The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-03
cOPYRIGHT BY IRVING RING. ALL RIGEaTS REEERNEn

denfiy q gentleman. He gave The ndiis of Mr Burchel. announced that his romte lay in the same direction as the vtcar'a and the next day journeyed on with the family. with whom he soon became on the most friendly terms.
 He informed them that young sauirt Thornhili, their new landlord, was . nephew of the celebrated Sir William Thornhiii, once prominent in society and politics but who, disgusted wltt the insincerity of the f1atterers and sycophants with whom ho had been surrounded, had dropped out of sighi and was believed to be residing abroad His wants being simple. the uncle had left his great estate to the enjoyment of the nephew. As for Mr. Burchel be described himself as poor wander fer, possessed of little means, but able at times to be of service to those even less fortunate than himself.
 Tho stranger. who was not much above 30, seemed especially struck with the charms of Sophia, the second daughter, and when in crossing swol- len stream 1t happened that she was swept from her horse. Mfr. Burchel plunged into the torrent after her and brought her safe to land, thus saving her life When finally MT. Hurchel took leave of the family at the door of their new home it was easy to see that Sophia was not entirely indiffer- ent to him, but the doctor. with all his philosophy and meekness. could not but frown upon the prospect of any such an alliance as that of his daugh- ter with poor and unknown wander ar. while Madam Primrose tossed her head nightly. having already resolved that one of her daughters should mar ry the young Squire.
 They had been some months settled in their new habitation and had school ed themselves to content with their al- tered fortunes when the young Squire, happening to be in residence at the castle. discovered that the new parson had two beautiful daughters.
 Soon he began to be exceedingly at- tentIve to the family. Squire Thorn hill was a young man whose only care for this world was the pleasure thereof and who had peculiar weakness for the fair sex. The young mans bold address and daring conversation were distasteful to Sophia, but 1t was easy to see that he had made an impression on Olivia, and as for Mrs, Primrose her head was completely turned and her air castles more towering than ever.
 The doctor said: 'Disproportioned friendship ever terminate in disgust. Let us keep to companions of our own rank. There is no character among men more contemptible than that Of a fortune hunter, and I can see no reason why fortune-hunting women should not be contemptible tool' Tn fact, the doctor was seriously disturbed by tbe attentions of the young Squire to his daughters. had premonition that 1t would come to no good, and refused to share either the hopes or ambitions of his wife.
 Their chance Rcquaintance. Mir. ,Mur- chel, though he took care never by any chance to be near when any of the great folk from the castle were pres ent was frequent visitor at the vt~ cars cottage, helped the family in their farming and paid for his entertain ment with his labor.
 Sometimes the Squire would invite himself to dinner at the cottage, send ing down provisions from the castle and bringing some of his gay compan- Ions to share the feast. Once the Squire brought to the house couple of richly dressed women, whom he introduced as town ladies of great distinction. Lady Blarny and Mss Carolina Wilhelmfna Amelia Skegs.
 These two ladies talked of nobody but lords, ladies and Knights of the Garter and discussed high life and high lived company along with such fash ionable topics as pictures, taste, and the musical glasses, Iris true, they once or twice mortified the family sensibly by slipping out an oath or two, but this appeared to the simple country people as the surest sign of their distinction, though the good doctor, in his narrative. says: T am since informed that swearing is now perfectly unfashionable."
 The ladies declared that season or two in town would make the two girls perfectly entraneing and after sec ond visit Lady Blarny proposed to take OIiya to London with her as reader and at llberaI salary and intro duce her to all the best society, while Miss Carolina Wilheln.ina Skegs pro- posed to do like thing for Sophia.
 The family was delighted at the pros pect of tho girls thus baing provided for, while the turrets of Mrs. Prim- roses air-castle scared into the clouds. Good fortune seemed coming the way of the Yicar's family once more. and they passed many happy hours In ex- pectation; for the hours we pass with happy prospects in view are more plea sing than those crowned with fruttion. in the first case we cook the dish to suit our appetite; in the latter nature cooks 1t for us.
 One night as tne Idlully were seated around the fire,indulging in their pleas Ing anticipations, footman came with a note from the two ladies at the castle saying that they had hastily departed sor London and had resolved not to take the girls with them, having heard reports of them from some people of whom they had inquired. While all sat Stupefied at this piece of III luck and wondering who their tra- ducers could be, one of the boys cane 'unniRg in with letter case in his hand which he had found in the road. The case was quickly seen to be one usual-y carried by Mir. BuFchel. and finding letter in 1t endorsed "Copy of a letter vhich.I sent to the ladies at Thornhin Castle" Mrs. Primrose, in spite of the ioetor's protests, opened it.
 It was letter saying that the bearer would satisfy the ladies as to the per son from whom the missive came, stat ng that he had learned their intention Df taking two young ladies to London n character of companions, and warm Ing them not to do so, as the writer would neither have simplicity impos- I'd upon nor virtue contaminated"
 Tho opprobrium might be meant by he writer, 1t would seem to apply to either to the ladies or to the gfrlsi but n View of the note from the ladies the Primrose family, of course, at once con iidered it to be reflection upon the girls. and the next time MT. Burchel put in an appearance he was shown the ioor with many reproaches.
 The parson was not quite satisfied. md his conscience bothered him a lit- le; but the pain which conscience gives man who has already done wrong is