Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-13
CHAPTER vL-THE GAA1E-MoUNrJoY WINS.

Miss Henley's telegram arrived at the
Inn the next morning.
He was willing to receive his daughter,
but not unreservedly. The message was
characteristic of the man: "Yes-on trial -
MOuntjOy was not shocked, was not even
surprised. He knew that the successful
speculations, by means of which Mr.. Hen
ley had accumulated his wealth, had
raised against him enemies, who had
spread scandalous reports which had never
been completely refuted. The silent Sc
ceSSiOn of friends, in whose fidelity he
trusted, had hardened the mans heart
and emblttered his nature. Strangers in
distress, who appealed to the rich, retired
merchant for help, found in their excel
lent references to character the worst
form of persuasion that they could have
adopted. Paupers without a rag of repu-
tation left to cover them were the objects
of charity whom Mr.. Henley relieved.
When he was asked to Justify his conduct
he said, I have a sympathy with bad
characters-I am one of them myself"
With the arrival OF the dinner-hour the
doctor appeared, in no very amiable hui
NOR, at the inn.
Another hard days work. he said; st
should sink under it, if | hadn't prospect
of getting rid Of my practice here. Lon
donor the neighborhood of London
there's the right place for man like me.
Well? Where's the wonderful wine?
L
your French tipple, shall say So"
The inn possessed no claret glasses; they
drank the grand wine in tumblers as if it
had been vim ordinaire.
Mr. Vimpany showed that he was ac-
quainted with the fOrmalitieS proper to
the ceremony of tasting. He filed his
makeshift glass, he held it up to the light,
and looked at the wine severely; he moved
the tumbler to and fro under his nose,
and smelt at it again and again: he paused
and reflected: he tasted the claret as eau
tiously as if he feared it might be poison
ed; he smacked his lips, and emptied his
glass at a draught; lastly, he showed some
consideration for his hosts anxiety, and
pronounced sentence on the wine.
mot so good as you think it, sir? But
nice light claret-clean and wholesome.
hope you have not given too much for
Thus far Hugh had played losing game
patiently His reward had come at last.
After what the doctor had just said to
him he saw the winning card safe in his
own hand.
The bad dinner was soon over. No soup,
of course; fish, in the state of preservation
usually presented by a decayed country
india-rubber; potatoes whose aspect said,
stranger, don't eat u.s." pudding that
would have produced a sense of discour-
agement, even in the mind of child; and
the famous English cheese which comes
to us, oddly enough, from the United
States. and stings us vindictively when we
put it into our mouths. But the wine, the
glorious wine would have made amends
to anybody but Mr.. Vimpany for the woe.
full deficiencies of the food. Tumblerful
after tumblerful of that noble vintage
poured down his thirsty and ignorant
throat, and still he persisted in declaring
that it was nice, light stuff, and still he
unforgivingly bore in mind the badness OF
the dinner.
''The feeding here" said this candid
man, lis worse. if possible, than the feed
| ing at sea, when | served as doctor on
board a passenger steamer. Shall 1 tell
| you how | lost my place? Oh, say plainly,
| if YOU don't think my little anecdote worth
| listening tor
"My dear sir, lam waiting to hear it."
Very good. No offense, | hope? That's
right! Well, sir, the captain of the ship
| complained of me to the owners; l would
not 90 round, every morning, and knocb
! at the ladies' cabin-doors, and ask how
| they felt after a Sea-sick night. Who
| doesn't know what they feel, without
| knocking at their doors? Let them senC
for the doctor when they want him. That
was how | understood my duty; and there
was the line of conduct that lost me my
place. Pass the wine. Talking of ladies
what do you think of my wife? Did you
ever see such distinguished manners be
| fore? Ny dear fellow, [ have taken 6
! fancy to you. Shake hands. I'll tell yoT
! another little anecdote. Where do yoU
| think my wife picked up her fashionabl,
airs and graceS? Ho! no! On the stage
| The highest branch of the profession, si1
J "a tragic actress. If you had seen her ii
| Lady Macbeth, Mrs. Vimpany would hav,
made your flesh creep. Look at me, anC
| feast YOUR eyes on a man who is aboy,
! hypocritical objections TO the theatre
| Haven't proved it by marrying an &C
| tress? But we don't mention it here. Thu
savages in this beastly place wouldn't EN-
| ploy me if they knew [ had married
stage-player. Hullo! the bottles empt,
again Ha. here's another bottle, full.
| love man who has always got a full bot
tie to offer his friend. Shake hands. Isa1
| Mountjoy, tell me on your sacred word o.
| honor, can you keep secret? Ny wife
! secret, Sirl Stopl let me look at you again
| / thought l saw you smile. If a maj
| smiles at me- when am opening my who'll
! heart to him, by the living lingo, l woulC
/ knock that man down at his own table
| What YOU didn't smile? 1 aDolo.ize
| Your hand again; 1 drink your health II
YOUR own good wine. Where was /? What
| was l talking about?'
| Mountjoy carefully humored his inter
estiug guest.
"by taking me into your confidence
1 Mr.. Vimpany stared in tipSy bewilder
| ment. Mountjoy tried again, in palmer
language: You were going to tell me 1
/ secret"
This time, the doctor grasped the idea
He looked round cunnlngly to the door
| ANY eaveSdropperS?" he aSkeG. Hash
| Whisper-this is serous-whisper! VIVA
was it was going TO tell you? What wa
| the secret, old boy?"
Mountjoy then answered a little too
readily: Il think it related to Mrs Vimp