Little Falls transcript., 1885-01-23
A CURIOUS OVERSIGHT.

A CURIOUS OVERSIGHT.
"Price."
eyes, Major"
"Where's Mr.. Douglas ?"
"Gone to the Priory, sir. Back at 10
o'clock"
"You've put tho whiskey out?"
"Yessir."
"And the cigars?"
"Yessir."
"And you've put the kettle on?"
"Yessir."
"That's al think. You may turn
in, Price, if you like.
"Ihank you, Major. Good night.
And Price, with stoniness of visage
and setness of figure when under e1-
animation by his superior officer strong
ly suggestive of pipe clay in the present
or the past, stalked from the room and
left the major alone. The latter
walked to the window and look
ed across the 1andscaps to where,
seen through a gap in the en-
circhng woods, the spires and pinnacles
of Oakenham Priory bulked black
against the last few fading CLEANS Of
sunset color in the west.
"Gone to tho P1iory-eh? Where
else should he have gone? Why didn't
he go there six months ago, and stay
there? She wouldn't object. And it
would be a better bivouac than this.
think. The boy used to have pluck
enough. What's gone with it sll.
"This" was Oakenham Cottage, 8
small two storied edi6ce, standing in it's
own strip Of garden. It had been a
pretty place not SO long ago, and per-
haps was so still, though its every de-
tail showed neglect. The garden was
aowerless and it's trees looked ragged
and forlorn-sympathizing, as vegeta-
lion has knack Of doing, with the de-
cay about them.
The room in which the major sat
showed signs kindred TO those which
mark ed the exterior of the house.
It's furniture was battered and
rheumatic, but the books, papers
whips, foils, fishing rods and heterogcn~
ous lumber of bachelor menage scat
tered carelessly about it, gave it some
thing of the air of cheerfulness which
every constantly. used haunt of human
ty is sure to acquire. Over the man
tel hung water color sketch of E. girls
head, flanked by two pen and ink
Sketches The first OF these REPRESENT
ed the present tenant of the room, plant
ed in q frantically theatrical attitude on
a bastion, waving on his followers, who
were omitted for want of space. The
second represented young man,
clad in wig and gown, heranguing, with
an ineffablo, daindifed air Of self-com-
placencJ a sleeping jury, and q Judge,
who held trumphet 20 his ear with one
hand and an opera glass to lis eye with
the other. The first of these efforts
bore the inscription, my Friend the
Majah," and was signed "R. D." and
under the second was inscribed "Dick
Douglas doing Of it," and the initials
u. NJ"
The major shook his head at the CEN
ter-piece Of this decoration, lit the
lamp and cigar, and betook himself
to the study of a chart which lay upon
the table. He was small fat man,
with ridiculous likeness to the conven-
tional cherub, likeness which bald
head, an eye-glass and pair Of mus
taches of military pattern, uncherubic
as are those accessories, failed to de-
stroy. His nose had the tinge of red
which, as an acute and learned physi-
ognomist of the present day has ob-
served, is just sufficient to impart be-
nevolence Of aspect. He renamed ab-
sorbed in the examination of the chart
until his study was interrupted by the
arrival of the original Of the second
caricature over the mantel.
well, Dick, said the major.
Dick nodded with a countenance Of
gloom and took his seat beside
the fireless CRATE, contemplating
the portrait at which the major
had shook his head half al hour before.
Then he began whispering whistle,
and finally lighting his pipe, went over
to the table and sat upon it.
Tell me something more about
Upopo," he said.
The major smiled smile Of doubtful
meaning, and with finger on the chart
began:
"The nearest port is Sydney, which
Is 500 miles away-call it a three days
run; lovely climate, beautiful soil.
Coasts rich in coral and beche de mer.
Forests oak and teak principally
alive with game boar, deer and birds.
Rivers swarming with fish. I'm sure
there's gold, and I'm more than half
inclined to think that there's oil. It's
q perfect little paradise, MY boy, and
there isn't snake nor an alligator, nor
a white man, nor any other kind of
yermin within 100 miles,"
"Natives?"
eyes, quiet and peaceable and beauti-