The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25

"That's true, Gaffer," and ''Eh, that's
rect % was echoed in various tones around
the room. Evidently CATER Jones nad
some reputation as a narrator.
"And in she goes to Squoire's room, as
my son tells me-" continued the OLD man,
raising his voice little, land says 10
him: Here am l back again. with my
two bonny BARNS, an my teyther's the
proper person to take US in An Squolre,
he says:
"'You may live here wi your two balrns
if you like, but we hain't friends, says he,
'any the more for that, an we'll speak as
little as possible, because | can't forgive
zee for being such disobedient daughter
unto me-"
By what method this story had got
abroad no one was ever able to ascertain;
perhaps servant had listened at the door,
perhaps the housekeeper had performed
the process known as putting two ana
two together" At any rate this version
of Eleanor. Hervey's relations with her
father had obtained full credit in the vii
lage, and was, on the whole, substantially
correct.
"Tut, tut. tutr' said Simon Comber-
mere. "But that do seem little hard
upon the young lady, do it not?'
"Squoire knaws his oan business best,
| said CATER Jones, loftily. ''Miss El'nor
were fine young woman, but she had a
will of her own and Wouldn't hear word
| from any one. It's her turn, maybe, to
bow her head an feel the touch o. bit an
/ bride now."
esquire be good TO her i th' main, how
| ever" said another of the guests. "She's
welcome to tn best of everything in tn
house, and has her way wi tn servants,
and all.''
"And he fair worships th' bairns," said
the landlord. MANY time see him go
past, with one or other hanging on to his
hand, and sometimes one on each side.
| Young Master Jack now, he can lord it
over every one, same as his grandfer,
and Squire likes to see it, too. An then
Molly, every one knows as she's the very
apple of his eye"
There was apparently a consensus of
opinion that whatever the Squire did was
right. Only the newcomer, Simon Com
bermere. lifted up piping dissentlent
voice.
! "Well, it don't seem Christian-like
thing TO me-" he said, "that father and
udu2uL6I UG db VdTlduC6 llk0 tudt
wonder your parson don't have naught
to say to it. In the parts where I come
from our minister would have been fine
an put about by thing like that in his
congregation"
"Ay, you came fro the southr' drawled
Gaffer Jones in tone of mild depreca-
ton. "They 40 things different down
there, am towd. Our parson bain't one
o. tn meddlin' sooart."
Simon felt himself crushed, but tried
not to show any sign of discontinue. He
smiled, shook his head once or twice, then
clapped on his hat and went out with a
general goodnight to the company.
Hes bit fighty, that chap" said one
OF the older men, with solemn tone in
his voice. And an asserting silence fol-
lowed, which was broken in an unex-
| pected way. The stranger turned round
in his chair and addressed the company
in an abrupt, masterful way.
"You tell fine tales of your Squire and
his daughter he said, "and you seem to
think the Squire fine fellow, but it seems
to me that he's harsh, tyrannicaI sid
man, who won't abate jot of his pride
for the sake of his daughters happiness.
A man like him calls himself Christian,
does he not? Curse all such Christians
l say. Is it Christian thing to be cruel
| to your own child2'
| There was a stunned pause as the men
laid down their clay pipes and stared at
| the speaker, whose pale face worked with
emotion of kind which they could not
understand. His eyes cleaned strangely
under their thick brows, and a lock OF
| black hair fell wildly over his forehead.
"You don't answer" said the stranger,
with more vehemence than ever. ''It is
| because you dare not say what is in your
heart. You are bound hand and foot to
this man. who thinks that it suff1ces 10
give his daughter board and lodging and
fine clothes, while he closes her heart to
her love. Are you so blind to the real
worth OF things-the real value of iife?'
| His vehemence seemed only to close
| their lips. They sat and stared at him as
if they had never heard such words before.