Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-08-31

above, had spare bed, aud thItncr
went.
The lodging was neither particularly
comfortable nor particularly clean, but
was too worn out with fatigue to be
fastidious; and in spite If its short
G. ulings. | fell asleep almost the moment
| inid my weary head upon the pillow.
CHAPTER XII
Until 10 o'clock next morning | slept
q calm, dreamless sleep aud arose more
fresh and jnvigorated than | had felt
for months. 1t had been arranged that
l should breakfast at Marthns. So az
cor1ingIy. as soon as l was washed and
dressed. / adjourned TO No. 3. Two
strange men. were in the room when l
went in.
The elder Of the two was a tall thin
man. with sallow complexion, sharp.
aquiiiue features, hollow cheeks. full
beard and musta he. and dark, grjz.ied
hair, which he v1re very long aud parted
in the center He was dressed in seedy
black; ar extremely open waistcoat dis
;l:.5 ed a somewhat dilapidated fancy
shirt front. very much soiled and crum-
Piled 4 fraved black satin necktie sur
rounded n very frayed and limp shirt
collar. his bootS were old and patched.
but they were the remains Of what had
once been radiant patent leather. His
hands We're white. and carefully tended.
and oFnamented with two large brass
rings He greeted ME with great polite
ness MS | entered.
His companion was Il young man of
about tNe nty full-faeed. rather sanguine
complexion. with an expression of oddly
mixed good-narure and seIf-satisfactiou.
His dress was less pretentious than that
of the elder. although there was the
same style of shabby gentility and the
secondhand clothes shop.
Martha introduced the elder as PRO
fesSor Montgomery" and the younger as
Mr. Fitzwalton The elder acknowledge
Ell the Introduction with an air of great
politeness; the younger, with familiar
nod. and a twinkle of amusement in his
eye Mt my odd appearance. which slowly
changed to one Of doubling recognition:
all expression which was reflected in my
own face; for. in Mr.. Adoiphus Fitzwal-
ton. believed that I recognized my
whilom bed-felIow. Josiah Cook We
both came to the same conclusion at the
same moment.
Can it be pos sibic---'
1T can't be-"
THAT you are Josiah Cook 2"
What. Silas Carston"'
Martha who was preparing my break
fast, looked very much astonished .. ,i.is
recognition.
One Of the Rev Mr. Porter's old
boarders," / said. in explanation.
why. goa don't mean to say that YOU
know that old hypocrite?" cried Josiah,
turning round 10 her.
she was servant there for two years
only left about Il month ago" | said,
answering for her.
Wen. if this isn't the queerest start
I ever knew" cried Josiah wi oeyer
should have tioaght of seeing you here.
What SIRE you doing2 How's oil Snuff
lies getting on? Has Miss GoJseberry
eyes got husband yet p
These questiq.s wer. very cnaharrass-
ing. and / should have been greatly put
to for an answer. but Martha came to
my assistance.
We'll. hook here. Mr.. F'itzwaton. s"
she said with a sign to me: Master
Silas has got some very particular basi-
ness on hand just now that obligcs him
to be cautiaus. 80 [ know you'll excuse
him answering your questions Tor Il cay
OF two
"oh. don't want to pry into any
body'~ secrets fetorted josiah. with
something OF piqae in bis tone.
There was nn awkward silence for
some minutes. during which I discussed
nay breakfast. with the embarrassing
sensation rhat the Professor" as ] af-
forwards heard he liked 10 be- called.
was sharply scrutnizing me.
II WIS impossible for Josiah 20 keep
silen; for amy length Of time. or 10 re-
fraia from talking ahout himself So,
in spite Of my reticeucc he soon PUT ne
ia possession of the whole of his his
tory, from the time he quilted Mr.. For
tcr's establishment up to the time in
which | found him sitting in AIRS. Jen-
uinEs' parlor.
do YOU remember that night you got
out OF window, aud l took you to the
theatcr? Weli. you see. | didn't care
fer the printing business much | had
soul above srrapmg rollers ard rolling
ink; and, from the first night | went
into the theater / was stage struck.
II SeEl1Atu SHNh q J"it9s easy 'itF. 'tit'
such a glorious thing 10 see ali the
plays, and act ir them. aud get rounds
OF applause. end wear fine clothes, So
determined to be an actor. | had the
impudenee 10 apply to old Tomkins, the
manager OF Bury, for an engagement
His answer was to kick me out Of the
theater MS 4 presumptuons young ape.
But, although this hurt my pride. it did
not damp my artlor. heard cf booth
two or three les of. One evening
walked over 80 the village and offer
ed my services there. They happened
to be in want OF some one to pull up the
scenes, dehyee the bills and go ON for
small parts | was engaged ut ouce.
The printing business saw me no more.
So instead of rolling ink, rolled mp
scenes. was very happy for time.
especially when | got a few lines TO
speak. BY and by grew ambitious and
scared In imagination from the tirst OH
Ger 10 Maciuff, and even to Macbeth. /
goa Disguised with the mental portion Of
my work; and one fine morning. at n
fair, deserted t. = opposi ion show.