Wichita eagle., 1890-03-16

looking aimlessly down the line II the
direction from which his train was ex-
pected, apparently oblivious of all around
him. until he was startled from his alb
straction by the approach of gentleman
"a short, stout, good tempered looking
man in clergyman garb-who had just
entered the station, and who in hearty
genial tones accosted him.
Good morning. 81 Straughnessy,"
he said, holding out his hand, into which
Mr.. Straughnessy very reluctantly placed
his own 'Glad to see you out 7ne
morning like this. Better for yoer if
you took little trip somewhere more
often. Eli! Don't you think so? BY
the way" with jovial laugh, Il have
commission to perform in which you
are concerned-a special message to you
from a Lady"
a suspicious frown from the old man
rewarded this sally, and bending his
shaggy browed visage close 20 the smooth
face Of the reverend gentleman, he shot
upon him a glance, 81 threatening, so
uncannv, so malicious - to cause him
involuntarily to shrink bach In mo-
ment, however, the good natU- I'd parSon
recovered his usual equanimity.
Poor old fellow" he thought. of
he continues in his unhealthy secluded
style Of living he VIII go from bad to
worse-from a little queerness to dan
gerous madness. Nothing like moping
for Infringing the brain" Aloud he
continued: My wife declares she
is thoroughly offended. You have
refused to see us twice lately when
we have called at The Towers. You have
refused to visit Us. And she wants you
TO atone by attending our bazar next
week. What do you say? Win you
come:
Mr.. Straughnessy advanced still closer
to his interlocutor. and his thin lips
parted in a repulsive grin, revealing his
cleaning teeth, as in peculiar cultural
tones he enunciated the following ex-
traordinary speech:
"A deaths head at feast. A skele-
ton upon the hearth. i mailman at a
bazar. All. All! Ali" the end of the
peal rising almost to a shrek, and caus-
with redoubled attention.
Good heavens" thought the vicar.
Hes worse, fifty times worse than he
was three months ago. He's simply
frightful, beyond the reach OF any infiu-
ence of mine, I'm afraid" And with
the hasty remark, "Ah, my train, / see,
good morning" the Rev. John Barristaw
hurried off.
As near an approach to a smile as was
ever to be seen on MIR. Straughnessy's
grim countenance now momentarily
played upon it.
Il think I've settled him at last" he
muttered. "Confound him. He's taken
a vast amount of time learning his les
son Of leaving me alone. Year after
year has he pestered me in this way,
While his lady wife, with her airs, and
her graces, and her subscription lists,
hanging about my doors, has driven me
nearly mad-nearly made me the old
lunatic the intelligent villagers imagine
me to be- Web, well; | think I've set
tied the Rev. John Barristaw now
And, still mumbling to himself, he climb
ed into his train and was carried away.
One morning, a month after the Oc-
-currence Of this little episode, as Mrs.
Driffield, after receiving her masters or
ders for the day, was about to retire
from the dining room, where her daily
audience with him usually took place,
he called her back, saying he had some
pleasant news for her
II am going to give you little holt
day, Mrs. Drifiield," he said; you and
the other servants as well. want a
few repairs doing to the house, and a
few little alterations that l think it
would be more convenient to have done
( while it was empty. They viii not take
long to do, perhaps q week, or a fort
highland 1 am going to give you a
fortnights holiday"
! Yes, sir. Thank you, sir" said Mrs.
/ Driffield. "But some one will be want
ed just to look after the place a bit, sir,
won't there?' see respectfully inquired.
i shall do that" replied Mr.. Straugh-
/ messy 4 am not going away myself.
/ l wish to superintend the workmen. l
shall have my meals brought from
/ the Red Lion, and | dare say some
woman from the village can be got to
/ attend here an hour or so a day"
''Yes, sir, no doubt, agreed Mrs. Drift
field, trying to prevent the surprise she
was feeling expressing itself upon her
/ face. Mr.. Straughnessy was reversing
the order of things to which she had
been accustomed. At her other situa-
tons repairs had been conducted, along
with painting, etc, during the family's
absence, the servants remaining behind.
And when are we to go. please, sir:'
The sooner the better" replied Mr.,
/ Straughnessy. AS soon as you can
manage TO get ready. How long would
that be, do you think
Two or three days would be long
enough, sir; Just time enough to write
and let our friends know when to expect
Us and to get ready for lis. We're none
of us Stirkhridge folks, you see, sir; SC
we have Just To let
Then we VIII say three days from
now; that will be Thursday, interrupted
Mr.. Straughnessy. That will do quite
wei for me.
The servants we're well pleased at the
prospect Of a holiday, but their pleasure
did not prevent them experiencing and
expressing some wonder as 70 the mo
tive for which their master thus sent
them of. They did not accept his rea
son as the correct one. They had heard
no previous mention Of alterations ant
there was little repairing needed. Then
suspicious naturally jumped 70 the con
eFIslon tnaJ the mysterious CLOSED cnan,
Der had something TO 90 with M