Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-04-15
GRIPS, TIE CARRIER
r. p. BL A MORE
Author Of IL 0RNA doom "ALIcE LORRAINE" ETC., ETC

the buzzum of his family. pcstilence and
death, he hath. And who be he to do
such thing, road-faring, twO-penny
carrier?"
"Cripps charges a good deal more than
twopencc.' said Mr.. Oglander quietly; for
his hopes and fears were once more post
poned.
''11e hath brought the worst load ever
were brought" cried the widow, growing
eloquent. BLACK death. and the plague.
aud the murran Of Egypt hath come in
through Grippe the carrier. How much
will he charge Bccklcy, your worship?
How much shall Bccklcy pay him. when
she mourncth for her children? when she
sprcadcth forth her hands and seekcth
north and south. and cannot find Them
because they are noty'
What is IL. good womanf' cried
smith impaticntly, what is all this up
roar! DO tell us, aud have done with
it,"
Good man." replied Widow Hookham
tartly. my words are addressed To your
bcttcrs. sir. Your worship knowcth well
that Master Kulc hath leave and license
Tor his Sunday dinner; ever since his
poor wife died. he stitch with n knife
and fork to the right side of our cook
maid. He were that gcntccl. l do assure
you. although his appearance bcspcaketh
II not. and city gents may look down
on him; he had such a sense of proprie-
ty. not n word did he say all the time
of dinner to raise an objection to the
| weakest stomach. But MS soon rs he see
that all were done. and the parlor dinner
| forward. he laycth his finger on his lips.
| and lOOketh to me as the prime authOri-
ty: and when l ask him to speak out. no
secrets being among good friends. what
he said were deal too much for me. or
any other Christian person."
| "Well. well. ma'am. II your own din
ner was respected. you might have show
cd some respect for ours" Mr.. Smith ex.
claimed very sadly, beholding the noble
sirlOin weeping with lost opportunity.
But Mr.. Oglander took no notice. To
such things he was Indifferent now.
"To keep the mind dwelling upon
earthly victuals." the widow replied re.
verely, ION the Lords day, and with the
day Of the Lord hanging special over
us--such things II beyond me to deal
with. and calls for Mr.. Warbelow. Car.
rier Grips hath sent his sister over to
nurse Squire Overshute."
John Smith pretended to be busy with
his beef. but Mary, who made a point
Of watching whatever he did, startled
as she was by her mothers words, this
girl had her quick eyes upon his face.
and was sure that II lost color. rs the
carved sirloin Of beef had done from
the trickling Of the gravy.
"Ovcrshute! nurse Mr.. Overshutef'
cried the Squire. with great astonish.
ment. "Why. what ails Mr.. Overshute?
1t IL long time since have seen him,
and I thought that he had perhaps for.
gotten me. He used to come very often,
whcn-but who am ! TO tempt him
When my darling was here. In the time
Of my darling. everybody came to visit
me: now nobody comes. md Of course II
IL right. There IN nobody for them to
look at now. and no one to make them
laugh n little. All. she used to make
them laugh till l was quite jealous,
do believe; not Of myself. bless your
heart! but of her. because I never liked
her to have too much to say to anybody,
unless II was one who could understand
her. And nobody ever turned up that
was able, In any way. to understand her,
except her poor old father. SIR"
The Squire. ut the end Of this long
speech. stood up and hourisled his fork,
which should have been better employed
In feeding him. and looked from face to
face. In fear that he had made himself
ridiculous. Nobody laughed ut him, or
even smiled; and he was pleased with
this. and resolved .ever to give such oc.
casion again; because 1t would have
shamed him NO. And after all Il was
his own business. None Of these people
could have amy idea, and he hoped they
never might have. by this time his mind
was dropping softly into some confusion.
For a few minutes Mr.. John Smith
had his flourish all about the Queen, and
the law Of the land, and the Jurisdiction
Of the Bench. and he threatened the ab.
sent Grips with three months impris.
onment, and perhaps the treadmill. He
knew that he was talking unswept rub.
bish. but his audience was female. They
listened to him without leaving OF their
work, and their courage increased al
his did.
But presently Mr.. Oglander. who had
seemed to be taking nap. arose and
said. as clearly as ever he had said
anything In his clearest days:
"Mary, 20 and tell Charlie to put the
saddle on the mare at once"
"Oh. sir! whatever are You thinking
Of? ! couldn't do II, ! couldn't. You
amt abeen ahorseback for nigh four
months. and your orders In to keep quiet
IN your chair, and not even look out o.
winder, sir. DO e plaize to 20 into your
slippers. sir"
II will not go into my slippers. Mary.
I will 20 into my boots. ! hear that Mr..
Overshute Is III, and gather from what
you have all been saying that his illness
IL Of such kind that nobody will 20
near him. ! have wrOnged the young
gentleman bitterly, and will do my best
to right myself. II never do another
thing. I will ride TO ShOtover this day.
Order the mare. as tell you, aud the
arid will do me good, please God!'