The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-03
CHAPTER XXIv. Ricordo's "Reminiscences.

CHAPTER XXIV.
 Ricordo's "Reminiscences
 Although the spring was we'll ad- vanced. a bright fire burned in the room where MT. John Castlemaine ushered his guests. Several easy chairs were placed around the fire. Evidently MT. Castlemaine used this room as a kind of smoking lounge, although there were also evidences that it was not used for men exclu- sively.
 They had scarcely seated them selves, when a servant entered, bear ing cigars and a decanter contain ing spirits. q
 "You will take little whiskey. signor Ricordo?" said MT. Castle maine, turning to his guest.
 ''No. thank you, I never take whis- ky.''
 "You are an abstainer?"
 "Yes."
 There was strange tone in his SoiCSs pue iic SpohS sSSAy QuiSliys dS was his custom.
 "Ah. perhaps you are a Mobam- medan." said Sprague, who accepted MT. Castlemaine's invitation.
 'No. MT. Sprague, I am not a Mohammedan. as you understand it. do not take whisky because-well, because a man who was once my friend was ruined through it.''
 At that moment Olive entered the room, and took a chair close by her fathers. She had heard Ricordo's answer to Sprague.
 That's scarcely reason for. re- fusing a. harmless beverage" said Sprague.
 "Harmless?" said Ricerdo; "wel, that is surely matter of opinion.'' "One would have to give up every think in life. on that principle of argument" urged Sprague.
 T do not wish to. argue" said Ri- cordo. "but I. will put case to MT. Castlemaine. Suppose he had a friend for whom he cared greatly, or for whom some one dear to him cared greatly, and that friend were ruined through alcohol; suppose he ceased to be man and become a fiend through it. would he offer whisky to his guests?" Signor Ricordo put the question to his host; but he kept his eyes on Olive, who started as if she had been stung, and then became as pale as death.
 John Castlemaine laughed uneas- fly.
 You are almost as strong in your signore," he said. Personally. Tam a very abstemious man. have closed nearly every public-house on the estate; but remember my duties as a host"
 Ricordo did not reply. but Olive felt how illogical her fathers posi- ton was.
 'But you smoke" went on MT. Cas- | gars. 'I don't think these are bad" .T am sure they are excellent" said Ricordo, "but I am obliged to smoke only one brand. had to pay a heavy duty to bring sufficient stock with me, but I had either to do it, or give up smoking. You will not mind if I smoke this, instead of yours, which I have no doubt are very much better" "Oh, certainly not, if you wish," said MT. Castlemaine rather coldly. | Ricordo bowed, and lit cigar 1 which he had taken from his own case His refusal either to take whis- ky or to smoke his hosts cigars had caused a feeling Of restraint in the party.
 My cigars are a special brand" went on Ricordo. They are no bet ter than others, I suppose, but I can smoke no others. I imagine the con- stitution of the Easterns must be peculiar"
 1 He looked at Olive as he spoke, and noted that she was watching him. As their eyes met, she dropped hers. She had not spoken since she entered the room. 1 'The manners and customs of those who live in the East are, of course, very different from ours. And of course their ideas are different l too"
 "How so, signore?" l He fay back in his chair as he spoke, and closed his eyes, as one