Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-13
RAVENSTHORPE TRAGEDY,

RAVENSTHORPE TRAGEDY.
Mr.. Glister stood at his own shop
door and looked out upon the almost
empty Cathedral close. Things we're
dull just then in Ravensthorpe, as
they always are, except for. the few
months during which the bishop is regu-
larly resident at the abbey hall, and
the two rival local packs contribute
to make them brisk, and Mr.. Glister
seldom had much else to do in TIE
long off-season but pursue such limit
ed observations of the worlds life in
general as the close offered material
for.
Glister 4 Co., goldsmiths and jewel
ers, had London house in Bond
street. The London manager spoke
sometimes to his clients OF our Raw
ensthorpe branch" which was inaccu-
rate. The London house was only
thirty years old, and had been estab-
lished by the present proprietor (Co.
had long since faded out OF reality,
but the oil name of the firm was re-
tained), who was the third OF the dy-
nasty in Ravensthorpe.
He had personally managed the Lon
don house until satisfied OF it's grow
ing solidity, and then returned to his
native town and established himself
in the venerable building Of which his
business premises occupied the lowest
story.
He was one of the fine old race of
country tradesmen now fast becoming
extinct-proud of his business and of
the long and untarnished history of
the firm. His manner was that of a
certain stolid, genial politeness to all
men, untainted by any effort to ape
the grand air of his clients, who re-
spected him as their forbears had re-
spected his.
He passed nearly all his time in Ra-
vensthorpe, going to London on the
occasion OF stock-taking and to draw
the handsome profit, which went to
swell his balance at the county bank,
OF which he was a partner.
Mr.. Gllster was a warm man. He
looked it, with his clear, rich, rosy
complexion, heightened by his crisp,
iron gray hair and strips of silvery
whisker, his portly waistcoat crossed
by the modestly solid watchchain, and
the handsome diamond ring which
was his solitary vanity in the article
of dress.
"Here he is again." said Mr.. Glister.
A portly, elderly gentleman in the
dress Of q rural dean, turned the cor
ner Of the close and came briskly along
the pavement. From his countenance
beamed forth benevolence and good
will to all men, and from his cleaning
shoes and his neatly stockinged calves
to his jolly port-wine face and clerical
hat, his whole person seemed one solid
smile. As he passed Mr. Glister he
gave him a casual glance OF such COR
diality that the jeweler ielt embolden-
ed to salute him with a bow, a courtesy
returned by the reverend gentlemanby
brisk Good morning. and g. vet
broader smile as he went by.
Fate 80 ordained that Mr.. Glister,
during the next day or two, saw Il
good deal of the reverend gentleman.
The same afternoon the generally
peaceful air Of the close was rent by
the despairing walls of q very small
dnmsel over the scattered shreds OF an
earthenware jug, with which she had
been entrusted for the conveyance OF
the family milk. The child stood
above the ruins in such despair as
only infants of her tender years in
dread OF an imminent beating can
know. The child was pretty, and
looked all the prettier in her.
innocent affection and Mr.. Glister
was O. tender-hearted man, Al
ready he had taken a step toward
the little one, and his finger and thumb
were cropping in the pocket of his port
~ waistcOat for the consolatory shil-
ling which should repair the damage
and dry the mourner's tears, when he
saw that his charitable intention had
been forestalled. The self-sanle rural
dean whom Mr.. Glister had that morn
Ing salnted was soothing the ehild's
grief with words of cheer and consoling
pats of the tumbled golden hair
through which the little damsel's tear
NJ eyes, already brighter at the sight
Of the preferred coin the reverend gem
tleman held out to her, looked up at
him with shy gratitude. "A pretty
& picture, thought. Mr.. Glister, bowling
again to the rural dean as their eyes
met, whereat the old cleric nod ed with
q confused and somewhat shaD1efaced
aspect, rs though embarrassed that
has good deed should have been wit
messed. 35 sS HI @4 $f5,l
The next morning saw Mr. Glister
again at his post Of observation, and
at his accustomed hour the elderly
Cleric was again deserted upon the
pavement. Theieweler had already be-
gun to feel a friendly, almost an
afectionate interest in the old gentle
man, whose appear nce was 90 invit-H
1 ing, whose voice SO joyial, whose.
charity so ready and unassumlng. His
attention wasso conplet ely absorbed
5#Dy the approach of his new aeq quaint
& ance that he had no ears for theq uickly
aapproa ching step OF q young man
q, advancing in the contrary direction,
the rural dean was just opening his
lips to reply to ME-. tGslister' q morning
salute, when the young man paused
precisely opposite the isNeler, and
xtending his hand hailed the old dig
B nifty as ..uncla 81 ne reverend gentle
! man turned with b quick start and a|
stumble which, but for the Young mAn's
TEST raining hand, would have brought