Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-12-02

the steps let down.
| The old clergyman alighted and
stood blocking the way, until the pro-
fessor and the schoolmaster handed
out the boy. keeping hold of him, lest
he should bolt again. The carriage
was paid and dismissed. and while it
rolled away. the boy was led betM cen
the clergyman and the professor, the
schoolmaster following up the marble
steps to the stately portals.
"Oh. see here. now! l say! this 10
getting beyond joke. you know! Let
me so, governor" cried the boy. ap.
parently frightened by the grandeur
around him.
But at this moment the door was
opened by footman in livery. who,
seeing the party, exclaimed, quite in
voluntarily:
master Fulke! and in that dress!
Oh! I beg your pardon, Mr.. Dornton,
but it was such an astonishment!"
Il can quite understand that. Benja-
min. Let your mistress know that we
have brought Master Greville home.
and are waiting toSre her"
Yes. sir! Sit dem. Sir" And the
foot,nan offered chairs in tine spacious
entrance hall, while he opened the door
on the right. and entered parlor to
do his GRAND.
You see. even Benjamin recognized
you. sir, III your disguise!' said Mr.
Dornt;,n.
YES. he is another lunatic! Now l
tell YOU all what! You've been and
caught the wrong fish! and you'd bet
ter throw me back i'll the water again!
| am not trolt. my maSters-I am
nothing but a dog-lish," said the boy.
'Ee silent. sir and respect ut least
your mothers housed" said the clergy
man.
And if you do not. it will certainly
be the worse for you" continued the
professor.
''Yo:sr n:,;y chance for escaping con-
dign punishment is putting yourself
upon your best behavior" added the
schoolmaste:.
VERY we'll! I've warned you all!
You are keeping free-born boy
against his will. 1t is Kidnapping! 1t
is false Imprisonment! 1t is felony!
And In. blowed if I'll stand it,
Before either of his captors could an
swer his speech the footman reap.
peared and reported:
Mrs. Greyille begs that you will
walk in the parlor. and she will be
with you in moment"
1t was but the ordinary sitting room
Of a woman of moderate fortune and
cultivated tastes. yet, to the unaccus-
toned eye of the fish boy it seemed a
miracle of luxury and elcgance-a
scene of fairy-land and enchantment.
In gazing around, he forgot for mo-
ment his own personal fears and cares;
and. while he was wondering what
could possibly be the contents of such
very elegant books, and where such
lovely flowers could have grown, and
how people dared to walk on such
a splendid carpet, or sit down on such
superb sofas. the door opened and
lady entered.
A queen she seemed! tall and nobly
formed. with stately and graceful
mien. a proud head that sat rather
back upon her shoulders, giving her a
natural air of haughtiness, fine Gree
ian features. and a ma:ble-like COM
plexion. large, full. clear blue eyes.
and auburn hair, inclined to led, bright
as sunshine. that dropped in glittering
ringlets upon her fair, round. we'll
turned neck and bosom. A blue MORE
dress fell in ample folds. and flowed in
undulating grace around this Queenly
figure
She advanced up the room, bowling
in turn to her visitors. until her eye
fell upon the awe-stricken visage Of
the poor ragamuftin, when all her dig
nified self-possession gave way, and,
with smothered cry. she fastened to-
ward him, clasped him in her arms and
burst into passion of tears-genuine
tears that welled up from the bottom
of her heart-plentiful tears, that fell
in showers over the fish boy. This
ragged form was embraced by her fair
arms, his rough head pillowed upon
her soft bosom. and yelled by her
splendid ringlets. and his sunburned
face covered by her warm kisses,
while. with loving inconsistency she
poured upon him epithets Of endear-
ment and words of reproach.
'Oh, Fulke. my dear boy. how could
you be SO very wicked? Oh, my dar-
ling. what a figure you have made Of
yourself! How could YOU break nv
poor heart so? But if 1 forgive you
this time. you will never 20 away
again. will you, dear? No, 1 am sure
you will not. 1t was only a freak-a
lark, as you wild boys call it! And nv
son cid not remember that what was
sport to him. was death to his poor
mother, etc. etc, she continued,
thrugh at least an hour of sobs and
tears and caresses.
Another lunatic." thought the fish
boy; "but my eye. what nice mad
woman this one is. to be sure: | don't
object to her one bit! only l should
like to know what all the row is
about"'
At length. when this ARdy. much to
the detriment of her elegant toilet,
over the fish boy to her hearts con-
tent. she suddenly ceased. stood up,
resumed her qucenly dignity, and
turned to her visitors. said:
II can never sufficiently thank you,
gentlemen. for the ZEAL discretion and
great deliclcy with which you have
prosecuted this search-a search rem
dcred doubly difficult by my refusal to
advertise: but could not bear to have
my sons boyish freak exposed in that
way. Again 1 thank you"
The gentlemen bowed in return.
"And now may l ask where you
found this unfortunate boy?" she in
quired.
Crying oysters. madam. in Canal
roaf N(r nnrDfnn