Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-30

/ came 10 produce the second course OF
! cheese and celery, the landlady allowed
the waiter to take her place. Her expert
ence Of the farmers who frequented the
!. inn, and who had in some few cases been
| induced to taste the wine, warned her to
| anticipate an outbreak of Just anger from
Mr.. Mountjoy. He, like the others, would
! probably ask what she meant by poison
| ing him with such stuff as that" On the
return of the waiter she put the question:
DID the gentleman complain of the
French wine?"
''He wants to see you about it, ma am. -
| The landlady turned pale. The express
sion of Mr. Mountjoy's indignation was
/ house. Did he swear" she asked, when
| he tasted it?"
Lord bless you, ma'am, mol Drank it
out of a tumbler, and-if you will believe
| me-actually seemed to like it,"
The landlady recovered her color Graf
| itude to Providence for having sent a Gus
toner to the inn, who could drink sour
wine without discovering it, was the up
permOst feeling in her ample bosom as she
entered the private room. Mr.. Mountjoy
justified her anticipations. He was simple
enough-with his tumbler before him. and
the wine as it were under his nose-to be-
gin with an apology.
Il am sorry to trouble you, ma'am. May
[ ask where you got this wine?"
1.-The wine, sir, was one of IN Y late hus-
bands bad debts. 1t was all he could
get from Frenchman who owed him
money"
tits worth money, ma'am."
Indeed. sir?"
"Yes, indeed. This is some of the finest
and purest claret that l have tasted TO
many long day past"
An alarming suspicion disturbed the
serenity of the landlady's mind. Was this
extraordinary opinion of the wine sinceres
Or was it Mr.. Mountjoy's wicked design
to entrap her into praising her claret and
then to imply that she was cheat oy de-
clarng what he really thought of itt She
took refuge in a cautious reply:
"You are the first gentleman, sir, who
has not found fault with it.
"In that case, perhaps you would like to
get rid of the wine?" Mr.. Mountjoy sug-
gested.
The landladv was still cautious. "Who
will buy it of me, SIR"
81 will. How much do you charge for it
by the bottle?'
1t was, by this time. clear that he was
not mischievous-onlya little crazy. The
worldly-wise hostess took advantage of
that circumstance to double the price.
Without hesitation, she said: Five shil-
lings a bottle; sir"
Often, too often, the irony of circum-
stances brings together, on this earthly
scene. the opposite types of vice and vir-
tue. A lying landlady and guest incap-
able of deceit were looking at each other
across a narrow table; equally unconscious
of the unreasonable moral gulf that lay
between them. Influenced by honorable
feeling, innocent Hugh Mountjoy dashed
the landlady's greed for money to the full
gallop of human cupidity.
II don't think you are aware of the value
of your wine," he said. Il have clerat in
my cellar which is not so good as this, and
which costs more than you have asked. 1t
Is only fair to offer you seven-and-sixpence
a bottle"
When an eccentric traveller is asked to
pay price. and deliberately raises that
price against himself, where is the sensi-
Bile woman-especiallv if she happens to
be widow conducting an Improbable
business-who would hesitate to improve
the opportunity The greedy landlady
raised her terms.
ION reflection, sir, I think I ought to
have ten shillings a bottle, if you please"
1.-THE wine may be worth it," Mountjoy
answered, quietly; ''but it is more than
can afford to pay. No, ma'am; | will leave
you to find some lover of good claret with
q longer purse than mine"
1t was in this mans character when he
said Mo- to mean mo" Mr.. MountjOy' g
hostess perceived that her crazy customer
was not to be trifled with. She lowered
her terms again with the headlong hurry
of terror. You shall have it, sir. at your
own price, Sdlu UnlS enGlTely SHdmoleSS
and perfectly respectable woman.
The bargain having been closed under
these circumstances, the landlady's daugh-
ter knocked at the door. 81 took your
letter myself. sir" she said modestly;
land here is the answer" (She had seen
Miss Henley. and did not think much of
herr Mountjoy offered the expression of
his thanks in words never to be forgotten
by n sensitive young person and opened
his letter. 1t was short enough to be read
in moment, but it was evidently fav-
orable reply. He took his hat in a hurry
and asked to be shown the way to Mr..
Vimpany's house.