The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01


face and little, piggish eyes. They all
had boards of various shapes and colors,
and some wore little sugar-loaf hats, in
which was stuck a cocks feather. One
stout old gentleman seemed to be the
commander. He had a weather-beaten
face and wore laced doublet. Around
his waist was broad leather belt from
which was Suspended a short sword with
a silver hilt. Below his ample knee
breeches were red stockings, and he had
on high-heeled shoes with roses of rib
bon at the instep. On his head was a
high-crowned hat with leather in it. He
was a rather impressive and commanding
old gentleman and seemed terribly in
earnest
What particularly impressed Rip was
that, though these people seemed to be
enjoying themselves, yet they did it in the
most profound silence, nothing being
heard but the rumbling of their bowls
and with such grave faces as never a
merrymaking party wore before so far
as Rips experience went. Another thing
puzzled Rip: although the balls they
bowled went rolling over the smoothest
and softest turf. every one made a noise
which echoed among the mountains like
the sound of thunder. AS Rip and his
companion approached them the whole
company stopped their play and turned
to stare at him with such a strange, fixed,
statue-like gaze and such lack-luster eyes
that Rip felt his knees shake together
III cfo ct;I ,x,itl 10,
him.
Rips companion now preached the key
and emptied it's contents into large flag
ons These. he indicated to Rip by signs
were to be served to the company. In
fear and trembling Rip obeyed and passed
around the great flagons. After taking
each an enormous draught the players re-
turned to their solemn game Of bowling
ninepins. Rip appeared to have been
pressed into service as waiter and gen.
eral bartender to the company, and served
them from time to time as their thirst re-
quired. Though much frightened at first
there was something SO familiar and re-
assuring about the smell of the liquor
which Rip was called upon to serve that
he was in large measure put at his ease
and did his duty with considerable OF
cheerfulness and alacritS.
After short time curious to know il
his suspicious regarding the liquor were
correct, Rip, when no eye was fixed upor
him, ventured to take just sip out Of
one of the fiagons. The contents tasted
very much as they smeled-like an excel
lent article of Holland gin! Rip thought
the matter over, and to make sure of the
truth of his hypothesis watched for an
other favorable opportunity to take 9
second draught-this time mighty one
that there should be no mistake because
of smallness of sample 1t was, he decid
ed. excellent Hollands-the best he evel
had tasted.
Now, Rip was naturally thirsty soul
and it must be acknowledged that boil
the excellent quality of the liquor ant
the physical exertions and mental excite
ments through which the good man re
Gently had passed justified him in solac
ing himself with little refreshment Blu
one sip of the fiagon produced the longing
for another. and. as the company SCENE,
entirely oblivious of what he did, Ri
began to apply himself with such rapit
persistence to the liquor that, before long
his eyes SWAIN in his head. the strange
| weird company of bowlers became tangled
and hazy until finally he lost his sense
altogether and sank down to sleep besid
the keg.
| 1t was sunrise when Rip awoke. TIL
birds were singing in the trees; an eagl
was soaring aloft over his head ant
breasting the pure mountain breeze. o.
summit and crag the light of the new
! born day was shining and shafts Of glor
ious light even found an entrance