Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-11

ing into was shattered at that point, per
| haps. However, Austen, can see you
think it's all nonsense, and | wont trouble
You with any more of it,"
"Aha ~ said Austen to- himself, "the
soothsayer is trying to ..et on the safe side
before catch him. He must take me
for fool ~ Aloud he said, "My dear
fellow, you're on the wrong track entire
ly You know what hand am for CAB
bling but no one could see what I've seen
to day without being Knocked into "A cock
ed hat by it,"
The stage having reached its stopping
place, the yonng men alighted and walked
on to the inn, which was but IL short dis
lance off. at was in this town, you
know" remarked Austen, that my
school days were passed and I've been at
pains to keep up some of the acquain-
nice people. We shall have lots of fun.
Tomorrow morning we'll go over to Sir
Tom Frobshers. He's n magistrate and
has lots Of money but he knows how to
live. He and | have had some roaring
times together He knows every pretty
girl within twenty miles of here-and
they know him. His sister lives with him.
She's rather slow-religiou5 and all that !;
but he doesn't mind her. Then there's IL
niece, Il wonderful fine girl II capital
horse woman, and always up to lark.
You will fall dead in love with her, and
Intn you anu Will pIODiDlN ntNt W llE III
duel, for I've sworn she shall be mine.
But never mindful only shoot button
off your coat. Well, here we are, and
here's your pump i'll the courtyard, as
natural as life. hope you foretell good
dinner into the bargain, for I'm as hun
cry as hunter.
They entered the inn, which was an an
cicnt and roomy structure, as clean as a
bandboX, and with an atmosphere about
it of mellow ale and Old TOryism. They
were met by an elderly waiter, with It
black dress coat and Il ruIlel shirt. Upon
seeing Austen he bowed with bland
smile of recognition.
"Ah. Iorlins" said the latter, "here
you are again and looking younger than
ever How is my worthy host, Mr. Fer
gusOn :"
Horkins assumed Il mournful express
sion. "Nou 'aven't card the sad news,
sir | was quite cast down, myself, sir,
'ad an indigestion for two days. Yes,
sir, Mr.. Ferguson e departed this life four
months back and very genteel funeral
| assure you sir
"By Jojve poor, old Ferg! And who's
got the place now :"
"Well, Il very nice party, SRA very
genteel party, indeed. | don't know
whether you lad is acquaintance, sir
Mr. Lambert
You don't mean Jordan Lambert ?
The under master at the school? Jordan
Lambert keep an inn Some other fellow,
eh -
"No, sir; Mr. Jordan Lambert is the
parry Heyes give way while ago; too
much literary happlicatiOn, | presume ;
| admit no regular means of support, and
when this hopportunity hof1ered, why e
stepped in. And very good landlord he
is. sir-he and Miss Lambert between
EN-"
"Mollie Lambert, too. Well, this is a
queer world Why, Horkins-however,
that's neither here nor there My friend
here and are uncommOnly hungry. that :
the main point; and we would like to
know whether Mr. Lambert can give us Il
few chops and steak. and Il bottle or two
of good claret.'
Cert My, sir" said the waiter briskly
"This way, gentlemen, please. Chops,
sir--bit of soup to begin with-boiled po-
totoes-slce of puddin'-bottle Noinay--
| little sherry Very good, sir: directly ~
! He ushered them into pleasant, old
fashioned room, with mahogony furni-
ture upholstered with black hair cloth,
and coal-tire in the CRATE. The room
communicated, through Il door on the
left, with Il neat bed-chamber, where the
travellers proceeded to purify themselves
| from the dust of travel. Il suppose you
are already posted about this ~ said Aus
ten pleasantly, when, having completed
/ their toilets, they sat down i'll couple OF
easy-chairs before the fire.
NO; my recollection seems to be SuS-
pended at present, Lund replied lit was
at about this time that the knocking be
gan,
1.-The knocking -
/ We'll let it 90 at that it's notion OF
mine. So this is your old school-pace, Is
it ?"
My school place in more ways than
one! don't know that my old instructor
would give very brilliant report of me
old Lambert. here, for instance, used tt
say that could never have spoken Latin
even if I'd been born ut Rome at the time
of Virgil He had clever tongue in his
head, had old Lambert; and perhaps
after all, keeping an inn is as comfortable
IA way of ending ones days as any. But
he came of "a good stock his uncle was 4
general under Wellington, and quite 4
swell. And her daughter-well ii wa
hard on her"
HAS she no relatives :"
81 fancy not bat here comes dinner. y
(TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.