The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-15

| sensel not dine; but you will. and can
give YOU bed, too, and breakfast, and
Shall be delighted to do it for week.
Ordered your dinnerp Then Wen IN
order it. I'll send the boy in and put
| that all right Shall make him bring
your bag back?'' Gordon, however,
though he assented to dinner, made his
friend understand that it was impera-
night.
YES" said Blake, when they had
settled down to wait for dinner, 81 am
parson here-a sort of a 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 MIR. Furnival, or his wife, or
his four daughters.
"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 condescend to become Mrs.
Montague Blake. Though 1 say it rs
shouldn't, a swecter human being
doesn't live on earth. met her soon
after had taken orders. But had to
wait till / had some sort of house to
put her into. Her father is a clergy
man, like myself, go we are all in q
boat together. She's got a little moI-
ey. and I've got a little money, SO that
we sha'n't absolutely starve. Now you
know all about me; and what have you
| been doing YOURSELF
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 full or sccurate
in his details. But Gordon felt that as
regarded himself he must be more
reticent Il intended to have joined
my fathers bank, but that came to
grief.'
"Yes; l did hear of some trouble in
that respect"
"And then l went out to the diamond
fields
'Dear me! that was a long way"
Yes. it is long way-and rather
rough towards the end"
Odd you do any good at the diamond
fields? L don't fancy that men often
bring much money home with them"
II brought some"
Enough to do a fellow any good in
his after life?"
sWell, yes; enough to content me,
only that q man is not easily contented
who has been among diamonds.
"CreScI amor atdnondsr' said the
parson. Il can easily understand that.
And then, when fellow goes back
again, he is So apt to lose it all. Don't
you expect to see your diamonds turn
into slate-stones?"
mot except in the ordinary way of
expenditure. NV diamonds, for the
most part, have been turned into ready
money, and take the comfortable shape
of balance at my bankers"
"Pd leave it there, or buy land or
railway shares. If l had realized in
that venture enough to look at it, I'd
never 90 out to the diamond-fields
again"
Its hard to bring an occupation
of that kind to an end all at once, said
John Gordon.
.LreScit amor diaplondsr repeated
Rev. Montagu Blake, shaking his head.
"lf you gave me three l could easily
imagine that l should toss up with
another fellow who had three also.
double or quits till lost them all. But
we II make sure of dinner without any
such hazardous proceeding" Then
they went into the dining-room and en-
i al. e.,
ence having been made to the business
which had brought John Gordon into
the neighborhood.
You'll find that port wine rather
good. l can't afford claret. because it
takes such lot to GO far enough"
..Why do you make ceremony with
me?" ..-
Because it's so pleasant to have an
excuse for such ceremony. 1t WASH t
YOU only | was thinking Of. Think
what it is to have prudent mind. i
had to get it myself out OF the cellar,
because girls can't understand that
wine shouldn't be treated in the same
way as physic. By-the-by, what
brought you into this part of the world
| at all?''
II came to see one Mr. Whittle-
staff" -7~-- ..
.sWhat! old William Whittlestaff?
| Then, let me tell YOU, YOU have come to
see as honest fellow, and as good
| hearted Christian. as any that
know"
s.You do know him?'
"Oh, yes. | know him. I'd like to
see the man whose bond is better than
old Whittlestaff' Did you hear what
he did about that young lady who is
living with him? She was the daughter
of a friend-simply of friend-who
died in pecuniary distress Old Whittle-
staff brought her into his house and
made her his own daughter. 1t isn't
every one who will do that, you
know" .
"Why do you call him oid?" said
John Gordon.
well. l don't know. He is Old"
Just turned fifty"
Fifty is old. Perhaps, if he had
been married man, he'd looked
younger. He has got very nice young
girl there with him; and if he isn't toe
old to think of such things. he may
marry her. Do you know Miss Law
rie?'
Yes: l know her."
Don't you think she's nice? Only
my goose is cooked, I'd go in for her
sooner than any one can see about.
..Sooner than your own squire's foul
daughters?'
well, yes. They're nice girls too:
But don't fancy one ont of four. And
they'd look higher than the curate."
"A prebendary is as high as squire, =
said Gordon.