The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-12-30

performance | heard the manager ask
him to join the company; to write a
temperance play"
Temperance playw sneered Mau-
vile. "The fools gone with them on
account OF woman"
81 did think he was mighty attentive
TO one of the actresses" said the lard
lord rehectively. THE one with them
melting eyes. Purity good looking. Quiet
and ladylike. too. So he's galivanting
after her? Well. well, guess actresses
be all alike"
Il guess they are" added the heir
savagely "Aud this one took me in -
he thought TO himself. Holding me off
and playing with him. the jade" TLen
he continued aloud, Where are they
going?'
Didn't hear 'em say" answered the
other, land | didn't like to appear too
curious"
You didn'tT" returned Mauville iron
ically. "You must have changed lately"
II don't know as | understand you
quite" replied the landlord with sud
den dignity. But here's your carriage
and your things are all on. guess your
tenants will be glad to see you" he CON
tinued, not resisting a parting shot.
Course the tenants" muttered the
guest in i'll humor, as he strobe from
the tavern without more ado.
He was soon on his way, partly for
getting his veXation i'm new anticipa-
tons, and travelling with spirit to his
destination, which he reached late that
afternoon.
In answer to repeated summons from
the ponderous knocker, shutting foot
steps were finally heard within. the
door was opened n few inches and
the cleaning teeth of a great. gaunt
dog were thrust into the opening fol-
lowed by an Ominous growing. Maui
vile sprang back a step; the snarling
resolved itself into a yelp as some one
unceremoniously dragged the canine
back; the door was opened wider and a
brawny figure, smoking a long stemmed
pipe, barred the way. The dog, but
partly appeased, peered from behind
the mans sturdy legs, awaiting hostill-
ties. The latter an imperturbable
Dutchman, eyed the intruder askance.
smoking as lmpassively in his face as
one of his ancestors before William the
Testy. From his point of vantage on
the threshold the caretaker looked
down upon the master so indifferently,
while the dog glared so viciously that
the land baron cried angrily:
"Why the devil don't you get oIt OF
the way and call off that beast?"
The man pondered. mo one but the
heir would give orders like that" he
said, so accustomed to speaking his
thoughts in the solitude of the great
rooms that he gave way TO the habit
now. This must be the heir"
Slowly the caretaker moved aside,
the hound shifting his position accord
ingly. and Mauvile entered, gazing
around with some interest, for the in
terror Of the manor realized the preten-
slons Of its outward aspect. The floor
Of the hall was of satinwood and rose
wood, and the mahogany wainscoting.
extending almost to the ceiling, was
black with age. With it's rich carvings
the stairway suggested woody rioting
in balustrades lifting up to the sup
port of the heavy beams in the ceiling.
The furnishings were in keeping, but
dust obscured the mirrorlike surface
of the mahogany tables, the heavy dra-
peries were in need of renovation,
while housewife would have viewed
with despair the condition of brass and
ebony inlaid cabinets, ancient tapes
tries and pictures, well nigh defaced,
but worthy, even in their faded aspect,
of the brush of Sir Godfrey Kneller.
Benjamin West and the elder Peale.
Having casually surveyed his new
home, the heir was reminded of the
need for refreshment after his long
journey and, turning to the caretaker.
asked him what there was in the
house. The servant smoked silently as
though deeply considering this momen-
tous question, while the rear guard
maintained undated hostility between
the mans firmly planted feet. Then
abruptly, without removing his pipe,
the guardian of the manor CALCULATED:
"Shortcakes and oly-koeks."
The other laughed, struck his knee
with his light cane and demanded TO
be shown to the library, where he
would have these outlandish dishes
Rs1ved.
"And bring with them, Mynheer Oily
koeks, u bottle of wine" he continued.
AT the same time chain up the dog.
He eyes me with such hungry hostility
that, CAD, | believe he's an antirent-
er!'
Mauvile was ushered into a large
room where great leather bound vol
umes filed the oak shelves to the cell
ing. The caretaker turned and with
echoing footsteps slowly departed, fol
lowed by his faithful four footed re-
tainer. 1t is true the latter paused,
swung half around and regarded the
landowner with the look Of sulky and
rebellious tenant. but, summoned by a
stern "Oloffev' from his master, the
dog reluctantly battered across the
4.