The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-22

you mlnu my BetIlng ~ OOln uonC
run to many courses. But perhaps
you'll help me? Hate solitary meals
always did bad for the digestion.
Pah how that Internal thing does
smell, to be sure -
OF course the preacher saw through
the device, and its clumsy, kindly deli
cacy touched him as few things had
done of late. He murmured some COM
monplace reply and proceeded to take a
tender interest in the retrim ming of the
stove. fancy there were tears in his
tired eyes as he fumbled with the
matches, and that he blessed Jeff's
grumpy hospitality with fervor which
would have agreeably astonished the
doctor, who had received so little graft
tude in his time that he had outglown
the usual habit of expecting it.
He did not look at his guest as he
hunted in the cupboard and brought out
such modest provision as it contained
and presently the preacher rose and
began to set the table ready in silence.
AS he lifted one of the books something
on its faded cover caught his eye. On
the brown leather was stamped coat
of-arms, almost indistinguishable by
reason of its antiquity. jeff saw the
glance directed toward him, took the
book from his companions hand and
flung it roughly into corner.
Somebody's aristocratic vulgarity,"
he said, shortly. "What do they want
to scatter their stupid quarterings about
for?" Ipicked it up secondhand"
The preacher went on silently with
his task. He was quite aware that the
book had not been picked up second
hand, but he did not even look as if he
doubted Jetf's statement. Only think
the skeleton sided little closer to the
cupboard door. 1t is thing all skele-
tons will do at times.
The two men sat down at the table
and began their supper. They did not
talk much at first, but presently jeff
pushed back his chair and glanced
across at the preacher.
II told you lie just now", he said.
The preacher looked up, and the two
mems eyes met.
81 know you did," he answered, sim
ply.
81 thought you didn't know. Rather
pride myself on telling a lie neatly.
Learned it at school-about the only
thing did learn there. All, now I've
shocked you"
NO." answered the other, sadly. II
Il am not easily shocked"
"New sort of saint, eh? Well, we've
had about enough of the DID,"
There was a silence for moment
then jeff said:
"How do you know"
"By the way you flung the book"
"Ahl saw you looking at the old
shield and it hurt. Odd how small
things do hurt sometimes. Perhaps
you know that, too?"
IL know it very well" murmured the
preacher, with his eyes cast down.
"Thought you did," said Jeff, with
little smile which had touch of irony
in it.
The little doctor could never be quite
serious-bis retrospective melancholy
had dash of amusement in it. He
had grown used TO the idea of himself
and the rest of humanity squirming be-
meath the dissecting knife of malignant
destiny.
"Been preaching about here2" he
went on.
The preacher looked up, half nerv-
ouslv.
mo. Why do ask?"
"Not staying long, are your"
"No," said the preacher, with quiet
sound in his voice. "No, 1 think /
shall not stay very long"
jeff sprang to his feet and then sat
down again. He looked hard at the
mans white face, and it looked back at
him. There was no fear in it, and the
sad eyes met his steadily.
"You-you must go away" said Jeff.
The preacher smiled little.
"Yes-where-toth the south of France?
My dear doctor, that's not for meat
least not now. Once "-he stopped,
and his eyes grew dreamy. "Not
now" he said again.
JEFF did not speak at once.
"YOu must leave London, then"
at is hardly worth while"
"You're a fool, and an enthusiast"
said Jeff, roughly, yet with a sharp
catch in his voice, shut you're good
stuff. I've seen you when-man, you're
killing yourselil"
The preacher never WINGED. The
smile still fingered on his lips, though
ha tnnr t.-kN