Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-10-09

the evening. And rs he read his lace /
had n wintry and inhospitable look.
The night came. Old Roses entered
the dining room quietly with the
crowd. far in the Governors wake. |
to his request, he was given
n seat in distant corner, where he
was quite inconspicuous. Most OF the
men present were in evening dress.
He wore Il plain tweed suit, but car
ricd II handsome rose in his button-
hole. 1t was impossible to put him at
II disadvantage. He looked distin-
guished as he was. He appeared to be
much Interested in Lord Malice. The
early proceedings were cordial, for the
Governor and his suite made them
selves most agreeable, and talk flowed
Gmiably.
After time there was rattle of
knives and forks, and the Chairman
arose. Then, after a chorus of 'hear,
hears" there was general silence. The
doorwnys of the rooms were filed by
the women servants of the hotel. Chief
among them was Vic, who kept her
eyes mostly on Old Roses. She knew
that he was to read the address and
speak, and she was more interested in
him 0nl his success than in Lord
Malice and suite. Her admiration of
him was great. He had always treated
her rs lady, and it had done her
good He had looked earnestly and
kindly into her brown eyes, and
"And | call upon Mr.. Adam Sher-
wood to speak to the health Of his Ex-
cellency, Lord Malice"
In his modest corner, Old Roses
stretched to his feet. The Governor
glanced over carelessly. He only saw
n figure in gray, with rose at button
hole. The Chairman whispered that it
was the owner of the house and gar
den which had interested his Excel
lency that afternoon. His Excellency
looked a little closer, but saw only a
rim of iron gray hair above the paper
! held before Old Roses face.
Then voice came from behind the
paper: "Your Excellency, Mr.. Chair
man and Gentlemen"
At the first words the Governor
started, and his eyes flashed searching
ly, curiously at the paper that walled
the face and Mt the iron gray hair
The voice was distinct and clear, with
modulated emphasis. 1t had pc
culiarly penetrating quality. A few in
the room-and particularly Vic-were
struck by something in the voice
that it resembled another. She soon
found the trail. Her eyes also fastened
on the paper. Then she moved and
went to another door.
Here she could see behind the paper
at an angle. Her eyes ran from the
screened face to that of the Governor.
His .Excellency had dropped the lower
part of his face in his hand, and he
was listening intently. Vic noticed
that his eyes were painfully grave and
concerned. She also noticed other
things.
The address was strange 1t had
been submitted to the committee and
though it struck them as out-of-the-
wayish, it had been approved. 1t
seemed different when read as Old
Roses was reading it. The words
sounded so inclement as they We're
chiselled out by the speakers voice
Dickey Merritt afterward declared that
many phrases were interpolated by
Old Roses Mt the moment.
The speaker referred intimately and
with peculiar knowledge to the family
history of Lord Malice, to certain
more or less private matters which did
not concern the public, to the author
ity of the name and the high duty de-
volving upon one who bore the earl
dom of Malice. He dwelt upon the
personal character of his Excellencys
antecedents, and praised their honor
able services to the country. He re-
ferred to the death of Lord Malice's
eldest brother in Burmah, but he did
it strangely.
Then, with acute incisiveness, he
drew picture of what n person in SO
exalted II position rs Governor
should be and should not be. His
voice assuredly had at this point a fine
edge of scorn. The aides-de-camp
were nervous, the Chairman apprehen-
siye the committee ill at ease. But
the Governor now was perfectly still,
though, as Vic Bowling thought,
rather pinched and old-looking. His
eyes never wandered from that paper
nor the gray hair.
Presently the voice of the speaker
changed.
"But," said he, "in Lord Malice We
haye-the perfect Governor a man of
blameless and enviable life, and pos
sessed abundantly of discreetness,
Judgment, administrative ability and
power; the absolute type of English
nobility and British character !"
Then he dropped the paper from be-
fore his face, and his eyes met those
OF the Governor, and stayed. Lord
Malice let go long, choking breath,
which sounded very much like i'm
measurable relief. During the rest of
the speech--delivered in fine tenn
pered voice-he sat as in dream. vet
his eyes intently upon the other, who
now seemed to recite rather than read.
He thrilled all by the pleasant reson-
nnce of his tones, and sent the blood
aching delightfully."- through Vic Dow