Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-10-22
nj IA RY THE 2 %AlD Of
A Story of the Romantic
Age in England.
By JOsEPH HATToN.

acts of consideration and thoughtful
ness.
He was about her own age, and we'll
todo His father had died and left
him a comfortable little farm few
miles beyond the abbey; the only in
cumbrance being his mother, whom
Jack found a solace rather than an in
cumbrance, for he was good son, and
everybody agreed that he would make
a good husband to the woman who
would be fortunate enough to win him,
Jack Meadows was a steady young
yeoman of mild manners, but of res
olute character. He owned his own
farm, hunted with the local hounds,
was respected by everybody and cared
for nobody he would say. But he al
ways said this with mental reserva-
ton which included Mary and his
mother, but more particularly Mary.
He usually dressed in velveteen
shooting jacket, and did not mind at
all If some stranger mistook him for
gamelieeper; in fact, he rather liked to
be mistaken for gamekeeper; the
position had for him n spice of ro-
nance, and moreover, he was a crack
shot rare fellow across country, and
master of all country sports. He rolled
somewhat in his gait as sailors do, and
spoke in loud voice, except when he
was addressing Mary Lockwood, and
then his voice dropped into soft tones
like those of woman.
1t was common remark in Kirkstall
that Jack and Mary would make as fine
couple as ever stood before an altar.
Mary paid no heed to this kind of OBJ
servation and the fact that Jack had,
under the influence of wise instinct,
spoken no words of love to her, en-
abled Mary to have him as constant
companion, hawking, fishing, riding,
nutting, or climbing the walls of Kirk
stall Abbey.
But, at the opening of this history,
Mary had become too valuable in the
management of the inn for her uncle
to be able to spare her for more than
occasional Indulgence in these holiday
kind of sports and rambles.
She had settled down to the work of
the house, to the management of the
bar; and, although she had very linz
tied knowledge of reading and writing,
she kept Joseph Morley straight with
49,. customerf@ md with the bank at
leeds. she was, iAss III : hGsasaGs q
good sense good conduct, and good
looks, and was both famous and be-
loved by all the travellers along the
road. She was always sorupulously
neat and clean, in cotton or WOODEN
dresses gathered about the waist, and
often wore upon her head nothing
more than kerchief, but 1t was deity
draped and pinned as a Spanish man
tilla, or an Italian head dress. Her
only corset was the band about her
waist, and thus having the free use of
her limbs, she walked with a stately
grace that was beaming with health
and vigor.
1t was a curious contrast, and yet
full of human nature. the picture OF
Joseph Morley-thin, wiZened. short of
stature-in a posture of admiration
and worship, as you might have seen
him now and then, drawing attention
to his nieces in some act of physical
prowess, trying horse along the road,
fiinging QUOT in the yard, or deity
rolling ball to its goal on the green
at the back of the house.
81 am an old fellow" he would say,
shut have allus paid my way, allus
can, allus mean to, and, when I'm
gone, If Mary don't choose to marry
and give the Star and Garter new
landlord. why, she is man enough and
woman enough to manage the house
herself, And so shall die happy when
ever my time be come; and what can
a man want more than to see straight
afore him up TO the last journey he
makes, and that's to the church yard.
II man wants any more below. well, 1
haven't heard of it,"
Mary would smile at the old man.
and pat his thin cheek, and say it was
not for folk to look too far ahead; the
main thing was to do your duty and
trust in Gods mercy and cultivate con-
tentl