Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-12-24
TWO CHRISTMAS EYES.

At the corner u the market square In
lhc ancient town Of 81 Ives. Cornwall,
there siand. picturesque oh hosielry
called the Golden lion. Until quite
lately Il had for its near neighhor an inn
equally picturesque. and perhaps even
older-tho "Gcurgr aud Dragon" Both
thc-e ancient housr. ~ entertainment
must have witnessed many strange
events. besides bcing the sccnc ~ many
lovial drinking l-iut after the gather.
ing IN - the harvest ~ the -, or AZ
the H.. lawful landing % a cuntnland
cargo. or at The eni ~ successful pfi.
Watering expedition For all thc-g
things your Co-uishman hath an excel.
lont rrlish On the splt was the palla.
lium 81 the liberties - ST I've. for here
tool the whipping pos,. the cage AMI
The stocks
uoGcurge AMI Dragon must have bcvn
ihe fashionable huicl. fof after the Corn.
ish pilgrimage ~ grace the kings com.
missioner. Sir Anthony Kingston. lDlgcd
here. anl entertained at dinner the Iort.
reeve q 81 Ives. whom be- Afterwards
politely hanged in the market square for
hi. tr,a.unahlc practices. Here. al-n.
the Duke n Bolton. when be- yisiici the
town In i0g9. was trraic,i with slH bot
tlss Of sack The tso houses stood -
close iogrthcr-bclng divided only by the
narrow street leading into the market
squaro-that the occupants could wish
each other good morning from the win.
d0ws
In tho DAYS u Ocorg. II Peter lleHel
Was landlord u the George and Dragon.
and John Renowdcn ulci the Golden
Lion They we're not only neighbors.
bui fast friends There was. perhaps.
something IN the similarity - the cir.
cumstanccs of ihc.e two men that
strengthened their friendship They
we're both widoNcrs. aud each had an
oniy child Richard lloxcl Was a hand.
some. strapping fellow of thrc, and.
twcnty Mary llenoWden was nineteen.
and the pride Of her fathers heart A.
children they had played together. bui
there came a time when they only looked
and smiled and nodded 20 each Other
from the opposite windows Then Rich
ard would watch for Mary when she
went out. and would follow her intb the
fields or on the s.ashorc. aud ~ IL came
to b. al length another version % the
old. old story. which surprised nobody
last of all. the landlords of the George
and Dragon and the Golden Lion. who
l0okcl forward to the time when tho
Interests Of both tho-e ancient establish.
ments should become one and indivisi.
bic
Hut there was one person who watched
the growing affection ~ the lovers with
bitter and jealous heart This would
not bc true love story. according 20
the ancient and regular pattern, had
there been nothing 90 interrupts its
smooth and even course. A certain
Thomas Champcr. the son of a mine
master In the ncighboring parish Of Zen.
nor. had long looked with longing eye.
on Mary Renowden. llis visits were
discouraged by the host Of the Golden
Lion. ami Mary herself made IL very
plain that she disliked his attentions.
Nothing could exceed the bitterness OF
his feelings when Champcr found that
be- was rejected In favor of one who had
boen his successful rival from boyhood.
Richard llcXel had taken him down" az
schOol-in the wrestling bouts AZ Feast
eutide" had thrown him In the Cornish
hug" and had constantly snatched the
victory from him la the game ~ "hurl
INK" All these defeats be had endured
with comparative indifference. bat to be
b,aien In the game of love was no, ~
easy 10 bear. lie watched the lovers In
their walks. till he felt be could do any
thing short Of murder 10 get his rivalout
81 the way. lie thought u IIexel were
once removed from the scene he might
yet succeed with Mary. trusting 60 tims
aud the chapter Of accidents. About
this time the government declared wal
nrainst Spain. and Il was certain that
i4en would h. wanted for the navy.
II the king ships could NO, b. manned
hy other means. the press gangs would
be out. and they would tirst Of all try
their luck at the seaports What II they
should visit 81. lycsl ltwas not unlikely
and they would he glad Of hint where
good men were to be found. Thomas
Champer turned this matter over In his
mind till be persuaded himself that he
would b. doing good service 10 the state.
and furthering his own Interests at the
same time. u he could lend helping
hand IN manning the navy. provided,
always. H. could himself keep out Of the
way. for he had no desire To serve his
country on board a man-of-war lie was
full Of such thoughts wher be made one
Of his periodical journeys TO Falmouth
on mining business. and sought out
certain ''orimp" or agent Tor entrapping
seamen for the preasgang. 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.
II was Christmas eve. aud the good
people Of ST Ives were preparing 10 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 sloop-of.war. which
anchored in the bay, and II was expected
that some Of the officers and crew would
come ashore To join In the general mer.
rymaking After dark hand Of mum.
mers entered the market square. and,
stopping In 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 70 the doors and win