The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-10-07

II WtM maze managed ~ nus ttHc.'
accusations, suggested the vicar has
tily.
ITO which he was subjected" pur-
sued my father.
"Or-er-may we not say, exposed
HIMSELF" asked Sir Matthew.
In fact, which We're brought against
him-wrongly, but most naturally, "
suggested the vicar.
Matters looked as unpromising as they
well could. Sylvia was ON the point of
bursting into tears, and my thoughts
had again turned to an elopement. My
father rose suddenly and held out his
hand to Sir Matthew. Again he had de-
cided on the bold course.
LET us say no more about it," he
cried generously.
with all my hearth cried Sir Mat.
thew, springing up and gripping his
hand.
The wears eyes beamed through his
spectacles. l believe that l touched Syl'
Was foot under the table.
1--WE will" pursued my father "re'
member only one thing about the colo
mel, and that is that one bottle remains
of the famous old pipe of port that ht
laid down. In that, Sir Matthew, lei
us bury all unkindness.
my dear sir, ask no better, cried
Sir Matthew.
The heavens frightened, or was il
Sylvia's eyes? The butler alone looked
perturbed. Three buffers had lost theii
situations in our household for handling
the colonel's port in manner thai
lacked heart and tenderness. 81 canno
bear "a callous butler" my father useC
to say.
Fetch" said my father, 1.-THE las
bottle of the colonel's port, a decanter
"a corkscrew, funnel, piece of muslin
and napkin. will decant Sir Mat
thew's wine myself"
"Sir Matthew'S wine" Could there
have been a more delicate compliment
1.-The colonel" my father continued
purchased this wine himself, brought
it home himself and, / believe, bottled I
large portion of it with his own hands. >
He could not have been better en-
ployed, " said Sir Matthew cordially
But think there was latent hint tina
the colonel had sometimes been mucl
worse employed.
Dawson appeared with the bottle
He carried it as though it had been
baby, combining the love Of mother
the pride of nurse and the uneasy car,
Of II bachelor.
"You have not shaken it," asked tn
father.
Upon my word, no. sir" answered
Dawson earnestly. The poor man had
wife and family.
My father gripped the bottle delicate
ly with the napkin and examined tn
point of the corkscrew
1T would be great pity" he oh
served gravely, "if anything happened
to the cork. "
Nothing happened to the cork. Witt
infinite delicacy my father persuaded j
90 leave the neck of the bottle. Sir Mat
thew was ready with deoanter, funne
and muslin.
"We must take care of the crust,
remarked my father, and we all nodde
solemnly.
My father cast his eyes up to Uncl
Johns portrait for an instant, much a
il he were asking the old gentleman
benediction, and gently inclined the bot
tie toward the muslin covered mouth q
the funnel.
"If only my poor uncle could b
here" he sighed. Uncle John had bee
very fond of port.
II should be delighted to meet him =
, cried Sir Matthew in genuine friendli
, ness.
The vicar took Off his spectacles
wiped them and replaced them. My ia
Their tilted the bottle u little more &c
, ward the funnel. Then he stopped sud
denly, and strange, puzzled look al
peared on his face. He looked at ST
Matthew, and Sir Matthew looked u
, him, and we all looked at the bottle.
docs old port wine generally max
shat noiseY" asked Sylvia.