Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-18
a Tale Of 10th Century e
BOOK II.
CHAPTER XXXIII

-, 10 have the FIRE going by 8 every
..rrlnr,, no sound of hammer reached
snd coming into the place, found
~ .roptv. Then remembered that to-
asoree was to drive over TO Tom
80. with Prudence and the Ancient.
s.vsa in certain household necessi-
%, IN a months time they we're to
), married.
,...unon must needs contrast
.,-e,s happy future with my dreary
.os fall bitterly TO cursing myself; !.
- dttlng on the Ancients stool I'm
4, ,orner. covered my face, and my
'smsh,s we're very black.
Sow presently, as l sat thus, ] became
rs,,ons Of a very delicate perfume In
eonss es,r and also that some one had en-
wy auetly. My breath caught in my
w., hut l did not at once look up,
u' s,ns 70 dispel the hope that tingled
p.s p.s1a me So | remained with my face
me- wv, covered until something touched me.
~ saw that II was the gold-mounted
soodle ~ Of a whip, wherefore raised my
s,sd suddenly and glanced up
r..n beheld radiant vision in pol
.eed riding boots and speckless MOLE
"a perfect-ftting coat, with snowy
I'm. AZ throat and wrists; tall, gal
-, azure. of graceful, easy bearing,
nh W. stood. a picture OF cool, gentlemanly
rS,snce tapping his boot lightly with
~ whin But as his eye met mine the
.,nne whip grew suddenly still; his
ssspgnld expression vanished, he came
n,iek step nearer and bent his lace
e.rer nv own-a lark face handsome
h'' ,,s wav. pale and aquiline, with
nn..srful = law and dominating eyes and
T.r,ha face may, a mask ratheD that
.siied and smiled, but never showed the
man beneath.
xow elancing UP at his brow, 1 saw
,h.re n small newly healed scar.
~. A. possible?" said he, speaking In
- .oftlv nodulated voice l remembered
!. hsve heard once before. "Can 1t be
ss.sIble that / address my worthy
sousinY That shirtl that utterly impos-
.ble coat and belcher! And yet-tne
lkeness is remarkaplel rave me
soror TO address Peter Vibart-late OF
0xford7"
arhe same, SIR" 1 answered, rising.
.rhen. most worthy cousin, 1 salute
.or1 and he removed his hat, bowling
IN an ironic grace believe me,
,svs frequently desired to see that para
- N ali the virtues whose dutiful re-
.rsct our revered uncle rewarded with
.ks nroverbial shilling. Egadl" he went
M examining me through his glass with
.1great show of interest, had you been
srv other than that same virtuous
cousin Peter whose graces and perfec-
tons were forever being thrown at my
Mad. l could have sympathized with
von positively-if only on account OF
mai most obnoxious coat and belcher,
IA the crime and sootiness of things In
rsnaraI Poofp he exclaimed, pressing
Ns perfumed handkerchief to his nos
lTIls "faugh! how damnably sulphur
andbrlmstony you do keep yourself
cousin-oh, gadl'
you would certainly find it much
clearer outside" said I, beginning to
blow up the fire.
rBut then, Cousin Peter, outside one
must become a target for the yokel eye,
and I detest being stared at by the un-
,ducated, who, naturally, lack apprecia-
ton On the whole, prefer the smoke,
though Il chokes one most internally.
Where may one venture to sit here?'
,endered him the stool, but he shook his
head, and, crossing to the anvil. hicked
daintily with his handkerchief ana
cat down. dangling his leg.
"Pon my soul!" said he, eyeing me
languidly through his glass again. pom
NY soul! you are udtnHdpiy hhS me- JNN
know, in features
'Damnably!" nodded.
He glanced at me sharply and laughed.
NY man, a creature of the name OF
Parks" said he, swinging his spurred
boot to and fro, lied me to suppose that
should meet a person here-a black
Imith fellow"
'Your man Parks informed you cor
Fectly" nodded. what can 1 do for
YOU"
The DEVIL" exclaimed Sir Maurice,
shaking his head, but no-you are, as l
gather somewhat eccentric. but even you
would never take such a desperate step
as to-to-"
become blacksmith fellow?" I
put in.
PRECISELY"
"Aas, Sir Maurice, I blush to say that
nther than become an unprincipled ad-
ysnturer living on my wits, or mean
spirited lhanger-on fawning upon ac-
saaintances for a livelihood or doing
lnything rather than soil my hands with
honest toll, / became a blacksmith fell
low some four or FIVE months ago."
Really 1t is most distressing to OBJ
serve to what depths virtue may drag
manl-you are a very monster OF
prohity and rectitudev exclaimed Sir
Maurice; indeed am astonishedi You
manifested not only shocking bad Judg-
ntnt but a most deplorable lack OF
uought Virtue Is damnably Selfish as a
we)-really, II is quite disconcerting to
ma ones self first cousin to black
tnlth-y'
-fellowl" added.
fellowl" nodded Sir Maurice. "Oh the
esNl. to think of my worthy cousin re-
epced TO the necessity of laboring with
hammer and saw"
Not saw" put In.
we Will say chisel then-a Wharf with
.mmer and chisel-deuce take mel Most
'fesslngl and. you will pardon my say
~ po' you do not seem to thrive on
aa"mers and chisels; no one could say
gu ~ looked blooming or even fourishing
~ me young bay tree (Which is,
any an Eastern expression)."
sr' said /. may remind you that
nave a work TO dor
deuced interesting place though,
q. he smiled. staring round imper-
.~oaply through his glass; so-er-dev-
uih grimy and smutty and gritty-quite
nelnoer OF horseshoes. too. Dye know,
ss,t never before remarked what a
osr OF holes there are In horseshoe
,. I'VE and learnt Here he paused
mnaie pinch OF snuff. very daintily,
w Jsweled box. "It Is a strange
ns ne pursued. as ne busted his nm
,s.t On MS handkerchief. "a very strange
~. mat being cousins, we have never
. II ~ ui now-especially as / have heard
,bbsn much about you"
said /, pray. how should you
nr..,esut eDout one so very Insignificant as