Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-10-05

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and easy attention 10 our hostess spent
itself ia a few muttercd oaths. and he tit
his long pipe, the never-faihng remedy
of a ruffied spirit. As 10 Reuben and
myself. we watched our new companion
half in wonder and half in amusement,
for his appearance and manners were
novel enough 10 raise the interest of in
experienced youngsters like ourselves.
| have said that he was dressed in the
height of fashion, and such indeed was
the impression which a glance would
give. HIS face was thin and aristo-
cratic. with a well-marked nose, delicate
features. and say, careless expression.
Some little paleness of the cheeks and
darkness under the eyes, the result of
hard travel or dissipation. did but add
Christening grace TO his appearance. His
white periwig, velvet and silver riding
coat, lavender vest. and red satin knee
breeches Were all of the best style and
cut; but when looked at closely. each and
ali OF these articles of attire bore eNl-
dence of having seen better days. Be
sides the dust and stains of travel. there
was 4 ShinineSS or a fading of color here
and there, which scarce accorded with
the costhness of their material or the
hearing of their wearer. His long riding
boots had a gaping seam in the side of
one of them while his toe was pushing
its way through the end of the other.
For the rest, he wore handsome silver
hilted rapier nj his side, and had frilled
cambria shirt somewhat the worse for
wear aud open AT the front, as
was the mode with the gallants
was speaking he mumbled toothpick.
which together with his constant habit
of pronouncing his o's as as made his
conversation sound strange to our ears.
| While we were noting these pecullarlnes
he was reclining upon Dame HobSon ;
/. f-aFa
combing his wig with a delicate ivory
comb which he had taken from small
satin bag which hung upon the right of
his sword-belt.
Lard preserve us from country inns.
he remarked. What with the Doors that
swarm in every chamber, and the want
of mirrors and jasmin water and other
| necessarieS, blister me if one has not to
do ones toilet in the common ROOM
'OOns! I'd as soon travel in the land of
the Great Mogul"'
when you shall come to be my age.
| young sir Saxon answered, you may
| know better than to decry comfortable
| country hostel
VERY like. sir. very like the gallant
answered with Il careless laugh. For
| all that, being mine own age, | feel the
wilds of Wiltshire and the inns of Bru-
| ton 10 be a sorry change after the Mall,
and the fare of Pontsack'S or the Coca
| Tree. All, Lud! here comes the sack!
| Open it, my pretty Hebe. and send a
drawer with fresh glasses, for these gen.
! tlemcn must do me the honor of drinking
with me- 4 pinch of snuff. sirS? Ay, We
| NAV we'll look hard at the box. A pretty
little thing, sirs, from a certain lady of
| title. who shall be nameless; though, if
| | were to say that her title begins with
y and her name with a G. a gentleman
Of the court might hazard a guess"
Our hostess having brought fresh
lola fhslp I'D IN
soon found an opportunity for following
fer. Sir Gervas Jerome continued, how
ever. to chatter freely to i.eG1ci and
myself over the wine, rafting along as
gayly and airily as though We were old
| acquaintance.
"Sink me. if have not frightened your
comrade away!" he remarked. "Or is it
| possible that he hath gone on the slot of
the plump widow? Methought he looked
in no very good temper when | kissed her
at the door Yet it is civility which /
seldom refuse to anything which wears
a cap. Your friends appearance smacked
more of Mars than of Venus. though, i'll
deed. those who worship the god are
! wont to be ON good terms with the god
dess. A hardy old soldier. | should
| judge, from his features and attire"
One who hath seen much service
abroad | answered.
"Ha. We are lucky to ride to the wars
| in the company of SO accomplished a cav
alter. For | presume that 1t is to the
wars that We are riding. since You are all
so armed and accoutered.
I'VE are indeed bound for the west" |
| replied with some reserve, for in Sax,
on's absence | did not care to he too
| loose tongued.
And in what capacity?' he persisted.
Twill We risk your crowns in defense of
| King James one, or will We strike it, hit
or miss. with these rogues of Devon and
10, ton INV UIf
would not az soon side with clown as
with the Crown. with all due respect 10
| your OWE principles"
You are q daring man." said |, ''if
| you air your opinions thus in every Inn
parl5r. Dost not know that a word Of
| whar yOu have said, whispered TO the
nearest justice of the peace. might mean
| your liberty. if not your lifeT
Il don't care the rind of a rattan or.
angA fer life or liberty either" cried our
acquaintance swapping his finger and
| thumb. Burn me. if it wouldn't be a
new sensation to handy words with, some
| heavy chopped country justice with the
| Popish plot still stuck i'll mis- gizZard, and
| he thereafter consigned to a dungeon.
like the hero in John Dryden's latest. |
have been rOund-hOused many time by
| the watch in the old Hawkubite days,
| but this would be more dramatic mat
! ter with high treason. block and axe all
| looming in the background -.
And rack and pincers for a prologue"
| said Reuben This ambition is the
| Strangest that | have ever heard tell Of :"
Anything for a change said Sir Ger
vas, filling up bumper. Here's to the
maid that's next our heart, and here's to
the heart that loves the maids. War.
wine and women, 'twould be dull world
without them. But you have not an
swered my question
Why truly. sir" said l, frank as you
have been with us. | can scarce be equal
| ly so with you without the permission Of
the gentleman who has just left the
room. He is the leader Of our party.
Pleasant as our short intercourse has
| been. these are parlous times. and hasty
condolences are apt to lead to repent
auce."
"A Daniel come to Judgment" cried
our new acquaintance What ancient.
ancient words from so young a head.
Yon are. | warrant FIVE years younger
than scatterbrain like myself. and yet
YOU talk like the seven wise men Of
Greece Wilt take me as a valetE
"A Valet ! exclaimed.
Continued next Week.