Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-04-01

comings. l fell asleep almost the moment
l laid my weary head upon the pillow.
CHAPTER XI.
Until 10 o'clock next morning l slept
a calm, dreamless sleep, and arose more
fresh and invigorated than | had felt
for months. 1t had been arranged that
l should breakfast at Martha's. So ac-
cordingly, 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 a sallow complexion. sharp
aquiline features, hollow cheeks. full
beard and mustache. and dark, grizsled
hair, which he wore very long and parted
in the center. He was dressed in seedy
black; an extremely open waistcOat dis
played a somewhat dilapidated fancy
shirt front, very much soiled and crum-
pied. A frayed black satin necktie sur
rounded 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 were white, and carefully tended,
and ornamented with two large brass
rings. He greeted me with great polite
ness as | entered.
His companion was a young man Of
about twenty; full-faced. rather sanguine
complexion, with an expression of oddly
mixed good-nature and self-satisfaction.
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
ed the introduction with an air Of great
pOliteness; the younger, with a familiar
nod, and a twinkle of amusement in his
eye at my odd appearance, which slowly
changed to one of doubling recognition;
an expression which was reflected in my
own face; for, in Mr.. Adolphus Fitzwal-
ton, l believed that l recognized my
whilom bed-fellow, Josiah Cook We
both came to the same conclusion at the
same moment.
Can it be possible"
1T can't be"
THAT you are Josiah Cook 2"
What Silas Carstonw
Martha, who was preparing my break
fast looked very much astonished at this
recognition.
"One of the Rev. Mr.. Porter's old
boarders," l said. in explanation.
"Why, you don't mean to say that YOU
know that old IMPORTER" cried Josiah,
turning round to her.
she was servant there for two years
only left about month ago." | said.
answering for her.
"Wel. il this isn't the queerest start
l ever knew" cried Josiah. "Whoever
should have thought of seeing you here.
What are you doing? How's old Snuff
fes getting on? Has Miss Gooseberry
eyes got a husband yet?'
These questions were very cmbarrass-
ing, and l should have been greatly put
to for an answer, but Martha came to
my assistance.
well. look here, Mr.. Fitzwalton, "
she said with a sign to me; Master
Silas has got some very particular husi-
ness on hand just now that obliges him
to be cautious, so l know you'll excuse
him answering your questions for day
or two"
"Oh, l don't want to pry into any
body's secrets" retorted Josiah, with
something Of pique in his tone.
There was an awkward silence for
some minutes. during which | discussed
my breakfast, with the embarrassing
sensation that the Professor" as l af-
forwards heard he liked to be called.
was sharply scrutinizing me-
1t was impossible for Josiah to keep
silent for any length of time. or to re-
frain from talking about himself So.
in spite Of my reticence, he soou put me
In possession Of the whole Of his his
tory, from the time he Quilted Mr. Por-
ter's establishment up to the time in
which l found him sitting in Mrs. Jen.
nings' parlor.
"Do you remember that night you got
out Of window. and l took you to the
theaterY Well, you see, | didn't care
for the printing business much. | had
I a soul above scraping rollers and rolling
ink; and, from the first night | went
into the theater / was stage struck
1t seemed such a jolly, easy life; and
such a glorious thing to see ali the
plays, and act in them, and get rounds
Of applause, and wear fine clothes. so |
determined to be an actor. had the
impudence to apply to old Tomkins. the
manager of Bury. for an engagement.
His answer was TO kick me out Of the
theater as a presumptuous Young ape.
But, although this hurt my pride it did
not damp my ardor | heard OF booth
two or three miles off. One evening
l walked over to the village and offer
ed my services there. They happened
to be in want of some one TO pull up the
scenes. deliver the bills and go on for
small parts. / was engaged at once.
The printing business saw me no more.
So instead OF rolling ink. rolled up
scenes. l was very happy for a time,
especially when l got a few lines to
speak. BY and by l grew ambitious and
scared in Imagination from the first Off
Ger to Macduff. and even to Macbeth. |
got disguised with the mental portion OF
my work; and one fine morning. at a
fair, deserted to an opposition show,