ;aa; the very odor made the mol.h wi.er
 pa;tiek seated himself. helped himself. ard took a mouthiai: that mou.hfa, had a double effect. He realized iu one and the same momen, that this was more heavenly compound than he had ever expected ;o taste upon earth. and tha, he could no; and never should divine wha, bird or beas: he was eating. He looked for the bones there were none. He yielded himself to desperate enjoyment. When he had nearly cleaned the plate he said ,ha, even the best-cooked mea, was none the wors; for quar; oi good ale to wash |; down.
 Sir Henry Steele rang the bell and ordered quart ot ale.
 Patrick enjoyed ,h!s, too. and dld not hurry te fel. i, was his las, dinner m tha, house. Is well as his tirst.
 The gentlemen watched him and gave him time. But at las, Ormsby said
 Well. Pa.rick-"
 Now pa;rick. whis; he sippei. had been asking himself wha, line he had better take and he had come 10 a con- ciusion ctedi;able to taa; sagaci,y and knowledge of human nature he really possessed and underra;ei accordingly. He would eonolimen, the gentlemen on taeiI superior wisdom. and own he could rot throw dust in such eyes as theirs then he would beg them not to make h,s humble neighbors as wise as they were. bu; le. him still pass for wise man n :he parish. whilss they laughed in their supeuov sleeves. To carry ou; this he impregna,ed his brazen features with a world ot comic humility.
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