The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-27
RAVENSTHORPE TRAGEDY.

Mr.. Glister stood at his own shop
door and looked out upon the almost
empty Cathedral close. Things were
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 the
long off-season but pursue such limit
ed observations of the worlds life in
general as the close offered material
for.
Glister & 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-
rates 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 old 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 effoSt 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 q partner
Mr.. ;Glister was 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 theimodestly solid watchchain, and
the handsome diamond ring, which
was his>solitary vanity in the article
of dress.
'4Herehe is again." said Mr.. Glister.
A portly, elderly gentleman:in the
dpess of a 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 Ilis Jolly port-wine face and clerical
hat, his whole person seemedcne solid
s1Eslle. AS he passed Mr.. sGlister he
gave him casual glance of*uch cor
diaLity that the jeweler felt enbolden-
ed to salute him with bow, @courtesy
returned by thereverend gentleman by
a0nisk -HGood morning" and a vet
broader smile as he went by.
Fate so ordained that Mr.. Glister,
during the next day or two, saw q
good deal sof the reverend gentleman.
lC nSIAllC 'HIOSIIlOOIl tAnC
peaceful air of the close was.rent by
the despairing walls of 81 very small
danEsel ever the scattered shreas ofan
earthenware jug, with which she had
been entrusted for the conveyance of
the family milk. The child stood
above the rJins in such despair as
only infants of her tender years in
dread OF an Imminent beating can
know The child was pnstty, and
looked all the prettier in her
was a tender!hearted man. AL
ready he had taken q step toward
the littaeone, andhis finger and thumb
were cropping in thepocket of his port
ly waisteoat for the consolatory shf
ling which should repair the damage
and dry the nonrner's tears, Waaen he
saw that 1aas .GhaIit able intention had
been forestalled. The self-san,e rural
dean whom Mr.. GTister had that m0rn-
ang saluted was soothing the claiId's
grief with words OF cheer and consoiing
pats of the telnnbled golden fair
through which the little;S ;Samsel' teasr-
fsll eyes. already brighter at the sight
of the profered coiia the reverend ge1l-
tieman held out to &4ar, 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 nodded with |
a confused and somewhat shamefaced /;
as though embarrassed that |
his good deed should have been wit
messed
The next norning saw Mr.. Gkster
again at his post of observation, and
at his accustomed hour the eld erly |
cleric was again deserted upon tae
pavement. The jeweler had already be- !,
gun to feel a friendly, almost an
affeetionate interest in the old gentle
man, whose appearance was so invit-
ng, Whese voice SO iovial, whose