The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-04-17

groWled Buulter, without looking un.
After some moments of breathlesa
silence during which mother and
daughter eyed each other with elaucos
Of mingled apprehension and fear
Eouter calmly folded the paper. put ii
back IN It's envelope and forcing him
self 10 steady Ignorance OF the mat
ter. authorI.atively called for more
coffee.
What Is the newsT inquired Nrc.
Eoulter
My dear" replied Bouiter fixing her
with his eve aud inserting his thumbs
ia tho armholcs of his walstcoat, "the
Earl Of Daftmoor VIII be here on Fri
day, 50 see that everything Is in readl-
ness for his coming. He IS bringing
two friends and his letter seems TO IN
dictate that they, too, are men OF posi-
ton"
A stony silence cnsucd during the
remainder Of the meal after which
Boulter pompously sailed forth to re-
arrange the portraits In oils that hung
in the hall, for he had a large house
and believed in doing things In style.
Without exception these had all been
undo" the auccionecr's hammer but it
was Bouiter's idea to hang them I'm
chronological order and give to each
some little bit OF family history.
In the other departments of the
Boulter establishment things progressed
on a proportionate scale; the family
plate" for which Boulter had paid be-
tween two and three hundred pounds,
was brought out from boxes and chests
and put in such a condition as would
befit its meeting with an Earl
The eyentful day grew quickly near,
and Boulters spirits rose accordingly.
1t had occurred to the schemer that
perhaps one day would be hardly sufi-
cient to enable the noble Earl to make
proper advances to his daughter-by-
the-by the thought had never struck
him that the titled dignitary might be
a married man-so he had determined,
provided the visitor fulfilled his ex-
pectations, TO persuade him to prolong
his visit.
A sumptuous dinner was in progress.
The table literally groaned under the
weight of the viands and blazed with
the magnifcence Of the costly plate
and other valuable appurtenances Of
the feast. The Earl and his two
friends had proved most charming and
atfable companions, the former regal
ing the delighted Boulter with glowing
descriptions of the ancestral domain,
displaying at the same time the most
familiar knowledge of his fellow aristo-
Gratis and their doings. But all thoughts
unconsciously gave way to the great
pageant they had that day Witnessed
the coronation procession.
"Magnidcentr' muttered Boulter, Wig
orously setting to work on the contents
Of his plate
"Ahem! decidedly grand, Boulter,
old fellow"
They were quite on familiar terms
already, "as they should be-" Boulter
thought.
And so events progressed; the process
sion was discussed and suggestions
made and all agreed for the hundredth
time that it was the finest thing OF
its kind they had ever seen until Mrs.
Boulter displayed a decided inclination
to lapse into the arms Of Morpheus,
when an adjournment was made,
Miss Bessie shortly afterward being
engaged in playing the accompaniment
to a song which the Earl had been
pressed to sing. The invitation to stay
day or so, despite strict laws OF ETH
quette, had been warmly received.
The full glory Of a 2 o'clock moon
was stealing through the blinds, cast
ing beams Of radiant light across the
draWing-room, when a silent figure en-
tered, bag in hand. A sec Yer he
was Joined by another.
rs that you, CharlleY+o. the
first. 70
Eyes, my boy; it is I, the Earl OF
Dartmoor."
you'll soon be there if you two
don't shut uD your COMPOUNDED row."
muttered a third, as he stole into the
room with his boots in his hands.
well" chuckled the Earl, softly,
IF this isn't the biggest bit Of luck
I've ever had in my natural, l don't
know what is. Here that bowling ass
of a Boulter swallows my yarn about
Earldom, treats us as if we were lords,
and then places this opportunity in our
way of helping ourselves to his valu-
ables AS if any Johnnie couldn't get
the die of q coronet made and have a
few quires of notepaper stamped with
it! oh this is snnrtn and INV Inrdu