The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-06

additional statement that the sick man
required complete quiet, and for thc
present was unable to receive visitors,
was successful in it's object. Lamar was.
not molested by inquisitive callers, ansil
after q little the people whom I met
ceased to question me about him, save:
at rare intervals. A barn-burningl
about that time did us a great service
in giving the townspeople amere vitality;
interesting topic than a sick stranger.
forced by his malady to lead solitary
existence. !.
Among the most delicate tasks fall.N
ing to my lot. was the securing OF g.
servant for the invalid, but, here again,
fortune being kind, an old negress
was installed as nominal nurse and
actual housekeeper. She had been
born q slave, according to village talk,
but had secured her freedom and mi
grated north. She was an excellent
cook, but so surly and Grabbed was her
sposition-moreover, she was very
deaf-that at last nobody would enl-
pioy her. A recital Of her disabilities
sent me post-haste after her; for, if
scented to be, she was the woman in Il
= thousand for us. When she tookchargc
of the kitchen we were relieved of one
point at least; there would be no gos-.
siping at that end of the house.
Meanwhile, had contracted for food
and lodging at one of the farmhouses,,
and had put out my single in due
form-much to the satisfaction of my
hostess, who confessed that it pleased
her to have evidences given that there,
was ''a grown man bout the place." Shs
was Mrs. Elvira Weston, a widow, and
the mother of two boys, neither Of
whom was yet old enough to relieve
: her of the cares Of the farm. She
, was CHEEKY soul, who had endured
age, and I was glad to secure quarters
under her roof. She allotted to me-
wing of the house, which, having an
entrance Of it's own, would serve adj
mirably as an office. Isoon had my den
fitted up in way to excite considerable
local admiration. A few books, a couples
of anatomical charts and some walls of
drugs were disposed to the best adj
vantage to impress patients with the
mysteries of the healing art.
In it's beginning my practice in Rod
neytown was much like an early spring
in New England-nore promise than
realization. A daily visit to Lamar was
the basing-point of my routine. AS a
rule, it was very brief, though occasion
nj hal Lot dang 10 hot r,7xy
was no sinecure. Now and then he sent
ME on trips to Trent, a thriving hive
of manufactures about 80 miles from
the village. On the first of these jour
neys one of my duties was to mail &:
letter to New York banking house;
on the next was informed that a large
sum was on deposit to NY credit with
the principal bank Of the place. Thus,
while my patron kept some control over
the purse-strings, I was the acting pay
master. From first to last there could
be no charge of niggardliness made
against him; he looked over my ac-
counts now and then, but never ques-
toned their accuracy.
AS he finished his superficial auditing
on one of these occasions, he looked
up and asked, rather abruptly:
"The old fisherman who lives yon-
der--what do you know of him?"
mot much,'' said I, Except that his
name is johnson, that he has been in
the navy, and that he has the best Of
regulations for honesty
''No more?'
"Well, he and his two brothers who
live with him are an unsociable lot,
who keep much to Themselves. There's
no woman with them; they're their
own housekeepers.'
II may buy Of their fish. Bid the
eldest to come here tonight. You
need not be present" said he. With his
usual ceremonious bow at parting, he
turned on his heel and stalked upstairs
to his sanctum.
The order was surprising, in view of
his desire to avoid his neighbors; but,
though it puzzled me, / sought out
johnson and delivered the message.
That night in my coy office tried in
vain to discover a reason for the inter-
view then going On in the honse on the
knoll. The old fish explanation was
fishy indeed, old Martha, the cook, be-
ing quite able, in spite of her Deafness,
to bargain for any supplies for her dc
partment. It was improbable that La
mar had any notion of setting johnson,
&c spy upon my doings, for he had
used me rs a means of communicating
with the man, q course he would not
have adopted had he entertained any.
suspicious of my faithfulness. It might
be that he desired to arrange for the use
of sloop owned by the brothers, with:
an eyeto the possibility of opening
way of retreatsby sea in case his pres
ent stronghold became untenable.
Yes, that seemed to be the most reason
able explanation, although, 80 far as
knew, Lamar was not in the slightest
danger Of discovery by his enemies.
Such q precaution ct that time APP
peared to be about as necessary as .
shipment of antidotes for frost-bite to
the Hottentots. s sa5
Sleeping over the matter gave me no
fresh light upon il, nor was Z the wiser z
for my pains for many Q day there
after; but at last chance, the muchex-
planning, furnished the clew. s5..st s T q.
i had tarried at the house on the
knoll sanusually W late THAI ,afternoon,.5
and the sun was setting as I began my
walk shoneward!s It had been q clears
pleasant day, with 3; good deal Sof
warmth ii the sunshine, although