The state journal., 1885-01-17

tor In lawn tennis shoes, with parcel OF
refrlgeratOrs to soOthe the native chiefs
wlthal. Morning, however, brought
him an urgent invitation to breakfast
with his uncle in Flat A, at which ban
quet he found himself the solitary guest.
! "My boy, said his well-preserved re-
latiOn, as he began on slice of melon,
''you did me great service, and l sha MT
forget it. She is really charming; know
you will approve of my choice. Art,
| your attectionate uncle is about to take
unto his middle-aged but still fascinating
self wife"
"a ahdt?"
"a wife. irreverent nephew; it may
seem foolish to you, probably is, more
especially as don't think she really loves
me (true she, doesn't quite know YETI
but she said yes ia fit of pique with
| some unknown scapegrace who was play
ing at sulks. But then, bless you, un-
derstand women, and love will come all
right after marriage; and now you know
what l want Special license next Sat.
urday, st. Dunstan's in-the Lane-old
City Church, you know; no crowds and
reporters and fellows to gossip over it
they can do that in week if they like:
| and (you know our old motto, NHnc Gut
nunQudmO you, my dear boy, are to be
my Best Man p
Your sohGt?"
"Confound it, sir cant you hear
Best man second best really" he
| chuckled, as he made fair way with a
reindeer tongue; "and you are 10 square
| the man who runs the church, and the
organ grinding chap, aud all the rest of
| it."
Art had bis laugh out; he couldn't help
it. Forgive me, dear uncle, but really
this new departure is so adrupt-hOw-
| ever, I'll see you safe through it all ; I'll
| square everybody-brides- maids particu-
larly. MILE Fluctuations st. Dunstan's
why, that's old Cantley's church he
was up with me at cambridge; capital
| sort, old Bob. And now, let me see
| yes, you are not quite real peer; still
| you get the license for the asking.
Other people have to so and tell shock
| ing Grams to old men called Deans of the
| Faculty and a Surrogate who live in
dens in the City and ask stupid ques-
| tons. Then there's new frOck-cOat,
flower, lockets for the girls, cake-no,
that's her department; toasts, rings, tele
| grams. Yes" he added cheerily, ''its a
close thing, but we can do it, and now
I'm off," and he got up. ooh, by the
way" he said, as he turned at the door,
"yOu havn't told me the fair one s name"
''Her name p said the elder peer as
he quaffed off his claret and rang for
coffee; why, l thought you must have
| guessed it; Harry Horton, OF course"
! Tho door no rod 90 A RI 1noVaH hor
| than ran down stairs, and Lord Arthur
smiled complacently.
That "capital sort" the Reverend
Robert Cantley. NJ, A, was astounded
| by Arts abrupt and feverish invasion of
him, ard still more so to receive his
marching orders for the ensuing SatuT.
day, and to hear his old ally's Romeo
like romance. Like a true Friar Lau
renee he did bis best to administer ghostly
and worldly counsel. even going the
length of ignoring Arts muttered i'm
precautions as he pointed out proverbi-
| ally that the feminine fish yet remaining
in the social sea were fully equal in
| flavor and quality TO the specimens that
| had already been, or were about to be,
extracted therefrom. But chat fell fiat,
admonitions were received with running
comments Of kind long expunged from
his reverence's vocabulary, and finally
| he got up.
Look here, Lanton, be a mau; no
woman's worth fretting or er. Do your
| duty, don't whine over it; and now pull
yourself together ard come and look at
my church.
The Vicar of ST. Dunstan $ in the Lane
pointed out the medieval carvings and
| windows (the designs of which chiefly
consisted Of interlaCed noses and tongs,
| commemorative of the founders IA
nous feat.) the crypts, monuments, cells.
| fonts, leCIerns, brasses, and rare thir-
teenth century hagiOscOpc, which might
| have been a kaleidoscope for all that Art
knew of its uses-and the exploring party
wound up at the Vestry.
This was vaulted OCtagOnal stone
chamber. Mysterious doors led from it
| into dark passages; through the dusty ivy
that cease!essly tapped and tapped
against the wire guarded stained glass
the sun just managed to struggle in col
Ored shafts of light, full Of dancing notes;
the very surplico that hung on its peg in
the corner looked like ghost. 1t was
queer place altogether.
"And where docs that go to, pray?"
said Art, pointing to low wooden door
thickly studded with heavy nails, to reach
| which one had to descend three much
worn stone steps.
That's the penitentiary; you see, it
would have been no use setting imposi-
tons to the old friars who spent all their
days writing Latin, and precious bad
Latin, too" said the Vicar, "and they
| oil han oil
when they were in disgrace, or shirked
| nodded, he did knOw,) cor went out of
bounds, the Abbott used to bottle
them up In there for bit till they were
sadder, and wiser, and hungrior
monks Like peep" and he opened
the door.
In the gloom Art could Just make out
a table, on which stood a decanter Of
sherry and box Of Abernethy biscuits.
Heavy work Of a morning some
times, " said the Vicar, laughingiy, when
the font is as full as pool of trout, and
| the couple are sorting themselves in pairs
to be married afterward. Take care if
| you bang that door you II never get out,
as it shuts with snap, and takes two
keys to open. Fancy being shut up with
the spirits of all the erring triars who
dolefully counted the hours and their
beads therein centuries ago p
| Art was glad enough to get back to the
vicarage, and felt better after lunch and O
big cigar. Suddenly he bethought him
self of his duties.
Good by" said the Vicar; keep up
heart, and when it's all over, you anu
will go afshing together up north. It's
a theological pastime, you know, from
primitive time" Then Lord Art
laughed as he got into his cab, and there
was mischievOus twinkle in his eye as
he drove off Probably he was thinking
| of the old friars.
1t was very quiet wedding indeed,
1 ...1.- nl4n.InI III a ,nn, frinrdc nf tho