The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-30
dissertation. The meeting in the cbant.r.

description. The meeting in the Chapter.
house proved stormy from the first.
Whether it was that the writ in the right
of-way case had not yetreached Mr.. Swain
son, and so he chung to his only split-straw,
or that the Dean was soured by want OF
sleep, or that the Bishop was not thorough
enough-whatever was the cause, the spirit
of compromise was absent, and the discus
sion across the Chapter-house table threat
ened to make matters worse and not better.
Whether the Dean first called Mr.. Swain
sons Enclosure the 'toadstool of a night"
or Mr.. Swanson took the initiative by
styling the Dean the mushroom of a day."
(the Dean was not of old family was q
question afterward much and hotly de-
bated in Bicester circles. Be that as it
may, the high powers at length rose from
the table in dudgeon and much confusion.
There was behind the Dean at the end of
the Chaptsr-house alarge window. Itlooked
directly down upon wnat he, in the course
of the discussion, had more than once
termed "The Profanation," and since the
eventful day of Mr.. Sweinson's match at
croque5 it had been, by the Deans order,
kept suffered, to the intent that, when &C.
cupiedinthe Chapter-house the Proclamation
might not be directly before his eyes. On
this occasion the shutter was still closed;
it may be that this phenomenon had weak
ened Mr.. Swainson's not over-robust re-
solves on the side of amity.
The Dean was a choleric man. As the
party rose, he stepped to this shutter and
flung it back. He urned to the others and
said, excitedly:
becoming the threshold of a cathedralf Is
that a thing to be endured ON consecrated
ground"
They stepped towardthe window, a wide
low-browed Tudor one, and looked out.
Tn Dean himself sto9d asid grasping the
shutter with a hand that shook with pas
sion. He could see the others faces. He
expected little show of shame or contrition
on that of Mr.. Swanson, but he did wish
to bring this hideous thing home to the
Bishop,w had not been as thorough in the
matter as he should nave been. Still, as a
Bishop, he could not see that thing there in
its horrid reality and be unmoved!
No, he certainly could not. Slowly, and
as if reluctantly, his lordship's face
changed; it broke into a smile that broad
ened and rippled wider and wider, second
by second, as he looked. His color deep.
eued until he became almost purple! And
Mr.. Swainson? His face was the picture of
horror; there could not be a doub of that.
Confusion and establishment were stereo-
typed on every feature. The Dean could
not believe his own eyes. He turned in
perpleXity to the lawyer, who was peep
ing between the others neads. His shoul-
ders were shaking and his face was puck
cred with laughter.
The Bishop Stepped back. Greatly, gem
tlemen, 1 think it is hardly fair of us to
play the spy. This is no place forus." He
was a kin lily man; there never was a more
popular Bishop in Bicester and never will
be.
AT this the Canon and the lawyer lost all
control over them selves and their laughter,
if not loud, was deep. The Dean was i'm.
mensely puzzled. confused, perplexed
wholly, angry. He did at last what he
should have lone at first, instead of strik
ing an attitude with that shutter in his
hand. He looked throu Oh the window him,
self. 1t was dusty, and he was somewhat
near-sighted, but at length he saw, and thiI
is what he saw:
a couple of lovers billing and cooling; about
and around them Mr.. Swainson's big dos
performing uncouth gambols. Bad enough
this, but it was not all. The unsuspicious
couple were Frank Swanson end-ths
Dean S daughter. Franks arm was around
her, and as the Dean looked he stopped anG
kissed her, and Give gazed with her brave
ewes full of love into his II scarcely
blushed.
When the Dean turned around he wa,
alone.
Wa it very wrong of them? There wa,
nowhere else, since this miserable fraca,
began, where, away from others eyes, they
could steal a kiss. Butinto Mr.. Swainson'
plot no window, ave a shattered one, coul
look; the door,, too, was close to one of tn
side doors of the cathedral, and you coult
pop in and out again unseen, and es for tn,
big dog, Frank and Tiger were great friends
So If it was very wrong, it was very cas-,
ami very nice.
For one hour the Dean remained shut III
in his study. At the end of that time b
put on his hat and walked across the Close
He knocked at Mr.. Swainson's door, and
upon it's being opened, went in, and did NO
come out again for an hour aid five mir
utes by Mrs. Canon Rowcliffs's watch.
have not the slightest idea of what passe
: there. More than two thousand differen
and distinct accounts of the interview wer
) current next day in Bicester, but no on
and 1 have examined them all with car,
seems to me to account for the undoubte
. results. Imprimis, the disappearance mex
; day from Mr.. S~wainson's plotof the famou
boarding, which was not ever replaced b
5 the old iron railing. Secondly, the ma
, riage six weeks later of King Pepin an
: Sweet Clive.-CorRhm Magazine.