The Breckenridge news., 1904-01-06
CHATTER IN.
= WAVING started the wheels of
HE justice fairly moving. with
u III Scroggs at the throttle, the

ed that he was not in COnsOnance with
the great commOner who said he was
savage enough to prefer the woods aud
wilds of Monticello TO all the pleasures
of Paris. In other words, those rural
delights of his fOrefathersa the pleas
ures of closer intimacy with nature,
awoke no responsive chord in Mau-
ville's breast. and he began to tire be-
fore long of a patriarchal existence
and crullers and oly-koeks and playing
the fine lord in solitary grandeur
TO further add TO the land baron's
dissatisfaction over his heritage, rent
day" that all important day in the
olden times when my lords door had
been besicgcd 10y the willing lease
holders, cheerful in rendering unto
Caesar what was due Caesar. seemed to
have been dropped from the modern
calendar.
"Your notices. Scroggs, were wasted
on the desert air." said the PATRON
grimly to that disappointed worthy.
whats the use of tenants who don't
pay? Playing at feudal lord in modern
times is farce. Scroggs."
That evening when the broad mead
ows were inundated by the shadow of
the forest that crept over it like an in
coming tide the land baron ordered
lights for every room. The manor
shone in isolated grandeur amid the
gloomy fields, with the forest wall
around it; radiant as of old, when
strains of music had been heard within
and many figures passed the windows.
But now there was light and not life,
and a solitary antirenter on the lonely
road regarded with surprise the un-
usual Illumination.
"What does it meanf" asked Little
Thunder, for it was he waiting and
watching as without the gates Of para
disc.
Well might he ksk, for the late myn-
heer the PATRON had been a veritable
swered his purpose in the spacious
rooms; he played the prOwler not the
grand lord; a recluse who lowered over
bis wine butts i'm the cellar and gloated
over them while he touched them not; ;
n hermit who lived half his time in
the kitchen, bending over the smoky
fireplace, and not a lavender scented
gentleman who aired himself in the
drawing room. a fine fOp with nothing
but the mirrors to pay him homage.
Little Thunder. standing with folded
arms in the dark road, gloomy as Luc!-
fer almost expected to see the brilliant
fabric vanish like one Of those palaces
OF joy built by the poets.
Hour after hour passed. midnight
had come and gone and still the lights
glowed. Seated in the library. with
the curtains drawn. were the land
baron and Scroggs. a surveyors map
between them and a dozen bottles
around them. Before Mauville stood
several glasses containing wines Of
various vintages. which the land baron
compared and sipped, held to the light
and inhaled, after the manne" Of a
connolsseur sampling a cellar He was
unduly dignifed and stately, but the
attorney appeared decidedly groggy.
Lord, How you 20 on" exclaimed
Scroggs. What with sampling this
and sampling that, my heads going
round like Il top. If there's anything
in the cellar the old PATRONS put down
we haven't tried, sir, beg to defer the
sampling. | am Of the sage's mind
'Of all men who take wine, the mod
crate only enjoy it, says Master Bacon
or some one else
Pass the bottle answered the 9th
er. Gently, man. Don't disturb It's
reposc, and remember it disdains the
perpendicular
so will | soon" muttcred Scroggs.
81 hope youll excuse me, sir but that
whipcord that started the top going,
and, on my word" raising his hands
20 his head Il feel like holding it on
TO keep it from spinning Off"
Spinning or not, you shall try this
vintage"-the young mans eyes gleam-
ed with such fire as shone in the glass
land drink TO Constance Carew"
Constance Carewr stammered the
other, desperately swallowing the
toast.
Mauvile slowly emptied the glass
"A balsamic taste, slightly piquant, but
agreeable" he observed. "A danger
Gus wine, Scroggs! 1t carries no warn
ing. Your older kind Is like a world
worn coquette whose glances at once
place you on the defensive. This maid
en- vintage, just springing into glorious
womanhood, comes over you like q
springtime dream"
"Who - who is sheT muttered
Scroggs.
"She is not in the scroll you pre-
pared for my lamented kinsman, eh'
No title, man; not even a society lady
A stroller, which is next door to
vagrant."
"Well, sir, she's a woman, and that
enough" replied the lawyer. "Ant
my opinion is it's better to have moth
ing to do with 'em."
With this sententious remark Scrogg'
gave sudden lurch forward and quiet
ly and naturally slid under the table.