The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-10-30
[From the English Illustrated Magazine.I
InterlOperS at The Knap.


at the house of a relative near his
own. He never remembered seeing
at this spot pair of alternative ways
looking so equally probable as these
two did now. Johns rode on a few
steps.
Don't be out of heart, sonny" he
cried. ''here's a handpost. Enoch-
come and climb this post, and tell us
the way"
The lad dismounted, and jumped
into the hedge where the post stood,
under a tree.
Unstrap the baskets, or you'll smash
up that wine" cried Darton, as the
young man began spasmodically to
climb the post, baskets and all.
WAS there ever less head in a
brainless world?" said Johns. 'fHere
simple Nocky, I'll do it" He leapt
off, and with much putting climbed
the post, striking a match when he
reached the top, and moving the light
along the arm, the lad standing and
gazing at the spectacle.
II have faced tantilization these
twenty years with a temper as mild
as milkr' said Japheth; ''but such
things as this don't come short Of dev-
ilry!' And flinging the match away.
he slipped down to the ground.
whats the matter?" asked OAR
ton.
mot letter, sacred or heathen-
not so much as would tell us the way
to the great fireplace-ever | should
sin to say it! Either the moss and
the mildew have eaten away the
words, or we have arrived in a land
where no traveller has planted the art
Of writing, and should have brought
our compass, like Christopher Colum-
bus"
'Let us take the straightest road,'
said Darton placidly, Il shan't be sor-
to get there-'tis a tiresome ride. |
would have driven if | had known"
Nor I neither, sir" said Enoch.
'These straps plough my shoulder like
a zull. If tits much further to your
lady's home, Master Darton, l shall
ask to be let carry half Of these good
things in my innerds-hee, hee"
Don't you be such a reforming
radical, Enoch," said Johns sternly.
Here, I'll take the turkey"
This being done, they went for
ward by the right-hand lane. which
ascended hill, the left winding away
under a plantation. The pit-a-pat of
their horses hoofs lessened up the
slope; and the ironical directing-post
stood in solitude as before, holding
out its blank arms to the raw breeze,
which brought snore from the wood
as if Skrymir the giant were sleeping
there.
Three miles to the left of the travel
lers, along the road they had followed,
rose an old house with mullioned
windows of Ham-hill stone, and chin
neys of lavish solidity. 1t stood at
the top Of slope beside Hintock vii
lage street; and Immediately in front
of it grew a large sycamore-tree,
whose bare roots formed a convenient
staircase from the road below to the
front door Of the dwelling. It's situa-
ton gave the house what little dis
tinctive name it possessed, namely,
1.-THE Knap." Some forty yards off a
brook dribbled past, which, for its size
made a great deal Of noise. At the
back was a dairy barton, accessible for
vehicles and livestock by a side
"drong." Thus much only of the
character of the homestead could be
OWNED out Of doors at this shady
evening-time.
But within there was plenty Of
light to see by, as plenty was constru-
ed at Hintock. Besides Tudor fire.
place. whose moulded four-centred
arch was nearly hidden by a figured
blue-cloth blower, were seated two
women-m mother and daughter-Mrs.
Hall, and Sarah, or Sally; for this was
a part Of the world where the latter
modification had not as yet been effac-
ed as vulgarity by the march Of in
tellect. The owner Of the name was
the young woman by whose means
Mr.. Darton purposed to put an end to
his bachelor condition on the ap-
preaching day.
The mothers bereavement had been
so long ago as not to leave much
mark of it's occurrence upon her now,
either in face or clothes. She had re-
sumed the mob cap Of her early mar
ried life, enlivening its whiteness by
few rose-du-Barry ribbons. Sally re-
luired no such aids to pinkness. Ros-
cate good-nature Lit up her gaze; her
features showed curves Of decision and
Judgement; and she might have been
regarded without much mistake as a
varm-hearted, quick-spirited hand
some girl.
She did most of the talking. her
mother listening with half-absent
lir, as she picked up fragments of red
lot wood ember with the tongs, and
,iled them upon the brands. But the
lumber Of speeches that passed was
rery small in proportion to the mean
ngs exchanged. Long experience
ogether often enabled them to see
he course Of thought in each others
minds without word being spoken.
Behind them, in the centre of the
DOM, the table was spread for supper,
ertain whiffs Of air laden with fat |
apors, which ever and anon entered |
rom the kitchen, denoting its prep
ration there.
''The new gown he was going to
end you stays about on the way like
imself," Sally's mother was saying.
"Yes, not finished, dare say" cried
ally Independently. ''Lord, /
houldn't be amazed if it didn't come
all! Young men make such kind
romises when they are near you,
nd forget 'em when they go away.
'ut he dosen't intend it as wedding
ress-he gives it to me merely as a
ress to wear when | like-a travelling
ress is what it would be called in