Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-11-20
FROsTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2O 1897

LII kolO ~ q OlS, WILL uOO Oc-
tain me long, and with but limited
circle Of friends have no great desire
to remain. Indeed I am sorry that I
could not delay my trip day longer.
Thanksgiving day away from home is
always dull in the extreme. One miss
es the family dinner especially"
AS he spoke the young man, in search
of a cigar. carelessly threw open his
topcoat, and the bishop could see that
he was faultlessly arrayed in evening
dress.
"Ah, thought the reverend gentle
man, evidently we'll to do young
fellow" And he added aloud, respon-
sive chord in his heart being touched at
the mention of the word "dinner:''
eyes, one does feel lonely away from
ones own people on day like this.
Are you dining with friends this even
ing?'
"No such luck" answered Edwards
quickly. 81 dine at the hotel. I'll have
turkey, Of course, and all that sort of
thing, but it will not seem the same
old Thanksgiving dinner to which I
nave Deen accustomed.
Then he added earnestly:
Bishop, if did not feel that you
would refuse me would ask you to
come and dine with me this evening"
"We can do much better than that,
broke in the bishop warmly. II would
be pleased if you would come and dine
with us. We are having but a small
family dinner, and you would be en-
tirely welcome to share it.
Edwards surprise at this unexpected
kindness must have been very apparent,
for the bishop fastened to add, his face
beaming with good will:
"Now, 1 will listen to no objections,
home is only a short distance up Madi-
son avenue, and see you are quite pre-
pared to go out
Still smiling with good nature, the
worthy bishop started up the street, fol-
lowed by the man from Chicago, pro-
testing, but in truth rather feebly.
On the way the Chicagoan explained
to the reverend gentleman that his
business in New York was in connec-
ton with deal on change and that if
the bishop cared to speculate he might
in a day or two be able to give him a
valuable tip, whereat the good bishop
chuckled inwardly, for here was surely
a splendid chance to add to his finances.
Thanking Edwards, he limited plainly
that he might take advantage of his
offer, and the broker, for such he seemed
to be, expressed the pleasure it would
afford him to be of any use to the
bishop.
The Thanksgiving dinner passed off
splendidly, Edwards proving himself a
splendid conversationalist. Just four
people participated besides the bishop
and Edwards These were the wife,
daughter and son of the bishop and a
brother, a we'll to do banker. The
daughter, about 20 years old, was a
TALL slender, willowy girl, fair of COM
plexion, with clear, blue eyes, and the
visitor was assiduous in his attentions
to her during the evening.
The son was a young Princeton man,
and naturally the conversation at dinner
turned a great deal on football and on
the days game. Edwards seemed thor
oughly up in the game, discussing with
great fuency on various celebrities of
western fame. His acquaintanceship
with various Chicago clergymen, all
personal friends Of the bishop, served to
advance him in the latter's good graces,
and, taken all in all, he made a very
favorable impression on the whole fam
lily. His easy carriage, his graceful de-
pertinent and we'll chosen language
proved beyond doubt that he was
thorough gentleman and the bishop
congratulated himself more and more
for having met him.
Shortly after the party adjourned to
the drawing room the banker, seeming
ly to Edwards relief, announced his
intention of going home, and promptly
said good night After an evening pleas
antly passed by all, during which the
visitor only added to the good impress
sion he had created earlier, Edwards
limited that he was about to leave.
"Wait moment, please" said the
bishop. "The other day bought a
painting, which was informed was
genuine Raphael If you should happen
to know anything about art, Mr.. Ed
wards, would very much like to have
you step into the library and examine
it."
with great pleasure, responded
Edwards "To tell you tho truth, paint
ing has always been one Of my hobbies. "
Excusing themselves, the bishop and
his guest crossed the hall and found
themselves in small but cozy little
room, i'll which were shelves laden with
theological works, large writing desk,
a small safe and a couple of chairs Ed
wards took in the situation with
glance, and an observer would have
seen a quiet smile of satisfaction on his
handsome face. An odd thing he did,
but something that the bishop was too
preoccupied to notice, was to noiselessly
turn the key in the door.
''This is the picture" said the bish-
op proudly. "Tell me just exactly what
you think of it
The Chicagoan examined it with the
air of an expert.
"You need have no fears, said he at
length, after an apparently minute sur
vey. "It is Raphael all right, and 1
congratulate you on it's possession.
The bishop gave little sigh of relief
''Thank you" said he. Il was afraid
I might have been duped, though am
seldom caught mapping. Let us return.
Zone moment, please" asked Ed
wards briskly. II wish you would sit
down, as I have a somewhat lengthy