The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-03
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1 ardS and the faults 1t has not strength
 enough to prevent 1t seldom has justice enough to punish by accusing. The London bubble having burst, the ] vicar found that in trying to associ-
 ate with the people at the castle he
 had run into debt; and Moses, the finan- cfai genius of the family, was sent with
 one of the plow-horses to neighor- ing fair, where he was instructed to sell the animal. He came back with
 gross of green spectacles, for which l he had traded the horse, and which
 tdrned out to. be mounted in silver washed brass and absolutely worthless. The doctor now took the other horse
 to the fair. and. falling into the hands 1 of the same rascal who had swindIed Moses, came back with bogus draft upon neighbor. which that neighbor pronounced to be signed by one of the most notorious sharpers in England
 While striving to support these new afflictiohs by the aid Of philosophy and religion greatsr blow befelt the family Little Dick came running in crying: "Ohis papat papat She is gone from us;s my sister Iivy is gone from us forever.
 v Gone. ehildl''
 ss'yes, she Is gone Sir with two gen tlemen in a post-cbaise: and one of tttGin AlcetuHnIF HAtHr ontU AG WUQiu ulc for her; and she cried very much and was for coming back; but he persuaded her again, and they went ofr in the chaise !"
 After the first agony of his griet the doctor said ''Son. bring hither my Bi- bie and my stan. I will pursue her. wherever she is, and though I cannot save her from shame, may prevent the continuance of fhiquity.v
 Leaving his distressed family in tears the wronged father went at once 10 Thornhili Castle and demanded to see the young Squire, upon whom his sus. picions fell as the Abductor of his daughter ThornhiiI recefved the aged minister in his usual light and cordial manner, expressed great surprise at the news of Olivias elopement, and de- nied all knowledge of her whereabouts or any confplicity in her abduction. But hanger.on of the 'squire's said that he had seen the girl on the road to the Wells, wbere there was much gay company at the time. in the com panionship of man whose description made Dr. Primrose conclude at once to be none other than his false friend, Mir Burchel
 With Ills stan ana his Bible and his sorrow. the aged clergyman started on the thirty mile tramp to the Wells. and just as he was entering the town was met by a man on horseback, whom he had seen before in company with the Squire, who informed him that his daughter had appeaFed at the assenssfy the preceding evening with Mir Bur ehei. and tho whole company had been charmed with her dancing. They had left that morning, he said, for the races, about thirty miles further on where, doubtless. they could be found
 On to tho races trudged the broken hearted father. but finding there no trace of his lost darling. left behind the gay company, all bent on pleasure as he turned his weary steps home- ward. But the agitation of his mind and the fatigues which he had under gone threw him into fever ere he had proceeded far on his journey, and he was obliged to take refuge in way side alehouse, where hef lay for three weeks before, he was able to resume his Journey.
 Good company shortens the cut, as the proverb says. and when he set out again, falling in with part of a band of strolling players going his way, the parson attached himself to theiB party and fell into much agreeable converse ton with the leader From him he was surprised to learn that the plays of Shakespeare were becos,lng popular with the people.
 what" cried the doctor, "is it pos- sible the present age can be pleased with that anticipated dialect, that ob- solete humor. those overcharged char acters?' From which exclamation and remembering the conversation os Lady Blarny and Miss Skegs-it will be seen that, while the works of the Bard of Avon furnished, along with the "musical glasses" q topic of con veFsation in polite fiddle-faddle, and were pleasing to The rustic audiences catered to by strolling players. men of scholarship and solid attainments. fix the doctor, thought in t766 but lightly of tho works of Master Shakespeare.
 At the first village where they stop ped they met at the inn pompous and argumentative man, who Invited the doctor and the leader of the strollers to take dinner with him In his mansion, which was situated near by. There was a considerable company, which seemed to be made up of guests in the house, but while the~host was holding forth stoutly on politics and swearing i'by all my mines in Cornwall" one of the women sprang up with a shriek, cryin. As sure as death, there is our master and mistress come homeP'
 It appeared that the servants of the worthy Mir. Arnold had been rather out doing their master in hospitality dur ing his absence from home. The re- turned master of the house had in his company his wife and a younger wo- man, and before the good doctor could gather his wits the young lady had him In her arms and was asking him | if he had forgotten Arabella Wilmot, 1 olfce his son Georges affianced bride.
 MT. Arnold. who proved to be Miss Wilmots uncle, smiled when the doc- tor related to him the circumstances of his being there At the parsons | Intercession the butler was forgiven; | and being earnestly solicited, the good | man consented to rest for day or two | the guest of the house
 Miss Wilmot asked after George, and | the doctor was obliged to confess that | he had heard no word of him since he went to London. She revealed to him | that her heart still was true to her former love.
 They all took tickets for the stroll | CTS performance Of thA succeeding | night. when, tho leader assured them.- ! the rest of hiss company would have | arrived in town and they would be | treated to the performace of a young | man who was just making his appear ance as Horatio in the play of the Fair | Penitent"
 To the play next night they went; but when Horatio came on the stage he | gagged at the company. stammered and | then remained speechless-
 It was George e.--thus come | back from his fortune-huuting in Lon don.
 Needless to say George that night [ was a guest at Mir Arnolds, where he | ro1o4ad bla own ndVauf1aFea and hoard ]