The Wahpeton times., 1889-01-10
Tl|''Wl|i'O1lC|HRISTMASE,'Vv';E:,,S:, !

~ an inn equally picturesque, and
srhaps even older, the aGeorge
end Dragon" Both these
houses of entertainment
have witnessed many
events, a, besides being the
pf many jovial drinking
fer the gathering in the char
fhe sea" J" or ut the less law
ing ofa icontraband cargo,
end of a privateering expe-
h~ FQr all these things your
s man hath an excellent relish.
III 6spct was the palladium of
Shes fertics of st. Ives, for here
ltood The wh:pping-post, tn, cage,
and the stocks. The George and
Dragon must have been the fashion
able hotels, for after the Cornish
Pilgrimage of Grace the Kings Com
missioner, Sir Anthony Kingston,
lodged here, and entertained at din
ner the Portreve of st. Ives, whom
he afterwards politely hanged in the
smarket-square for his reasonable
practices. Here, also, the Duke of
Bolton, when he visited the town in
1899, "was treated with six bottles
ofsack." 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 windows.
In the days Of George II. Peter
fHexel was landsnrd of the
George and Dsdgon, and John
,jRenoEdsfs :. ruled the Golden
Dion. They were not only neighbors,
but fast friends. There was perhaps,
pmcthing in the similarity of the
frcumstance of these two men that
frengthened their friendship. They
tere both widowers, and each had
On only child. Richard Hexel was a
handsome strapping fellow of three
4nd-twenty. Mary Renowden was
Nineteen. and the pride of her fathers
heart. AS children they had played
2together; but there came time when
Fhey only looked and smiled and
odded to each other from the oppo-
lite windows. Then Richard would
gatch for Mary when she went out,
and would follow her into the fields
or,on the seashore; and SO it came
Ybe at length another version of
- old, old story, which surprised
fhebody-least of all the landlords of
IMe George and Dragon and the
Golden Lion, who looked forward to
ehe time when the interest of both
Nhose ancient establishments should
become one and indivisible.
But there was one person who
watched the growing affection of the
Lovers with bitter and jealous heart.
This would not be q true love-story,
according to the ancient and regular
pattefa, had there been nothing to
interrupt it's smooth and even course.
a certain Thomas Champer, the son
Of a mi9e-master in the neighboring
parish II Zennor, chad long looked
with longing eyes a Mary Renowden.
His visits were discouraged by the
the Golden Lion, and Mary
herself made it very plain that she
dHliked his attentions. Nothing
SkIid exceed the bitterness of his feel
7hks when Champer found that he
wes rejected in favor OF one who had
been his successful rival from boy
hood. Richard Hexel had s'taken
him down" at school in the wrestling
bouts at "F'eastentide" had thrown
him in the ssCornish hug" and had
constantly snatched the victory from
him in the game of "hurling." All
zfhese 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 in their walks, till he felt he
could do anything. 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. fthe 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-and they would beglad
2fa hint where good men were to I've
bund. Thomas Champer turned this
matter over in his mind till he per.
haded himself that he would be do
,Ang good service to the State, and
furthering his own interests at the
same time, if he could lend a 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 a 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
i pounds at the termination of the in
ssterview.
J It was Christmas Eve, and the
Sgood people of St. Ives were prepar-
ing to keep the festival with due hon
Cor. The usual excitement of the sea-
8bon had been increased in the course
of the afternoon by the appearance Of
I a.sloOp-of-war which anchored in the
bay, and it was expected thatsomeo of
the officers and crew would come
ashore to join in the general merry
making. After dark a band of num-
mers entered the market-square, and