, 1892-12-24

throughout the entire length and breadth OF
the large and important island OF santa Cruz.
On the envelopes which you might nave seen
lying about his desk he was described as
'Richard falner Esquire" among his lauy
friends be was known as Mr. arner, Whlle
his more intimate acquaintances addressed
him simply as "Dick." Now Yarner had no
voice for singing, and being a social fellow ana
deSirous of making himself agreeable, no had
psd some attention to the neglected art OF
recitation. and could recite a comic piece 40 as
to make his hearers, as they declared, Idle
with laughter OF a sentimental piece so as
to bring tears to their eyes. 1t was no won
der then that the little girl wanted MI. Yarnsr
to treat the company to a recitation and that
her request found supporters. Mr.. warner
was very willing to oblige; but said that
If they had no objection, he would give them
a story, a true story, instead. Story telling
was another Of Yarner's accomplishments, anu lt
was we'll understood that while MS true
stories really had q foundation of truth, this
foundation was pretty extensively built upon
by Yarner himself. They were generally so
good, however, that nobody stopped to ex'
anime where the line ran that divided the
foundation from the superstructure, or Whe'
ther indeed there was any such llne az all
Dicks proposal to tell ono OF his true
stories was therefore received with acclAma-
ton, especially AZ he had added, that be mad
never told it in that house before, 80 that 10
would nave the merit, so far as 1t hal any
merit at all, of being new as well as true.
When all were hushed IN expectation,
Dick began: "Some of you will remember hat
soon after nv coming here from Frederiksted
I was troubled a good deal with intsrmittent
fever. It hung round ne for months and
there seemed to be no way of getting rid OF
it. NV old friend Workup, who was at hat
time manager Of Stronghold, was much DIS
tressed as he saw me dWindling away to a
shadow in spite of all the DOCTORS medicines
and old woman's bush Uiat [ was taking, and
one dav he said to me "Diok, my boy, no.
thing will break that fever but a changt.
eyes, Mr.. Workup,I replied, ''that is just what
I think myself, but you see we are nearing
our busiest time, and | cannot be spared.
40" said he. you need not leave your business,
or. nj anv rate. not more than a day or two at
atime. Get the boss to agree to your coming
ont and staying with me at Stronghold for q
few weeks, and I'll guarantee that before you
come back to Basin we will send that fever to
the right about" l thanked him heartily,
wa both went to the boss at once and 1t was
soon arranged what days | could have tree'
while for the other days Workup agreed 20 put
his phaeton at my disposal to bring me III TO
business in the mornin and take me out IN
the evening. 1enjoyed my stay at Stronghold
immensely, and although it was near the end
of November when I went there, felt quite
we'll or at any rate nearly we'll, by the middle
Of December, and had given up WorkuP's
pbaeton in exchange for a horse which ne lent
me and which | rode in aud out ofthe town,oo-
casionallv on the home journey paying visits
to nv friends on the road. Stronghold, as you
all know. is on the top of a hill rather moro
than half an hours drive from Basin, and can
he reached either from the centre line" road
from which you turn off to the right, or from
the north-side road, from which you turn OF
to the left. 1 generally used the latter, es-
neciaIly on the homeward journey, as was
acquainted with the family living at Bona
vista. that snug little place at the foot OF the
Hill inst before you ascend to go to Strong
hold Bonavista is a pretty enough place in
the dav time. There are plenty OF trees
abont it, that give it quite q picturesque look;
bnt these same trees make it rather a dismal
place to go past at night. There were also a
few. graves to be seen shortly after passing
the road leading up to the house, and queer
stories were told about the place, some of
which | had heard from old Jonas, the groom
who had driven me backwards and forwards
during the first part of my stay at Stronghold.
I never saw anything startling, however, I'll
one evening shortly before | gave up the
- - ~ 90 ltcnol QnI