Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-03-11
TIzm CHICAGO EAGLE.

that IT, influence reached to the lowest -.
ciel stratum there, stirring the depths q
its society 90 sensibly as to cut into The
midst Of the preparations for the skim.
mington. Il was one Of those excitements
which, when they move q country town,
leave q permanent mark upon Its chroni.
cles, AZ a warm summer permanently
marks the ring In the tree trunk CORE
spending to Its date.
A royal parsonage was about to pass
through the borough on his course fur.
ther west to inaugurate an immense en-.
cheering work out that way. He had con.
sented to halt half an hour or 30 In the
town, and to receive an address from the
corporation Of Casterbridge, which, a. q
representative center Of husbandry, wish.
ed thus to express It's sense Of the great
services he had rendered to agricultural
science and economies by his jealous pro-
motion Of designs for placing the art Of
farming on more scientific footing.
The eventful morning was bright, full
faced sun confronting early window.gas-
ers eastward, and all perceived that there
was permanence In the glow. Visitors
soon began to flock In from country
houses, villages, remote copses, and lone.
~ uplands, the latter In oiled boots and
tilt bonnets, to see the reception, or II not
to see Il, at any rate to be near II.
Henchard had determined to do no work
that day. He primed himself in the morn
ing with q glass Of rum, and walking
down the street met Elizabeth Jane,
whom he had not seen for Q week. 1T
was lucky" he said to her, my twenty
years had expired before this came on,
or should never have had the nerve to
carry II out"
"Carry out what?" said she, alarmed.
"This welcome I am going to give our
royal visitor"
She was perplexed. "Shall we 70 and
see It togethcr2" she said.
"See Il! I have other fish to fry. You
see It. It will be worth secins!'
She could do nothing to elucidate this,
and decked herself out with heavy heart.
As the appointed time drew near she got
sight again Of her stepfather. She thought
no, he elbowed his way through the gay
er. She waited In the crowd without.
In few minutes he emerged, wearing,
to her surprise, a brilliant rosette, while,
more surprising still, In his hand he car.
ried flag, Of somewhat homely construc.
ton. formed by lacking one Of the small
Union Jacks, which abounded In the town
to-day, to the end Of deal wand-proba.
bly, the roller from piece Of calico.
Henchnrd rolled up his dag on the door
step. put II under his arm, and went down
the street.
At length man stationed at the fur.
thest turn Of the high road gave signal,
and the corporation In their robes pro.
cceded from the front OF the Town Hall
to the archway erected at the entrance to
the town. The carriages containing the
royal visitor and his suite arrived at the
spot In cloud Of dust, q procession was
formed, and the whole came on to the
Town HILL at a walking pace.
This spot was the center Of interest.
There were few clear yards In front of
the royal carriage, and into this space q
man stepped before any one could prevent
him. II was Henchard. He had un.
rolled his private flag, and removing his
hat, he advanced to the side OF the slow.
Ing carriage, waving the Union Jack to
and fro with bis left hand, while he bland.
~ held out his right to the illustrious per.
sonage.
Farfrae Immediately rose to the coca.
sion. He seized Henchard BY the shout
der, dragged him back, and told him
roughly to be OF. Henchard's eyes met
his, and Farfrae observed the fierce light
In them. despite his excitement and irri.
tation. For a moment Hcnchard stood his
ground rigidly, then by an unaccountabls
impulse gave way and retired. Farfras
glanced to the ladies' gallery, and saw
that his wife's cheek was pale.
"Why, II 10 your husbands old patron!''
| said Mrs. Bl0wbOdy, a lady OF the neigh.
b0rh00d, who sat beside Lucetta.
"Patron" said Donald's wife, With
quick indignation.
do you say the man ID an acquaint'
ance Of Mr.. Farfrae'sT observed Mrs.
Bath, the physician's wife, newcomer
| to the town.
HE works for my husband" said Lu'
cetta.
"Oh, IL that ell? They have been say
Ing to me that It was through him your
husband first got o footing In Caster
bridge. What stories people will tell:'
"They will indeed. II was not so at all.
Donald's genius would have enabled him
to get Q footing anywhere, without any.
body's help! He would have been Jus!
the same u there had been no Henchard
In the world"
1t was partly Lucetta,s ignorance OF the
circumstances OK Dona'ds ARRIVAL winch
leo her TO speak tnus; parity the sensatiou
that everybody seemed Deht ON snupo'n!
her At this trlumD00ut time, line l0Cls