Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-01-10
NJ "A p " THE MAID oF
A>A "A ~ THE INN...
A Story of the Romantic
Age in En8land.
BY JOSEPH hATroN.


persons.
After supper Dick asked tho land.
lord II he and hissfriends might crack
another bottle Of Madeira In his snug.
gerry. or smoke a pipe. or otherwise
make themselves at home. being trav.
elers who had not seen England for
some years owing to the wars break.
Ing out In countries with which they
were trading as British merchants.
Morley. having consulted his niece.
gave his consent. and upon the little
table in the inner bar. Mary placed
some fruit with the wine. and q dish
OF fresh wainuts. and she lowered
about the parlor all the time they sat
and chatted. and uncorked couple Of
her uncie's best Madeira: for Mary
had extra duties on the night In ques.
tion. otherwise she might have sat by
the fire and Joined In tho conversation.
The bowling club members had held
their usual weekly meeting. and.
sccntinK the first frost OF the season.
had made Il nm excuse for mulled ale
and ekx sherry: 30 that Mary was
busy with the flush Of her various re.
sponsibiiities on her bright CHEEKY
face. she looked In Dicks eyes more
lovely than he had even at nrxt
thought her. He could not keep his
eyes away from her. and he thought.
being accustomed to conquests among
women. that she was not dispicased
with his undisxuised admiration.
-Your laughter he said. Morley
having spoken to Mary about the
wine.
My NIECE said Morley. -and tho
best and bravest girl In Yorkshire.''
Or In any other shire. I am sure"
added Parker.
And you may say that. I believe Sc
said the landlord.
You will excuse tho admiration Of
travellers who have seen none but for.
ciEn wcnchcs for avc years." said
Dick: ''it does ones heart good TO see
such picture Of health and beauty ~
your niece. What did you call herr
MARY" said Morley. MARY Lock.
wood IL her right name. She was my
sisters child. God rest her. who lies
with her good man In the kirkstaii
churchyard this ten years.
became a second father 10 herr
That IL the truth. whoever may
have made Il known TO you" said Nor.
ley.
Many guests In the house, asked
Foster. looking In an opposite dircc.
ton from the person addressed. ~
was his wont.
NO: York. coach went through with
full complement OF passengers. but
none got down. and she don't change
horses till she gets TO Harrogate. BE.
yond yourselves and Squire Bciiing.
ham. a married couple from Derby.
and Harry Dunssan. who fishes the
Airc every autumn. wc have nobody
In the house: not - We have accom-.
modation for many morc. not laying
ourselves out for much custom In that
way
Esquire Bciiingham!" said Foster.
touching Dick with his boot.
well. We call him Squire. cause
his father before him was Squire In
these parts and farmed most Of the
land: but his son-weii. he's more Of
a merchant than q squire. for that
matter. He does business In wool and
IL bit of broker In a way. and a
rare good gentleman. and strong. He
once had q quolt match with my Mary.
I forget how many yards. thinking TO
get the bctctr Of her by distance and
weight. but won my bet-i tell you
I won Il. and he give lass = new gown
Into the bargain"
Old Morley chuckled at the remcm.
branec Of Bciiineham's discontinue.
adding: but he bore no malice. not
he: he is a gentleman. Squire BciiIng.
ham,
Does he live hercabouts. Squire
Bellinxhamv" asked Foster.
'He do. and he DON'T said Morley.
DO. and he DON'T" repeated Foster
in his morose. grumpy fashion.
"A traveller may be said to live in a
good many places. I reckon" said
Morley. evidently thinking he had
said something clever.
That is true" said Foster.
For instance. take yourself"
Fl live in London" said Foster.
"Of course you do. except and per.
adventure when you live in some good
old hostelry on the road-such. for in.
stance. not at the same time desiring
to be arrogant. as the saying is: such
for instance. and peradventurc. as the
Star and Carter
you say true" answered Foster
stolidly. 81 make no doubt tho squire
is we'll content with the Star and
Carter"
The Squire is not well content
with anything" Morley replied. "The
Squire is as warm as warm can be.
and yet he will go on laying up
riches: the Squire is continually on
the road: he buys In this market, he
sells In the other: he Is partner in the
bank at Leeds: he buys cattle; he sells
wool; and he has one Of the finest
houses hereabouts; and best servants.
a groom as can have no equal: but be.