Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-11-22
Longman's Magazine.

%@ : ' s:., s' ' ss '' &, 4
chance of the suns breaking through
but as the morning wore on so oui
prospect of hunting that day faded
further from us. 1t was now high
noon, and | had left the hunt about
half an hour ago, turned my face to-
ward the coast and lit a cigar to be
guile the way. When a man is TWEEN
ty.seven he begins to miss the fun OF
shivering beside q frozen cover.
The road took a sudden plunge
among the spurs of the two covering
hills. AS | began to descend the
first CLEAN of sunshine burst from
the dull heaven and burst over the
hoar-frost. l looked up and saw on
the slope of the hill to the right a
horseman also descending.
At first glance | took him for a
brother sportsman who had aban-
doped hope of fox. But the second
assured me of my mistake. The
stranger wore u black suit of
antique clerical cut, a shovel hat,
and CATERS; his nag was the sorriest
OF ponies, with a shaggy coat of
iiaring yellow, and so low in the legs
that the broad flaps of it's riders
coat all but trailed on the ground.
We met at the foot of the descent,
"Ah, indeed" said the stranger,
refining in his pony as though now
for the first time aware of me. 81
wish you a very good day, sir. We
are well met" He pulled off his hat
with u fantastic politeness. For me,
my astonishment grew as | regard
ed him more closely. A mass OF
lanky white hair dropped on either
side of n face pale, pinched, and ex-
traordinarily wrinkled; the clothes
that wrapped his diminutive body
were thread-bare, greasy, and
patched in all directions. Fifty
years wear could not have worsened
them; and indeed from the whole
aspect of the man you might guess
him century old were 1t not for the
nimbleness of his gestures and his
eyes, which were gray, alert, and
keen as needles.
| acknowledged his salutation as
he ranged up besidem me.
"Will my company, sir, offend
you? BY your coat l suspect your
trade-venatorem sapit, hey?"
His voice exactly fitted his eyes.
Both were sharp and charged with
yet both carried also
hinr that their owner had lived long
in privacy.
81 am riding homeward," l an
swered.
Hey? Whereas that?"
"At Bleakirk."
He seemed about to speak, but re-
strained himself, fumbled in his
waistcoat pocket, and produced a
massive snuff-boX offered me a pinch.
On my declining he helped himself
and then letting the reins
hang loose upon his arm fell to tap
ping the box.
"To me this form of their herb
nicotiana commends itself by its
the sense is tickled; the
purse consenting-like The compl ais
ant husband in Juvenal you take
me? | am well acquainted with
neutrality-suspicious.. BY the way,
howl is Squire Cartwright ofthe Hall?''
eff" said ], "you mean my father,
Angus Cartwright, he is dead these
twelve years" "Hey?" cried the
old gentleman, and added after a
moment, "Ah, to besure, time flies
quo dives Tullus et-Angus, ell?
And yet a hearty man, to all SEEM
ing So you are his son." He took
another pinch. ut is very sustain
ing" he said. "The snuff?" "You
have construed me, sir. Since set
out, just thirteen hours since, it has
been my sole viatcum." AS he
spoke he put his hand nervously to |
his forehead and withdrew it.
"Then," thought |. "you must |
have started in the middle of the
night" for it was now little past |
noon. But looking at his face saw
clearly that it was drawn and pinched |
with festicg. %1ereupon | remem-
oered mr. flask and sandwich-box,
and pulling them out assured him,
with some apology fcs he offer,
that they were at his service. His
oy, was childish. Again he whipped
off his hat, and clapping it to his
leart swore my conduct did honor to
ny dead father; "and with Angus
cartwright" said he, kindness was
Being a habit, it outran
ELECTION; and his whisky, sir. was
lndeniable. Come, | have q fancy.
Let us dismount, and in heoric fashion
pread our feast upon the turf; or if
he hoar-frost deter you, see, here