| Show our two satires suu Sau ires 14 it i S i I 1 tiie ylie dim tim STORY OFA OF A LONG ea ii i ir ti C cratter CHATTER ita pre 1 I 1 lit itwara was wab Christ christmas mag mai morning h a genuine old oid fashioned christmas sharp mad wad clear and cold the meadows were covered far and wide with crisp white snow enow and the hedgerows hedge rows sparkled spark bpark lid iid with crystal frost work the rustle rustic monuments in the thi village churchyard assumed forms of quaint ness nesa under their fleecy co vering coveting 1 and the ancient yew trees dark and gloomy in summer when all else was waa gay seemed now like fair fairy fountains springing upward in the winter sunshine athin the church was ga gathered well weil nigh the whole population of our corn village and with tender eloquence our good old vicar bowed with age and infirmity but still earnest still eloquent once more moie preached the message of peace and good will not an ail eye wandered among the earnest upturned faces fabes not a sound broke the quiet hush of rapt attention as bo he spoke lh bis concluding words and now my br brethren eLbren nay rather my children fon foe my journey has been long and most of 0 those who started xv with ith me have gone adne by one to their rest for w well weli nigh forty years have I 1 labored among you and the time Is at hand kierr I 1 too shall shail rest and when you will hear my voice flo fio no more it la Is but a little while and the silver cord must be loosed and the golden bowl be broken god has been very good to me yet one gift more one only would I 1 ask of him that ere I 1 go to my ray long home every soul in this my flock shall shail have blotted out all memory of former feud or ancient gr grievance lavance sud and shall with love and fello wiship to all mankind be abe able abo to join in the christmas song of the tha angels on earth peace good will among men all knew for whom these last words were especially intended Intend edt edi for the feud between my lay uncle bichard richard Pol poi whee and add the only other large land owner in the parish blk sir philip Tre fuis ruis was a matter almost of county history ishad it had originated many years back when both were young men fresh from oxford at school and college they had been bosom friends frienda nay almost brothers but so the story ran both young men had been fascinated by the wiles odthe of the same village beauty keliher would yield to the other A violent quarrel nrose arose and in a moment ot at passionate excitement on both sides tre busis struck with his hid rid ing whip across the face raised his hand to return the tho mry blow biow but checked himself oi or 14 it would have havo gone hard with Tret usia usla ls for he was slight and alid undersized while strength and daring were proverbial til throughout the country side if isyou youl value your life he said controlling himself by a mighty efrost eft rt get out ofay of my sight eight 11 Trefus usia usla ts read riad aright the warning of the white face and flashing oyes eyes and already dreading the consequences of hia hla rash iash act fied fled away rich nich ard pol poi wele spent the iest rest of that day alone ia in the woods wooda and nd four and twenty hours afterward was stricken with brain fever ere ho he had completely recovered his rival had hid left the country and th the coquettish cause of their quarrel had bad married a rustic swain ghon she secretly much preferred to td el cf r ther of 0 her aristocratic ad admirers thirty years had since passed by during the greater pard pare of had remained abroad visiting hla hia native place conly aly at rare intervals three Thre eyears years however he had finally returned I 1 a widower with one ond daugh daughter ter now aged nineteen and add had takei taken up his abode once more wore at the family mansion Tre Tze carra park richard pol pot whole had also married and was left a widower with five children howardi howard mary alice percy and dorothy of ages ranging downward from twenty two to seven uncle dick would readily have iet let bygones be bygones but he waited for to make the first overture possibly sir bir phillip had a similar feeling at any rate crate neither would make the first advances and the result was that the two squires as they were called met and remained on terms of haughty coolness no communication took place between the two houses though it was whispered that cousin howard and pretty edith tre busis who had met more than once on neutral ground were bot not not dis posed to keep up the family feud forsi for forse nother another generation such being the state of th things ings inga the earnest appeal of our good old vicar was nat difficult of ap application and many eyes were turned upon the two squires to see in what spirit they received this public admonition there was a touch of heightened color r upon uncle D cies elks handsome face as he no stepped forth into the the very model of a gai gal gallant lalit english gentleman dispensing hearty handshakes and ki kindly adly christmas greetings to friend and neighbor close behind him came hir sir phillip his daughter li hanging singing on his arm at thi the uncle dick stepped aside agide to let them pass with kindly eyes he looked straight at sir philip and we felt instinctively that with him at least mr pen breaths treat hs appeal had not missed its mark and that at the alight slightest ept answering sitti sign his hand would woula have been outstretched stretched with generous cordiality whether sir philip saw the look I 1 know his daughter did and an express expression ion iou of pain came into liei her sweet eyes aa as he strode on proud and silent and the opportunity for a reconciliation had once more passed away charter CHAPTER 31 wa bevere verb a amerry am erry party round the luncheon table at the lodge for richard was accustomed to keep ight royally and his owr owl family neph nephews Os and nieces of every degree and friends rrie frie rids from far annd arid near were gathered around his hospitable board luncheon being ended a discussion arose as to boyc we should dam employ ploy the interval before the important hour of dinner the dinner which was to be the crowning glory of the christmas festival someone somme borne one suggested skating and the idea was at once hailed balled with acclamation pol worthy adola pool pooi a piece of bf bawal water al most within a stones stoned throw of the lodge wig wis vig was frozen over and afforded a capital apitai i skating ground every av a callable p pair air sir of skates was wa speedily in requisition there was a general rush for greatcoats great coats bal bai sal eal skin j jackets aek ack ets munn muff nura fura warm gloves and woolen comforters uncle dick diek was led captive by a coupie of pretty nieces one oner of whom took possession of each arm and looking like a miniature arctic expedition we sallied forth to the pool the fun was at its height when sir phillip usia usla and ana d his daugh ter were seeli approaching no one noticed them till they were fairly on ahe ibe uhe lee ice wad mad auld tb tuen ix we vye waw alaia arm alm that they were close to a where the ice ce had bad been beep bro broken kenon on the previous day for rae tae convene enco ence of duek ducks and geese who were the regular inhabitants of the pool and w which b ieli though now a again gain brogen frozen over would certain certainly ly not bear the tho 0 weight of a human being uncle thillia was wai th the e first to perceive the danger daigger backi backi bachl the ice iee is unsafe I 1 he shouted edith drew baek back accordingly but her father either not understanding tb the warning or too proud to regard rega foi fol it continued his fili cau course arse and lr in instant t the je ice crashed under his his feet and he disappeared afier after A couple of seconds he roso again and flinging his arms arm wildly ly upward with a horse hoise cry of bf save me once more disappeared but this did n not 0 t rise a again ain aln good ca heavens afis he has haagine gon e under the iee ice said sald a voice and in an ins etana all w was s terror and aila confusion break the ice shouted one fetch a ladder sald said another p run ruil eun ra for por a ra ropel exclaimed a third thira A score of suggestions practicable and impracticable in a breath guc guu ab the ringing abl voice ce of J richard riehard ticha rd 1361 whole was heard above the tumult tumuli r afi bri bi ari lence ence enee nil all dr have a cool head hend you tell them what to do A rate kate quick and lay it over the holzl hole hoie meanwhile in lesy lesa takes fotell to teil tell it he had bad himself of hat coat and boots nid and without wal lauing tin iid for an ans ana answer neer Nyer piu plu plunged n g d in into to J t the d ice lie cold coid water twice nv c he 0 tily lloyed div llly ed 0 without it out suc buc success i cass chadwell Mh he had adwell well weil chosen osen hib his 19 a ald aid ld inthe in the doctor a quiet quiel unassuming man nan but of iron berve serve and lp resources pour ces and ere he ba had arisen for the second time of gates had been lifted from their hinges and laid one on each side of the hole A third time timo he dived and this time was so long beneath the surface that a dread ad came over us lest ho he too should bo be lost under the ice tee but at last after what seemed an age of suspense he was seen to rise once more heip help im done he gasped dr hamlyn kneeling on one of th the g his uplifted hand strong arms were quickly outstretched to help him hm wo ro no philiip phillip first he exclaimed andee and we found that he held in his bis failing jailing grasp under dr Ham lyns lyna directions they were both hoth though with difficulty lifted out and laid upon the bank sir was to all ap earthly help and a terrible fear came over us that uncle dick who was waa now sacrificed his own life to no purpose never were words more welcome than dr Ham lyns assurance that he had only fainted glye give him some brandy some of you and rub hla hia hands and fe feet e t eager bands volunteered for the service but almost ere they could begin their task he opened hi his eyes and gazed around ali ah I 1 remember now but where la Is philip andy ands and shaking himself like a newfoundland dog he rose unassisted to his feet sir philip lay jay on the ground afew a few feet oft white and lifeless hs hiis daugh gaugh daughter ter wee pinon her knees b beside P delbina del him bira uncle dick raised her with infinite tenderness ender liess riess I 1 nam anay nay dont weep pretty one by gods goda help well win him baek back to life yet now lads lend a helping hhand hand doctor bring him to my pi place ace if it is a good deal nearer than his own owa house and minutes are precious just now under the doc doctors tors guidance coats and rugs were laid upon one of cof the gates and on this rude couch the allent client form was borne up to the lodge uncle dick diek himself led jed edith tenderly patting the little hand which lay upon his bis arm aad whispering cheery words of hope and comfort quickly we reached the lodge and the good doctor at once commenced the sf ruggle struggle with the grim destroyer for moret more than tian an hour the household i ho lowas was hushed bushed in an awful quietness each hardly daring to speak above a whisper till that tremendous question should be decided afis Is it fife life or death acor edith eat weeping apart each moment adding to her apprehension while howard almost equally distressed endeavored to console her at last after what seemed an age of agonizing dread the door opened and uncle dick came forth and went straight to edith I 1 aoa bod la ia good to us my child your father will live edith threw herself sobbing ing on his breast IQ Q mr how can 1 ever thank you for your noble genesus ejr i when im dryer my dear if you dont donl mind putting it off alit allt a little littie JL L begin to realize that im slightly damp and I 1 think it might be as well to put on a few dry clothes you shall ahall tell me about it at dinner my child and gently touching her forehead with his bis lips be madenis made his escape meanwhile the rescued man had bad given to tb the experienced eye of the doctor the welcome promise of eife there waa still much to do to win him back to coris conscious clous cious exis existence terice still the resources of skill and science salt nce were applied with unremitting energy and after a while the watchers were rewarded by ghe the patient opening his eyes and saying in a fdez feeble feebie lei lel voice dick dear wheres dieh dierl I 1 want to speak to jick k what took place at that inter view between the two old friends eo so long severed none know save themE themselves elves but when some bours houri later wo we gathered round the well board and his daughter sat on either hand of hl his generous host and surely such a dinner was never chronicled pen and ink would fall fail me to tell how the tho two ancient friends warmed into youth again under the sunshine of love renewed vied with each other who should best recall the memory of youthful pranks andi and geniel recollections of happy boyl boyi boyish sh days and how hoy uncle dick sitting with edithb edithh little hand in his and stroking her silken hair told her what a gay young dog her father was wag in those merry days and sir air phillip not to be behindhand recounted daring exploits and hairbreadth breadth of which uncle dick had been the hero cousin howard seated on the other side of edith artfully got possession of her disengaged hand and how their respective fathers cheerily smiled approval and an d I 1 how as all too soon the clock struck twelve richard stood at lood food up and hand in hand with his old friendt rolled out in a deep rich voice the good old song of auld lang syne byne should old acquaintance be lie forgot and ard never nover brought to mw mia should old acquaintance be foredt in days 0 0 auld lang byne eyne and how when the bong was ended dear old parson Pen kentreal treal th always an honored guest at this christmas festival folded his hla hand hands s and with tears in his hia happy eyes said for these and all his other mercies god give us grateful hearts and with all our hearts we said baid amen london society |
