The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-26

many of them, and not one, save himself,
rejoiced in the name OF Joshua
Surely" said he to himself, cit can't be
true. / know no one called Masterton.
Besides, should have heard Of il direct. F"
Just then his landlady entered the room
with letter.
This came for you, sir, this morning"
said she, land I'm sorry it has been mis-
laid"
The letter proved to be from Twibell 4
Twiss, the solicitors of G. NJ. Masterton.
1t contained formal offer of the living of
Platton, and mentioned the solicitors re-
gret that their client was at present
abroad. They requested Mr.. Bamlett to
call upon them as soon as possible.
He called, accepted the living, and had
read himself in and taken possession be-
fore Mr.. Masterton returned.
One morning he was walking in the gar
den OF his vicarage, wishing his patron
would come back that he might make his
acquaintance and discover what manner
OF man it was who, having good thing to
give away, sought out an obscure curate
as the recipient of ii, when ne saw Charley
Micklereed open the gate.
Could it De, thought he, that Charley
had not deemed him worth visiting before
his promotion? Did he mean to levy
blackmail upon him? It would not be-
nice to have the story of the tobacco
spread abroad. No! he would not believe
his friend could be so base-especially as
his friend, to judge by his clothes and the
aroma OF his cigar, had also prospered in
worldly affairs since he left the prison.
"Well, Josh, my boy" began Mr.. Mick
lereed, chow do you like it? House all
right, isn't it? l told them to put every
thing square for you before I went away"
"You told them" said Mr.. Bamlett !;
but what on earth had you to do
with it?"
Everything" replied his friend; 'I'm
not Charley Micklereed now, YOU know.
but Charles Micklereed Masterton, lord of
this manor and patron of this living Pos
sibly j. ?. some day. Wouldn't that be a
joke, ehl Josh?"
81 don't understand" said the vicar
feebly.
"Ah! / suppose you never heard of nv
great-uncle Masterton. Well, l hardly
ever did before came out of-you know
what 1t seems he quarreled with my
mothers mother for marrying my grand
father. She was his only near relation,
and until the newspapers brought me to
his notice he was actually without any
one to leave his money to. He was pleased
to say was man Of spirit, and made me
de fdctO what I already was de jtlre-his
heir. Poor old chap! We were only to-
gether month before he died. The only
thing he asked me to do was to take his
name"
''Then you were the patron of this living
when Mr.. Sloman diedi' said Mr.. Bam-
lett in a disappointed tone. It is not
pleasant TO find that favor and not merit,
after all, has led to our advancement
Certainly was, old fellow, and knew
no one who deserved it better than you.
Shouldn't have cared if 1 had either.
replied his friend.
Don't, pray don't, put it on that
ground, Charley" demonstrated the other;
you cannot imagine the trouble my con-
science has gwen me over that matter. If
| had known the offer came from you,
should not have accepted the living"
Just what 1 was afraid of, j." retorted his
friend; that's why sent it through my
solicitors"
Then Mr. Bamlett talked of resigning,
but his friend, though with some difficulty,
persuaded him to abandon the idea.
well, you know your way up TO the
hail." said Charles at parting. "By the
BY, you'll find some more old friends of
yours at the lodge. I've made that warder
chap gate-keeper. He aud his family
came down yesterday. Wonder if he ever
smelt that tobacco. Sometimes fancied
he did"
The clergyman sincerely hoped Mr..
Smiths olfactory nerves were not keen.
Whether they were or not, that iudicious
individual never breathed a word on the
subject. No one in the parish ever knew
that the man who, with military salute,
threw open the park-gate as the vicar
went up to see his friend, the squire, had
done the same sort of thing before when
the clergyman visited the layman under
very different circumstances.
The squire was popular and made good
landlord, but the vicar never could per-
suade him to take life as seriously as he
would have liked. Occasionally the pair
talked over the lamp-breaking exploit
The vicar proved conclusively that it was
wrong and foolish, and his friend admitted
it, maintaining, nevertheless, that it was
no use showing a man that a winning out
slider really had no chance, and that the
result of the race was f1uke, after he's
backed the animal and kot his money,