Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-05-24

uOOr was CONereu ny u bODer nueU L er-
sian carpet, and, of course, roaring
fire filled tho CRATE.
The Talberts looked very grave-as
grave and solemn rs Roman fathers in
high debate. They were, indeed, dis
cussing a weighty matter. After an
interval of silence, Herbert rose and
walked to his trother's side. The two
looked critically down the table. They
went to the bottom and looked up the
table They went TO the sides and
looked across the table; they even sent
glances diagonally from corner to
corner.
ut is certainly great improvement"
said Horace with quiet triumph
"A great improvement, hoed the
other. echo is the right word even
their voices were alike.
Coffee was brought in, and the two
gentlemen were about to leave the
dining room, when the Rev, Mr.. MOrdle
was announced. Mr.. Mordle was the
curate of Oakbury. and always well
come guest at Hazlewood House. 1t
was an unspoken axiom of the Talberts
that the church set the seal of fitness
upon her servants, or, at least, upon
her ripper servants Organ blowers.
parish clerks, and pew openers were
the lower servants-so, all things being
equal, clergyman could always break
through the exclusiveness which reigned
at Lakewood House Mr.. Mordle was
clever in his way. full OF talk, and OF
course knew every in and out of the
parish, in the administration to the
wants of which he must have found the
Talberts great assistance. All great
men have their weaknesses. But then
they dearly love having finger in the
pie parochial, leaving out of the ques-
ton the fact that they liked the curate,
and in the kindness of their hearts pitie1
his loneliness so he often dropped in
like this. unlimited, and no doubt felt
the privilege to be great honor.
On Mr.. MOrde's side, he could thor
oughly appreciate humor, the moro
so when its existence was quite unsus-
pected by the sedate humorist. To him
the study of Horace and Herbert was
matter of keen and enduring delight
They rose and greeted him. Excuse
me-, said Horace rather nelrously,
Ibid A"
"Yes, did," answered the curate
briskly. Il rubbed them scrubbed
them-my feet feel red hot could
dance ,minuet on your table cloth
without sOilng it. "
The redundancy of the answer set
their minds at rest The bugbear of
their domestic lives was persons enter.
ing their rooms without having first
wiped their shoes as every Christian
gentleman should. The hall door was
so heavily armed with mats and scrap
ers that such an omission seemed an
impossibility. Yet sometimes it did
occur. and its effects were terrible
almost tragic
Horace rang for more cl&-s!; Herbert
passed his cigarette case aud the three
men chatted for while OH various
subjects. resently said Horace with
sad dec on:
"'nn enkins came to Us the day
before yesterday. She told ~ piteous
tale. We gave her five shillinEs."
Very good of you," said the culate;
she HIS large family nine. think"
Yes; but we are sorry now tl,at we
gave the money. We are sure that she
is not careful, thrifty woman"
Caref and thrifty people wouldn't
want your half crowns. But how did
you find out her true characterl"
I'VE walked behind her across the
field this morning." said Horace, with
grave regret "When she got over the
Stile we saw she had on two odd stock
ings, a black one and gray oae-
or blue and gray, / am not certain
which. "
BLUE and gray" said Herbori. II
noticed particularly"
Her tastes. like yours" said the
curate, may be cultured enough to
avoid Philistinic uniformity
"Oh, dear no." said erbert serious
ly. 1--WE argue in this way. The
woman has two pairs of stockings"
81 doubt it " said the curate. But,
never mind-g1 on " His friends
were surprising themselves!
''She has two pairs one gray, the
other blue or black. he has worn one
stocking into holes. Instead of sitting
down and darning it, like a decent
body she simply puts on one of the
other pair"
"Why doesn't she put on the other
pair altogether asked MIR. Mordle.
Because, said Horace triumphant.
ly, lone stocking of that pair is in the
same dilapidated condition; so her con-
duct is doubly bad. AS l said, she is
not deserving woman. y
"Granting your premises, said Mr..
Mordle, ''your argument is not lllogi-
cal. Your reasoning appears sounds,
your deductions correct. But "
The curate was preparing for deli
cious battle on the subject, well worn
or otherwise, of Ann Jenkins hose.
He meant to learn why one stocking of
either pair should wear out before its
fellow, and many other fanciiul COM
binations were forming themselves in
his subtle brain, when the interest in
the mended or unmended stockings
was extinguished by the entrance OF
the Talbert's irreproachable looking
man servant. He informed his masters
that the man had brought the child.
"What man? What childp" asked
Horace. do you expect a man or a
child, HERBERT"
Certainly rot. What do you mean,
Whitaker"
"a railway man has brought child,
sir. He says it is to be left here"
There must be some stuDid mis-