Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-12-03

That evening, as he was going to Gress
for dinner, he met on the stairs gentle
man, with fair hair and snowy dress,
gaudy tie, velvet collar, and sealskin
waistcoat; with handsome massive gold
chain and rings. At first Ned took him
for young man of four or five and TWEEN
ty, his air was so gay and his complexion
so fair and open. But when he accosted
Ned, in n smiling and cordial tone, the
latter saw that he was ten years older.
Il am Ralph Irving" be said
know you perfect. Delighted to see you.
l walked from the station. ! have been
all over thep lace already, but OF course
waited on the baby the first thing.
Ned received these hearty civilities
with a sort of bewilderment. Somehow
it appeared to him that he was beng
welcomed to some one else's house.
At the dinner table the newcomers
were now in strong force. The timorous
and awed family felt themselves outnum-
bered. Mr.. Irving, whose wonderful halr
seemed under tie lamps like masses of
silky tow, told stories of his travels, ana
was loud in his praises of the place.
But" he added, there are wonderful
openings. Not half enough has BEEN
done with it. Don't think / am rejecting
on its previous administration, he add
ed, smiling. what | mean is, there is
n good outlay of capital required, which
| always said, John, was necessary
There was a gardening man in the last
century whom they used to call 'CaDa-
biiity Brown because his opinion Oh ev-
cry place that he was shown always took
this shape-It has great capabilities
Lydia, | am going to be the 'Capability
Irving of this place"
Tom was listening to these remarks,
measuring the speaker with his eye; then
he spoke:
mo one ever said here before that
Abbeylands wanted anything in the way
of improvement"
mo reason, that" said the other. smil-
ing; they might not have liked to re-
mark it to you. / hear there never were
such liberal hosts. You have all won
golden opinions"
"Well," said Tom, $50 much the bet
ter. Uncle here would wish, kn w, that
the credit of his name should be well
kept up in his absence, and | am sure he
win find the benefit Of it now that he has
arrived"
"No doubt Quite right, Tom," said
Mr.. Burton.
''No doubt, and quite right, too" said
Ralph; "and it is all matter for bust
ness, and not while we are eating this
good dinner. Mr.. Edward Burton will
show us all that in black and white"
Again followed a strained awkward
evening, during which everybody seemed
to be acting. As a choice exhibition and
treat, our little stranger, the nfgt al
gy," was brought down to be exhibited.
When the evening had come to an end,
and the visitors had gone upstairs, Ned
said to his wife, Something will come
tomorrow, you viii see. This man who
arrived to-day is connected with it.
Mrs Ned thought so. too. So did Tom
HE can't do us any harm" he said;
eat least, win try and prevent him."
But on the following morning, just ss
breakfast was finished, Mr.. Burton said,
n little nervolisly Il think it is time that
all this was put on business footing. so
suppose we make a regular mornings
work of ii in the study. Ralph here
knows all about figures, and you can ex-
plain to him."
Ito be continued.t