Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-06-05
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
PART !.
TOLD BY PHILIP BRAND, IL D.. LONDON.

wish had the courage TO begin this tale
by turning to my professional visiting books
and, taking at random any month out of the
last twenty years, give its record as a fair
sample of my ordinary work. The dismal
extract would tell you what doctOr's-I sup
pose may say successful doc,Ors-lot is,
when his practice lies in poor and densely-
populated district of London. DreaIy as
such beginning might be, itwOuld perhaps
allay some of the incredulity which this tale
may probably provoke as it would plainly
show how little room there is for things inn
aginative or romantic in work so hard as
mine, OF among such grim realities Of power
~, pain, and grief as those by which have
been surrounded. 1t would certainly make
it appear extremely unlikely that l should
have found time to imagine, much less to
write, romance or mclodrama,
The truth Is that when q man has toiled
from nine o'clock in the morning until nine
o'clock at night, such leisure as he can enjoy
Is precious to him, especially when even that
short respite is liable to be broken in upon at
any moment
Still, in spite of the doeful picture l have
drawn OF what may be called 1.-THE daily
grind" begin tins tale with the account of
q holiday.
In the autumn of 1864 / turned my back
with right goodwill upon London streets
hospitals, and patients, and took my scat In
the North Express The first revolution of
the wheels sent a thrill of delight through
my faded frame. A joyful sense of freedom
came over me. had really got away at last
Moreover, had left no address behind me,
so for three blessed weeks might roam an UNI
disputed lord of myself. Three weeks were
not very many to take out of tho fifty-two,
but they were all could venture to give my
self; for even at that time my practice, IL not
30 lucrative as could wish, was large and
increasing one. Having done a twelve
months hard work, 1 felt that no one in the
kingdom could take his holiday with con-
science clearer that mine. so lay back in a
peculiarly contented frame of mind, and dis
counted the coming pleasures of my brief
respite from labor
There are many ways Of passing holiday
many places at which it may be spent; but,
after all, if you wish to enjoy 1t thoroughly
there is but one royal rule TO be followed.
That is, simply TO please yourself-go where
you like. and mount the innocent holiday
hobby which is dearest TO your heart let its
name be botany geology entomology, con-
chology, venery piscation, or what not.
Then you will be happy, and return we'll
braced up for the battle of life. | knew q
city clerk with literary tastes, who invariably
spent his annual fortnight among the musti-
est tones of the British Museum, and aver
red that his health was more benefited by SO
doing than If he had passed the time inhaling
the freshest Sca-breeZeS. i dareSay he was
right in his assertion.
Sketching has always been my favoritt
holiday pursuit Poor rs my drawings may
be, nevertheless as | turn them over in my
portfolio, they bring, TO me at least vivid re
membranes of many sweet and picturesque
spots, happy days, and congenlal compan.
ions. II Is not form to say anything of Their
actual merits, but they are dear to me foi
their associations.
This particular year Iwent to North Wales
and made Bettws-y-COed my headquarters
stayed at the Royal Oak, that well-knowi
little inn dear to many an artists heart ans
teeming with "reminiscences of famous mel
who have sojOurned there times withou
number. 1t was here j made the acquain
ance of the man with whose life the curiou
events here told are connected.
On the first day after my arrival at Betty
my appreciation of my liberty was so thoi
ough, my appetite for the enjoyment of tn,
that went so far and saw so much. thu
when returned TO the Royal Oak night ha,
fallen and the hour of dinner had long pass
ed by. was, when my own meal was place,
on the table, the only occupant of the coffee,
room. Just then young man entered. al,
ordered something TO eat. The waiter know
ing, no doubt, something of the frank como
rdderie which exists or should exist, between
foil 80 l,fA His
cover at my table. The newcomer seated
himself, gave me pleasant smile and a nod,
and in five minutes we were in full swing OF
conversation.
The moment my eyes fell upon the young
man | had noticed how singularly handsome
he was. Charles CarristOn-for this found
aiteTward to be his name-was about twenty
two years Of age. He was tall, but slightly
built; his whole bearing and figure being IT.
markably elegant and graceful. lie looked
even more than gentlemanly, looked dis.
tinguished. His face was pale, its features
wel-cut straight and regular. His fore
head spoke of high intellectual qualities, and
there was somewhat of that development;
over the eyebrows which phrenoogsts, be-
Iieve, consider as evidence of the possession
OF imagination. The general expression OF
his face was one OF sadness and its refined
beauty was heightened bya pair of soft, dark,
dreamy-lOoking eyes.
IL only remains TO add that, from his at
tire, judged him to be an artiSt-a profes
sional artistic the backbone. In the courSe
of conversation told him how L had classi-
fed him. He smiled
II am only an amateur" he said; ian idle
man, nothing more-and your"
ALAS | am doctor"
"rhen we shall not have 10 answer to each
other for our sins in painting"
We talked on pleasantly until Qlr bodily
wants were satisfied. Then came That pleas
ant craving for tobacco, which after good
meal, is natural to well-regulated digestion.
"Shall we go and smoke outsider said Car
Tiston. THE night is delicious"
We went out and sat ON one Of the wooden
benches. As my new friend said, the night
was delicious. There was scarcely breath
of air moving The stars and the moon
shone brightly, and the rush of the not far
distant stream came 10 us with a soothing
murmur. Near us were three or four jovial
young artists. They were in merry mood /;
one OF them had that day sold picture TO a
tourist We listened to their banter until.
most likely growing thirsty, they re-cntered
the inn.