Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-12-10

slightly under the common height, with
a long, clerical coat of preposterous tit
hanging loosely from his shoulders, a
white cravat, black breeches and black
stockings. His feet We're loosely thrust
into carpet slippers. | judged his age at
so or Whereabouts. GU startled me,
he said, in matterof- fact tone, turning
his eyes upon me, as he lifted his glass
again and emptied it; chow did you find
your way in p
"By the front door," said I, wonder
ing at his unconcern.
He nodded his head slowly.
"Ah, yes; forgot to lock it. You
came to steal, | suppose ~
81 came because I'd lost my way.
I've been travelling this God-forsaken
moor since dusk"
"With your boots in your hand?' he
put in, quietly.
II took them off out of respect to the
yellow dog you keep
''He lies in natural attitude, eh ?"
"You don't tell me he was stuffed ?"
The old mans eyes beamed with con-
temptuous pity.
"Y GU are indiferently sharp, my dear
sir, for housebreaker. Come in. Set
down those convicting boots, and don't
drip pools of water i'll the very door
burglar, prefer him tidy"
He walked to the fire, picked up a
poker ana knocked the Goals into q
blaze; this done, he turned round on
me, with the poker still in his hand.
The serenest gravity sat on his large,
hale features.
"Why have | done this ?' he ask
II suppose to get possession G. The
poker"
"Quite right. May 1 enquire your
next move ?"
why" said I feeling in my tail peck
ct, 81 carry pistol"
"W hich [ suppose to be damp ?"
''By no means. | carry it, las you
see, in an oil-cloth case"
He stopped and laid the poker care
fullyin the fender.
THAT is a stronger card than DOS
sess. I might urge that by pulling the
trigger you would certainly alarm the
house and the neighborhood, and put
halter round your neck. AS for the in
mates Of this house, it will refresh you
to hear that there are none. / have
lived here for two years with butler
and female cook, both of whom | dis
missed yesterday at a minutes notice for
conduct which [ will not shock your
ears by explicitly naming. Suffice it to
say | carried them off yesterday to my
parish church, two miles away, married
them, and dismissed them in the vestry
without characters"
"Sir," | answered. 81 have held
pistol at one Or two heads in my time.
but never a one stuffed with nobler in
discretion. Your chivalry does not, in
deed, disarm me, but prompts me to
desire more of your acquaintance. [
L. Il
with him before | make terms"
The address seemed to please him.
He shuff1ed across the room to a side
board and produced a plate of biscuits,
another of almonds and dried raisins, a
glass, and two decanters.
"Sherry and Madeira" he said;
"there is also cold pie in the larder,
if you care for it,"
"a biscuit will serve" | replied; "to
tell the truth, I'm more for the bucket
than the manger, as the grooms say;
and, by your leave, the brandy you
were tasting just now, is more to my
mind than wine"
"1here is no water handy"
There was plenty out of doors to last
me with this bottle"
l pulled over a chair, laid my pistol
on the table and held out the glass for
himself to a glass and chair, and sat
down, facing me.
81 was talking just now of my late
butler" he began, with a sip at his
brandy. ''Has it struck you that,
when confronted with more delin-
quency, [ am apt to let my indignation
get the better OF me?"
"Not at all" [ answered heartily, re-
filling my glass.
1t appeared that another reply would
have pleased him better.
"Hm! l was hoping that perhaps I
had visited his offence too strongly. AS
a clergyman, you see, [ was bound to
be severe; but upon my word, sir, since
he went | have felt like man who has
lost limb"
Look here" l broke in, "you wanta
butler ?''
ooh, you really grasp that fact, do
you?" he retorted.
"And you wish to get rid of me as soon
as may be-?
Il hope there is no impoliteness in
complimenting you on your discern
ment."
"Your two Wishes" said I, "may be
reconciled. Let me cease to be your
burglar, and let me continue here as
yorr butler"
He leaned back, spreading out the
fingers Of each hand as if the tables
edge was harpsichord and he stretch
ing Octaves upon 1T.
"Believe me-" went on. "you might
do worse. l have been a deny Of Mag
dalen College. Oxford, in my time, and
retain some Greek and Latin. I'll
undertake to read the Fathers with an
accent that shall not offend you. My
knowledge of wine is none the worse
Tor having been cultivated in other
mems cellars. Moreover, you shall en-
gage the ugliest cook in Christendom,
so long as Pm your butler. I've taken
a liking TO you-that's fat-and l apply
for the post"
81 give 40 pounds year." said he
"And I'm cheap at that price,
He filled up his glass, looking up at
me while he did SO with the air of one
digesting problem. From first to last
his face was grave as judges.
eve are too impulsive, 1 think" was
a fatc oil