The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-12-27
MORN AT NAZARETH
TWO CHRISTMAS EYES.

1WU CHRlSIMAS EYES.
AT the corner of the market square in
the ancient town of st. Ives, Cornwall,
there stands picturesque old hostelry
called the Golden Lion" Until quite
lately it had for its near neighbor an inn
equally picturesque, and perhaps even
older-the George and Dragon" Both
these ancient houses of entertainment
must have witnessed many strange
events, besides being the scene of many
a jovial drinking bout after the gather
ing in of the "harvest of the sea-" or at
the less lawful landing of a contraband
cargo or at the end of a successful pri-
watering expedition. For all these
things your Cornishman hath an excel
lent relish. On the spot was the palla-
dium of the liberties of St. Ives, for here
stood the whipping post, the cage and
the stocks.
The George and Dragon must have been
the fashionable hotel, for after the Corn
ish pilgrimage of grace the kings COM
missioner, Sir Anthony Kingston, lodged
here, and entertained at dinner the port
reeve of st. Ives, whom he afterwards
politely hanged in the market square for
his reasonable practices. Here, also,
the Duke Of Bolton, when he visited the
town in 1900, twas treated with six bot
ties of sack" The two houses stood SO
close together-being divided only by the
narrow street leading into the market
square-that the occupants could wish
each other good morning from the win
dows.
In the days of George II Peter Hexel
was landlord of the George and Dragon,
and John Renowden ruled the Golden
Lion. They were not only neighbors,
but fast friends. There was, perhaps,
something in the similarity Of the cir
cumstances of these two men that
strengthened their friendship. They
were both widowers, and each had an
only child. Richard Hexel was hand
some, strapping fellow of three-and-
twenty. Mary Renowden was nineteen,
and the pride of her fathers heart. As
children they had played together; but
there came time when they only looked
and smiled and nodded to each other
from the opposite windows. Then Rich
ard would watch for Mary when she
went out, and would follow her into the
fields or on the seashore; and so it came
to be at length another version of the
old, old story, which surprised nobody
least of all, the landlords of the George
and Dragon and the Golden Lion, who
looked forward to the time when the
interests of both those ancient establish
ments should become one and indivisi-
bic.
But there was one person who watched
the growing affection of the lovers with
bitter and jealous heart. This would
not be a true love story, according to
the ancient and regular pattern, had
there been nothing to interrupt its
smooth and even course. A certain
Thomas Champer, the son of a mine
master in the neighboring parish of Zen
nor, had long looked with longing eyes
on Mary Renowden. His visits were
discouraged by the host of the Golden
Lion, and Mary herself made it very
plain that she disliked his attentions
Nothing could exceed the bitterness of
his feelings when Champer found that
he was rejected in favor of one who had
been his successful rival from boyhood
Richard HeXel had taken him down" at
school-in the wrestling bouts at Feast
entide" had thrown him in the Cornish
hug" and had constantly snatched the
victory from him in the game of "hurl-
ing" All these defeats he had endured
with comparative indifference, but to be
beaten in the game of love was not so
easy to bear, He watched the lovers Ia
their walks, till he felt he could do any
thing short Of murder to get his rival out
of the way. He thought if Hexel were
once removed from the scene he might
yet succeed with Mary, trusting to time
and the chapter of accidents. About
this time the government declared war
against Spain, and it was certain that
men would be wanted for the navy.
If the kings ships could not be manned
by other means, the press gangs would
be out, and they would first of all try
their luck at the seaports. What if they
should visit st. Ives! 1t was not unlikely
--alnd they would be glad of hint where
good men We're TO be found. Thomas
Champer turned this matter over in his
mind till he persuaded himself that he
would be doing good service to the state,
and furthering his own interests at the
same time, if he could lend helping
hand in manning the navy, provided,
always, he could himself keep out of the
way, for he had no desire to serve his
country on board man-of-war. He was
full of such thoughts when he made one
OF his periodical journeys to Falmouth
on mining business, and sought out a
certain "crimp" or agent for entrapping
seamen for the press-gang. What he did
there, or what arguments he used TO ad-
vance his plans, we need not inquire, but
the "crimp' was richer by some pounds
at the termination of the interview.
1t was Christmas eve, and the good
people of st, Ives were preparing to keep
the festival with due honor. The usual
excitement Of the season had been in
creased in the course of the afternoon by
the appearance of a sloop-of-war, which
anchored in the bay, and it was expected
that some of the officers and crew would
come ashore to join in the general mer-
rymaking. After dark a band of num-
mers entered the market square, and,
stopping I'm front Of the George and
Dragon, commenced the performance of
the Christmas drama of "St. George
Soon large crowd was collected, and
the noise brought to the doors and win
dows of the houses most of the persous