The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-30

ford, or rather an acquaintance, on
whom he had determined to call, and
he went forth to call on Rev. Mr..
Blake. Of Mr.. Blake he only knew
that he was q curate of neighboring
parish, and that they two had been OF
Oxford together. So he walked down
to the inn to order his dinner, not feel
ing his intimacy with Mr. Blake sutfi-
cient to justify him in looking for his
dinner with him Aman always dimes,
let hissorrow be what it may. A woman
contents herself with tea, and mitigates
her sorrow by an extra cup. John
Gordon ordered o roast fowl and asked
his way to the curate's house.
Rev. Montagu Blake was curate Of
Little Alresford, a parish, lying about
three miles from the town. The vicar
was u feeble old gentleman who had
gone away to die in the Riviera, and
Mr.. Blake had the care of the souls to
himself He was a man whose lines
had fallen in pleasant places. There
wero about two hundred and fifty men,
women and children in his parish, and
not Dissenter among them. For look
ing after these folk he had one hundred
and twenty pounds per annum, and as
pretty little parsonage as could be
found in England. There was q squire
with whom he was growing in grace
and friendship, who, being the patron
of the living, might possibly bestow it
upon him. 1t was worth only two hdn-
dred and fifty pounds, and was not,
therefore, too valuable to be expected.
He had a modest fortune of his own,
three hundred pounds year, perhaps,
and-for the best of his luck shall be
mentioned last-he was engaged to the
daughter Of one of the prebendaries of
Winchester, pretty, bright lit
tie girl, with further sum of
five Thousand pounds belonging to
herself. He was thirty years Of
age, in the possession Of perfect
health, and not so strict as to make
it necessary for him to abandon any of
the innocent pleasures of this world.
He could dine out, and play cricket,
and read novel. And should he
chance when riding about the parish,
or visiting some neighboring parish, to
come across the hounds, he would not
scruple TO see them over field or two.
So that Rev. Montagu Blake was, upon
the whole, happy fellow.
He and John Gordon had been
thrown together at Oxford for q short
time during the last months of their
residence, and, though quite unlike
each other in their pursuits, circum-
stances had made them intimate. II
was well that Gordon should take a
stroll for couple of hours before din
ner, and therefore lie started off for
Little Alresford. Going into the par
sonage gate he was overtaken by
Blake, and introduced himself "Don't
you remember Gordon at Exeter.
"John Gordonl Gracious me! OF
course l do. What good fellow you
are to come and look q fellow upl
Where have you come from, and whore
are you going TO, and what brings you
to Arlesiord, beyond the charitable in
tention of dining with mep Oh, non
sensel not dine; but you will, and can
give you bed, too, and breakfast, and
! shall be delighted TO do il for q week.
Ordered your dinner? Then Wen un-
order it. III send the boy in and put
that all right Shall 1 make him bring
your bag hack?" Gordon, however,
though he assented to dinner, made his
friend understand that it was impera-
tive that he should be at the inn that
night.
Eyes" said Blake, when they had
settled down TO wait for dinner, 81 am
parson here-a sort OF one, at least
am not only curate, but live in expec-
tation of higher things. Our Squire
here, who owns the living, talks of Civ
ing it TO me. There isn't better fellow
living than Mr.. Furnival, or his wife, or
his four daughters" F"
"Will he be as generous with one OF
them as with the livingP"
There is no necessity, as far as / am
concerned. came here already pro-
vided in that respect. If you'll remain
here till September, you'll see me a
married man. One Katie Forester
intends TO condesccnd to become Mrs.
Montague Blake. Though | say it as
shouldn't, q sweeter human being
doesn't live on earth. met her soon
after had taken orders. But had to
wait till l had some sort of house TO
put her into. Her father is clergy
man, like myself, SO we are all in a
boat together She's got little mon
ey, and I've got little money, so that
we sha'n't absolutely starve. Now you
know all about me; and what have you
been doing yourselfP"
John Gordon thought that this friend
of his had been most communicative.
Had Mr.. Blake written biography of
himself down TO the present period, he
could not have been more fulior accurate
in his details. But Gordon felt that as
regarded himself he must be more
reticent II intended TO have Joined
my fathers bank, but that came TO
grief"
"Yes; l did hear Of some trouble in
that respect"
'And then went out to the diamond
fields"
"Dear me! that was long way"
Eyes, 1t is a long way-and rather
rough towards The end.
"Did you do any good at the diamond
feldsp l don't fancy that men often
bring much money home with them. "
II brought some"
Enough to do fellow any good in
his after lifep"
"Well, yes; enough to content me,