The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-02
The Cask Of Wine

! I never recall II without shuddsrng,
| though it happened over thirty years
ago.
4 was then q young man, occupying a
! position Of trust in the banking firm Of
/ Dllard & Hatch One day 1 was sent
with $1,000 in gold 70 Caleb Parton. a
very eccentric man. living in an isolated
house IN a wild, hilly part of Sussex.
Parton was the banks heaviest depos-
itOr, and his wealth was said TO aggre-
gate half a million The day before mis-
man servant had apoeared at the bank
with a message requesting Diiiard to
sent him e1,0o9 in god He arranged
thar I was TO be the one 70 take the
amount TO him. and further suggested
that I should travel BY road. so that
could take back a cask of rare old vine,
which he begged to be permitted to pre-
sent TO the firm.
I was Impressed with the deepest sense
Of this loneliness as drew rein before
the solitary stone house.
Although I knocked loudly at the door
it was fully ten minutes before heard
any sound within. Then. half-cautiously.
the thick oaken door opened. and a dark
faced, wiry man, somewhere between 80
and Co. looked out at me.
who are yOu?' he demanded
Hope OF the firm Of billiard & Hatch, .
returned.
"Ah! It's you, come at last IS it2"
he said, holding the lighted candle so as
to get a better view Of my face. Wen
come in. Mr.. Hope"
Motioning me TO a chair, my strange
host took the bags Of gold, which 7 car
ried IN stout sack, and threw them
against the safe The clsng Of the fall
ing coins sounded dismaly through the
silent APARTMENT.
What curse love and gold can be
to a mani"
He spoke bitterly. 7 had never met
Caleb Parton before. and as he uttered
these words looked at him carefully.
He became conscious of my scrutiny.
frowned a little, then turned toward the
door.
IF you'n excuse me, Mr.. Hope" he
said 'I'n bring you up some refresh
ment."
'You see I'm my own servant. Mr.
Hope" he said, putting the tray on the
table. My man. Joe, has gone to a
meeting and won't be back before day
light"
As ate the lunch which Caleb Par
ton had brought me he emptied the go d
upon the floor and counted IT over care
fully.
'Correctr' 7 heard him chuckle to him
self as he flung the reflled bags into the
safe.
After I had finished my lunch Parton
exhibited two fine pipes and invited me
to Join him in a smoke.
Excuse my oversight. There's not a
drop Of wine left in this decanter," he
said, after examining It,
''No matter" I returned. ST never
drink wine"
Tut tut, man; you miss half your
life Now I have a very choice collection
Of wines. Come, I'll give you a peepsat
my vaults@'
Descending to the lower hallway. we
passed through a long, dreary room then
down narrow stone slept into a capa-
cious cellar walled on every side with
heavy masonry.
The place was damp and musty Dust
and cobwebs covered the casks and bot
ties that Uttered the whole end Of the
cellar Ny host did not halt till we
reached a heavy iron door fastened with
a large, rusty paddock. I onticed a de-
moniacal expression on Parton's face as
he held the light close enough TO the
lock to examine IT,
''No. it's never been meddIed with"
he remarked, with a chuckle. "Ten years
is a very long time for man TO live
on wine-but he was very fond of wine
very-ha. hal"
He turned to me with a quick. gesture.
"A thousand pardonsi" he said. You
think my actions strange. But-shal
r." wild flash in his eyes. Eyes. Mr.
Hope. you shall have the story I must
tell it to some one It's too good to
keep. Ha, Hal7