The sun., 1894-10-21

bccility. Were II not for a certain rigidity
sternness, and mental lnnexibility-ve will call Il
! military arior-wIth which they were imbued
| they would have created envy In the bosom Of .
fox hunter.
wMr. Horne was no fox hunter, but still h,
seemed 10 he irresistibly taken with the lady.
like propensity Of wishing to wear them. "sure.
ly, George" he said, the General must have
been q stouter man than I am"-snd he con.
templated his own proportions with compla-
cency-" these what's-the-names are quite biz
enough for me-"
| differed In opinion, and was obliged TO ex.
plain that 1 thought he did the goOd living OF
ollerton insufficient justice.
Il am sure they are large enough for me-" he
repeated. with considerable obstinacy. | smiled
incredulously; and then 10 settle the matter he
resolved that he would try them on. Nobody
had been In these rooms for the last hour and II
appeared as though they were never visited.
Even the guide had not come on with us, but
was employed in showing other parties about
the Notifications. II was clear that this portion
Of the building was left desolato, and that the
experiment might be safely made So the
sportive rector declared that he would for a
short time wear the regmentals which had once
contained the yslorous heart Of Gen. Chasse.
with all decorum the Rev. Mr.. Horne dlvest-
ed himself Of the work OF the London artists
needle. aud. carefully placing his own garments
beyond the reach of dust, essayed TO ut himself
In military garb.
At that important moments at the critical in
stant OF the attempt THE clatter Of female
voices was heard approaching the chamber.
They must have suddenly come round some
passage corner, for It was evident by the sound
that they were close upon us before we had any
warning Of their advent. At this very minute
Mr.. Horne was somewhat embarrassed In his at
tempts and was not fully in possession of his
usual active powers Of movement. nor OF his
usual presence of mind. lie only looked for es-
CAPE and seeing door partly open. no with diff
fculty retreated through 1t, and followed him.
We found that we were in a small dressing
room; and as by good luck the door was de-
Tended by AN inner bolt, my friend was able to
protect himself.
There shall be another siege, at any rate
stout as the last, before | surrender" said he.
As the ladies' seemed inclined to linger In the
room, it became matter OF Importance that the
aboye-named articles should fit, not only for
ornament but for use IL was very cold. and Mr.
Horne WAS altogether unused to move in High
land sphere OF life. But alas. alas! Gen.
Chasse had not been nurtered in the
classical retirement OF Ollerton. The ungiving
leather would stretch no point to accomo-
date the divine, though It had been willing to
Mr.. Horne was vexed and chilled; and throw
ing the now hateful garments into a corner and
protecting himself from the cold as best he
might by standing with his knees together and
his body somewhat bent, SO as to give the skirts
OF his coat an opportunity OF doing extra duty,
he begged me to see IL those jabbering females
were not going to leave him In peace to recover
his own property. went to the door, and open
ing II to u small extent peeped through.
Who shall describe my horror at the sight
which then saw The scene, which had hith-
erto been tinted with comic effect was now be-
coming so tragic that / did not dare at once to
acauaint my worthy pastor with that which was
occurring-and, alas! had already occurred.
Five countrywomen OF our own-it was easy TO
know them by their dress and general aspect -
were standing in the middle Of the room; and
one of them, the centre of the group the senior
harpy of the lot, a maiden LADY, could have
sworn To that-with a red nose, held in one hand
a huge pair Of scissors, and In the other the
already devoted goods Of my most unfortunate
companion! Down from the waistband, through
that goodly expanse a fell cash had already
gone through and through, and in useless un-
becoming disorder the broadcloth fell pendant
from her arm on this side and on that At that
moment confess that had not the courage to
speak to Mr. IIorne-not even to look at him.
| must describe that group. or the figure next
TO me could only see the back. 1t was a broad
back, done up In black silk not Of the newest
The whole figure, one may say, was dumpy. The
black silk was not long, as dresses now are
worn, nor wide in its skirts In every way it
was skinny, considering the breadth IL had to
cover; and below the silk saw the heels OF two
thick shoes and enough to swear by OF two
woollen stockings. Above the silk was a red
and blue shawl: and above that q ponderous.
elaborate brown bonnet, as to tine materials OF
which should not wish TO undergo an examna-
ton Over and beyond this could only see the
backs of her two hands. They were held up rs
though in wonder at that which the red d-nosed
holder Of the scissors had dared TO do.
Opposite to this lady, and with her face
fully turned TO me, was a kindly looking, fat
motherly woman, with ight-colored hair not
In the best of order. She was hot and scarlet
with exercise, being perhaps too stout for the
steep steps Of the fortress; and In one hand she
held a hand kerchief, with which from time to
time she wiped her brow. In the other hand she
held one Of the extremlties Of my friends prop
erty. feellng-Rood, careful soul-what was the
,ax,ura NJ the cloth "A sbe ala an 7 could see
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