Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 February 1894 — Page 11

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 7, 1S94-TWELVEPAT5ES:

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It had been an eloquent fcrtnon; the bishop had Yn at his bct- That was tin? general feeling. At the informal meeting which was held in the dean's parlor, the morning after, this feeling was strongly expressed. "If," paid Mr. Dean, "words can make im-n temperate, then surely the words which we were privileged to liar proceeding from the ijjili.it in our belovd cathedral yesterday afternoon must have carrier! conviction to many an erring soul." Sr said all of them. Canon Gorw, In particular, felt lound to say that he had lizard many temperance sermons In hl time, hut never one which had impressed liir.i more strongly than he one which tho bishop had d'd'vered yesterday to the clerical ami lay workers in t!t raus of total alrsthience. When the canon mad- this outspoken declaration, fTry parson in the room and pveiy man of th-Mit hal preached temperance sermons in Iiis tin so th; y ought to have been judges exelairr.ol, -irpr. Tlar!" Perhaps th enthusiasm was rendered greater hy th" fact that, until quite lately, the bishop had :--aro'ly been a stalwart. Always on tlm side of temperance oh ye, certainly that hut on th rtivestion, the vital question, of total abstinence his views had searcely been so pronounced as soi:i of his admirers, both clerical and lay, w 014M have wished. Indeed, it was understood that the bishop himself favored a good glass of wine at times. In fu't, it was reJorCd that hp was even esteemed a c-on-r'i.siir in Hi-" tuitt r of certain Spanish win"5! which arc nowadays esteonvd old-faslii-.n-'d. That this should have been s was, in a ete;-r'e, unfortunate; 1tause how could t-.M'totalism. as a propaganda, a-iiinc those diiirnsions whict, were in every way desirable in a diot:-e the bishop of which, as it was well known, hiins'df looked with a by jio means unloving ye on th" wine wt -n it is red! Wh--... thereo-rc, it was :,mthat, if only for example's sake, th" bis?,.; woi, Id l'.em forward sh)uvthe spirit v. hi' i man s universal c-urse. it ws feu, H:id i;h'iy f It, that a victory h?d bem u-n. That victory had, so to sp a!, b--"i! consummated vy the bishop's sermon in the rath dra! yesterday, ii: which lit; had d da red himself a teetotaler, on the si! of K-etotal?.. and williiijr, nay, ajixlmis, to stand in their I'orcfront and to lead the van. 'One thine," observed Canon iorso, "wins plain that is. that we. now shall l on safe ground in refusing to renew the I.;!..e ..f 'The Hove aild OoWll.' f t'cat. tli.tiik goodness!" A:-, in the reverend canon seemed but to give voii e to the i iaion of all who lizard him. This question of "The lb.se and tVcwn" has been as a. tl.oru in the side of the cathedral chapter. "The Kese and frown" w as an inn which actually face.! the do..-- be means of w hieh the choir and officiating clergy were wont to pain .idmittaia to the saered edln.-. s.nl talcs were told of it: of how quart of stout and such like obnoxious Pulls had bee.i seit in from "The Kof and Crown" to the ch"irmen whi!e they had actually been engaged In practice, and other dreadful stories. The lease of the inn was running out. The landlord one (Jeorge I'.ouitc-r desired its renewal. The house, and the ground upon whkh it snwl, was the property of the cathedral chapter. Mr. I'.oulter had already leen privately notified that, in all probability, his k-ase would not be renewed. It was the defire of the chapter that the house should be transformed into a church institute. The only factor which might upon this point breed dissention had hitherto been the bishop. Hut now, as the bishop himself had signed the pledge, it seemed plain that, as Canon ti'orse hai observed, the scant'al of a number of clergymen owning a public house would be put an end to. The canon had scarcely uttered his remark when the library door opened and a servant entering, advanced to Mr. Dean. "Mr. Boulter, Kir, Mays he wishes to fee you most particular." "Mr. Tloulter!" exclaimed the 1 -an. The man himself, the landlord of "The Kose and Crown." The dean reflected, lie rubbed his nose with his glasses. "What is it that Mr. Boulter can wish to Bay to me? Hovver, 1 will see him. Tell him so." The servant vanished. The dean turned to the assembled clergmen. "It is, perhaps. Just as well that I should see the man at once and let him know clearly what our position Is." "Exactly," said Canon Gorse. "Let him understand that plainly. Jt will not only be fair to ourselves, but it will also be fair to the man." Mr. Boulter was a portly prison : his countenance was ruddy; In manner he was affable. lie was. all over, mine hoot of the Inn; a type of Boniface which. If we may believe the chroniclers, used to abound, but which, under the present advance of the teetotal forces. Is. we will say fortunately, becoming extinct. He reverenced a gentleman, but a.hove all things he reverenced the cloth. Iii motto as a boy had been "Church and crown," but in these latter days he had begun to fear that ixith 'church and crown were on the side of the enemy. "Mr. Boulter," observed the dean, as he entered the room in which that gentleman wan waiting, "I am pressed for time. Indeed, I have a meeting in the library. I must therefore ask you to tell me in a.s few words as possible what it Is you wUh to fay." Mr. Boulter turned the bum of his hat round and round in his hancLs. "It is about the lase, Mr. Dean." "I thought so. I may well lie brief with you, and clear. You may take mv word for it that the lease will not be renewed, and that, in short, Th Kose and Crown will cease to be an inn." "I think not, Mr. Dean." "You think not, Mr. Boulter! May I ask what you m-an".'" There was something in the tone in Which Mr. Boulter said that he thought not which the uean did not understand. He stared at Mr. Boulter with ditrnlned j-urptri.se. Mr. Boulter actually smiled. "I think that 'The J'ose and Crown' will continue to 1 an inn. That is what I meant. Mr. Dean." The dean shrugged, hi.- shoulders. "If you choose to persist in thinking k. in. spite of my assurance to the contrary', that is joiir affair, not mine." The dean turned to go a.s if the interview were already at an end. Mr. Boulter coughed behind his hand. "I should like to have one word with you before yon go." The ekan fa -el round. "Then am I to tell niy tale?" "Your tale? What tale?" "About the buhop, Mr. Dean." "About the bishop?" The .lean looke 1 the innkeeper up ami down. A ague supicion t-roesed hi mind. Already, at this hour of the morning, could the man be drunk? There whs nothing in the fellow beu-1ng to denote anything of the kind. And, indeed, it was matter of common notoriety that. irsonally, the landlord of "The Rope and Crown" was an abstemiotis rnan. But. none the les, there wan at that particular moment ometiin? about Mr. Boulter's manner which the deaji m At a los to understand. "What do you mean by your tale about tb bishop, lr?" F'or a moment or two Mr. Boulter conUnuM to turn Mm hat round and round In his hands, a if he found pome diffirtilty In choor: the exact words in wh1h to frame what he wished to mv. "I understand he hegan at last, "that yterday the Mt?hop preached a Fnrmon upon temperancA." "You understood o'iit rightly. It would have done you good, Mr. Boulter, to have heard that sermon. Had you

done so you would understand howstrong would be the "bishop's opposition to any renewal of tho lease of 'The Ibxse and Crown.' " "Indeed!" Mr. Boulter's tone was dry. "I am not so fuire at' that." The dean stared. . The man's manner was so very odd. "Be so good. Mr. Boulter, as to sayplainly what it is you mean." "I don't know what you thtnk, sdr, of a bishop who 'eorru?s straight from preaching a sermon on temperance into my public house." "Mr. Boulter!" "It's no good your looking at me like that. sir. 1 va surprised. I don't mind owning IL. But just let me tell my tale." The dean let. him tell his tale. "Yesterday afternoon I was standing at my private door, looking out into the street, it whji getting dusk. The service in the cathodral was over, and I thought that every .one had gone. All of a sudden I saw the little door open which we call the derm's dir. and whl'-h you knowis right i; l front of niy house. Some one came ,it and walked quickly across the streer toward my place. I drew bwk and wer, inside. When I got inside the bar F s.'V.v that there was some one in a little r mpartment which only holds about two comfortably, and which I call a private wine bar. I heard him ak Miss I'aikius. one of my young ladies, if we had tfueh a thing as a glass of good, sonn.', port." Thi ; dean shuddered he scarcely knew why. The fact is that ort was the liqir'id of which the bishop, in his less stawart days, had leen esteemed such an ex. ,.),.ut judKe. "Th compartment in which he was 1 ni "ant for parties who wish to ke-p themselves quite private, it's boarded up on either side and in front of it, facing the bar, is a panel ..f plazed glass set .n a. mahogany frame, with just enough l'o..;,i between it and the counter to pass, say, a giass of wine. If the party inside wants to keep himself to himself it's next to impossible to see hjs face unless you go round by the door in the front. I couldn't see this party's face, but I could ee enough of him to see he was a parson. He a,s short and stout" the bishop was short tiinl stout "and though lv had the collar of his coat turned up, it wasn't turned up enough t- hide the collar of Iiis shirt. Seeing that I bad seen him come out of the dean's own door it) the cathedral, and thai he was a parson, things seemed a little fiuoer. So I a.-k-d Mis Parkins, on the quiet, if she knew who he was. I could see she couldn't altogether make it mi!. She said, although she hadn't seen his face, she seemed to know his voii e. Well, he liked my port. I heard him say so; and I heard him tell Miss Parkins that he was considered as good a jiidsre of port wtne a u-iiy ninn in Kngland." Again the dean was conscious of a shiver. "Anyhow, he drank a bottl of it liefere he went.' "A bottle. Mr. Boulter?" "Yes. sir, a bottle, and one gias over, rdrvrtly he had gone my potman went into the private wine bar for something or other, and as soon as be got ht-n'do h ailed out, 'Hallo! the gentleman's left his bag behind.' And he handed a li tte le-it'.ur bag across the bar. Any gentleman who yad put away a bottle of port wine in ! time that gentleman bad done m!ght forget a trirle i.f a bair like that. It ws a beautiful little b.ir. I had never ecu one unite Hkc it before. It had got stm initit'.s and a crest stamped ofi one side. I np-necl it to se; if there was anything ii side by means of which 1 could identify it. and return It to l!e owner. There was soinetting inside a sermon. I neer saw anything more beautifully written than that sermon it was like copperplate." Once more the dean was conscious of a shudder traveling down his spine. The bishop's beautiful caligraphv was famous a fair handwriting is nowadays to. rare. "On the front page was written the bishop's name and address in full, and in the top le ft-hand corner was written: 'Preached in the cathedral on the afternoon of the 13th of November, IS?.' That's yesterday afternoon, sir. I've brought that bag with me. You'll find the sermon still inside. Perhaps you know whose bag that is, sir." Mr. Iloulter picked up a small leather bar which had been lyinj? hitherto unnoticed upon a chair and handed it to the astonished dean. The dean did know whose bag it was he knew too well There was no mistaking thoe initials and that ciwt. There was no necesity to examine the sermon which Mr. Boulter assured him was inside. The dean gazed at that excellent example of fln workmanship in the leather bag as If he realized that he had all at once heconio an actor In what might turn out to be a tragedy. Words proceeded from his stammering lips. "You are. I am .ure. too reasonable a man. Mr. Boulter, to jump at impossible conclusions from imperfect premises." 'T don't know what you call 'imperfect premises.' Directly I saw the name and address which was written on the front page of that wrmon, Miss Parkins cried out. 'Why. it was the bishop's voice" She stared at me as if she was going to have a fit and well she might Mlso Parkins is a good girl, as all my young ladl ar and, indeed, everybody else about my place, although I a"y it " Mr. Boulter glared at the dean with eyes which were full of meaning " She never misses a chance of hearing the biFhop preach when she can get one and if therms any one who ought t'. know the bishop s voice it's her It seems to me. begging your pardon", sir that I ought to have a reward for bringing that leather bag back safe ard i'ound." "Certainly, Mr. Boulter. Anv sum in reason you like to mention " "The reward I want Is the renewal of my leas.." mat. as I have already bdd isyou. "Excuse me just one moment, sir You see that?" Taking an envelop ollt of aji inner pocket of his coat Mr BoUl ter nourished it in the dean's face "I've a. boy who lives in Indon. and writer for the papers, a smart chap he is and well respectrtl in his trade. I've written an account of how the bishop preachej a sermon on temperance in the cathedra! a fine sermon It was. I'm told by those who beard it and of how he then walked straight out of the cathedral into my public liouse. and put away a bottle of old port, and got so drunk that he forKot his bag and left it Inhind him. with the sermon which he had just been preaching on temperam-e inside of it That account's in this envelope. I'm going ing to send it to my boy. and I'm gointo tell him to turn it into money; and I'll lay you what odds ycu please although I'm no more a betting man than you are that before a week is over, the tale will be told in every pax-r in Englandah! and known all the world over. You're going to take away my living My grandfather kept 'The amj Crown decent, my father kept it decent, and I've k pt it decent; there's never been even so much a.s a shadow of a complaint made against me by the police, nor by no one. And yet you cathedrai gentlemen have taken a sudden fad into your heads, and you're going to ruin me Very well, ruin me! You think you're going to do good to the cause of temperance by shutting up 'The Kose and rown." What harm do you suppose will b done to the cause of temperance by tha.t tale being told, a they do tll that ort of tale nowaday, In all the newspapers of tho world? I gl) the cause of temperance will not get over that tale for yean it will be always being told. At the very least, if I do have to go i will take care that somebody else goes with me. Now which is it to be am I to have my leaae renewed, or am I to post this envelope?" The dean hesitated. "In any case, aa you must be aware, Mr. Boulter, the matter is not one which can be derided on the ppur of the moment; the decision Is not with me." "l"ndertand me. rdr. If I go away from here without a promise of renewal. I post this letter. I know aa well as you

know that in tin whole business your voice will be the ruling voice. You give me a bit of writing in which you undrtak to do your best to get my lease renewed, and I will give you this envelope, with what's Inside. And I will give you my promise never to breathe a word that the bishop ever so much as came near my place. As for Miss Parkins. T know she won't speak unless she's forced. She's a religious girl; she thinks a lot of the bishop, and she's too much shocked at the whole affair. I never saw a girl so upset. Now, which is it to be?" The dean still hesitated with sufficient cause. "What term of renewal would you require?" "The last lease was for ninety-nine years, and I want this lease to be for ninety-nine." "Ninety-nine years. Mr. Boulter?" Mr. .Boulter did not get a promise of renewal for ninetv-nine years, or anything like it. but he did get "a bit of writing." WPh that "bit of writing" in a secure division of his plethoric pocketbook he went away. The dean was left to his reflections. The leather bag he held in one hand, the envelope; which the landlord of "The Rose and Crown" had given him he hid in the other. Putting down the bag. he tore the envelope into halves. then into cpiarters. and crossing the room he dropped the fragments in the fire, which burned brightly in the grate. "TeTtit le; terrible!" This he said as he watched the pieces of paper being consumed by the flames. Then he seemed to endeavor to pull himself together. "Well. I shall have to tell them. 1 must give reasons for the thing which I have done. The tale will have to travel so far. but" the dean pressed bis l'ds together; few men's countenances were caiable of assuming a severer aspect

than lean Bet Ufer s "I will make it my especial no fa it her." business to see that it goes He still seemed to hoitäte before returning to the apartment. in which his colleagues were awaiting him. "1 must say that I never thought it of him. 1 have been aUays conscious that In his lalitudinaria:dsm there was a certain clement H" danger. But I never dreamed that he was capable of such a thing as this no. never!" It was with a distinctly unsatisfactory look upon his face that he made his reappearance in the little impromptu meeting. The criminatory leader bag he carried in his K-ft hand. It is not impossible that those who were present became immediately conscious that with the dean, since they had s -en him last, all things had not gn well. T.ie hu.7. of conversation, w'uch had bee:i audible as he opened the door, ceased upon his entrance, as though something in his bearing acted as a da mi er. The somewhat awkward silence was biokeii by t'apon Curse. "Well, was Bou'ter troublesome?" The cban laid the bag in front of him ujwin the table. "He was." TT.. dean rarefnlly v. ipel his glasr.es. There was a suggestion of Urions expectation in the eyes which wei-e fixed upon him. Their owners already perrivc-d that there was Homething in the air. Was it possible that the landlord of "The Kose and Crown" h:.d behaved in the manner which, in the estimation of some persons, is jv natur;:l characteristic of individuals of his ola.-a. and had been guilty of actual violence in the pa -red inrectnets of the deanery? "lie as troublesome in a sense for which, on this eweaston, I will simply say that I was unprepared: and to such a degree that 1 have given him what amounts to a virtual undertaking that his lease shall be renewed." This was evidently not toe sort of thing for which his listeners had been waiting :.' could see it by their faces. Some of them charged color, and some of their jaws dropped ojk-u. Canon Coive stared at the shaker, as if he found it dillicult to believe that his own ears were capable of fulliliing their normal functions. " IV t Ufer, impossible!" IVTceivingth.it the word might s. em too strong. h amend -d it. "That is to say, how do you mean?" The dean leaned over the table. His attitude, inded his whole manner, suggested severity tempered by sorrow. "Before I say anything further 1 wish to have an understanding with all of you that not one weed of what I am altout to utter will be breathed by any on of you to any creature living ard by that I mean neither to your wives, nor to your daughters, nor to any rnenilor of your households thai it will le received as though it came to you under the seal of the confessional." There was silence. "If any one feels himself, fur any cause whatever, unable to give such a pledge, th-n I must respectfully ask that person at or.ee to withdraw." No one did withdraw. No one said either aye or nay. So it may be supposed that th? pledge which th-? dean required was unanimously given. That the. dean understood that to be the cvos was eUdent. He held up the little leather bag in front of him as if it were some dreadful thing. "This bag the bishop's our beloved bishop's bag. 1 know it, of my own knowledge, to be the bag which lie had with him in the cathedral ye-sterday afternoon. It still contains the MS. of the scrraon which the bishop preached, and which we all rejoiced to hear. ThiK bag hai. just been brought to me by the landlord of 'The Hose find Crown.' It was left, unintentionally left, on his premises by a pnon who, at the close ef yesterday afternoon's serviev, went out of the dean's door of the cathedral into one of Air. Boulter's private bars, and there and then consumed a bottle of port wine." The dean ceased. There again was silenoe there well might be. The dean afeüin went em: "A fon of Mr. Boulter's is engaged on one of those Hc-unilous journals which Hie called society papers. Mr. Boulter proposed to send this story up tu his son to print. On the understanding tlutt the matter shall be confined to his own breast, I have deemed it wisdom to give him. as I have said, what virtually aniounts to an undertaking that his lease shall be renewed. That is all I have to say. You will feel with me that it is too much. May 1 ask you not li speak of this matur even among yourselves, but, as I shall do, to do your best to blot it from your minds? Let us. if we can, folget that this thing has ever len. And U"v, with your ierniissioii, I will wish you all good-day." They went like a flock of sheep, although liiere was almost a suspicion of jtathos in the manner of the parting. When they were gone the dean set himself to jM-rform a task of the exceeding delicacy of which, to say the least, he was lully conscious. He was not a man to palter with what he deemed his duty. He was certainly no, a man to shrink from doing a thing merely because the thing was cisagreeable. Therefore, .scarcely had the la.st of his colleagues turnHl his back cm the deanery than lie put the little leather bag Into a larger bag, and, with that larger bag grasj-d lirmly in his hand, ho strode off to the palace. He was going to make it his business to see that, without any further unnecessary loss of time, the bishop came into what was, undoubted;.-, his own again. He found his lordship in the library. The bishop was dictating to his secretary, the Bev. John Budgen. Tine secretary was seated at a table; the bishop took his ease in a capacious arm-chair. As the dean entered, his lordship greeted him with that genial heartinetss for which the bishop of Boundersville is fanvd. Not a,trace of guilty consciou5nes.s about him anywhere not a trace! It was with a sort of shock that the dean noticed that there was nothing of the kind. "How do, Pettifer? I'm doing what I call my morning task of stone-breaking writing letters by proxy, to a lot of people who have more time on their hands than they know what to do with, and who, therefore, insist upon wasting mln Anything particular to say to me?" The dean waf, perhaps. tro refined the thing Is possible. lie was not only a fine scholar, he wp' a flue gentleman, lie was of opinion that dignitaries, and partic ularly all dignitarief nf th? church, fdiould have the standard of manners which was peculiarly his own. Th bishops heartiness, his rough-and-ready

methods of expression, had always grated on his high-strung sensibilities; especially did they grate Just then. "I am bound to state, my lord, that what I have to aay to you is of the first importance." The bishop looked at him at little quizzically. Possibly the dean's exaggerated preciseness appealed to a sense which there is no reason why even a bishop should be without. "Kxcuse me, Budgen. I il ring when I'm ready." The secretary withdrew. "Now. Pettifer, fire away. Who killed the cat, and which cf-t's been killed?" Such a fashion of speech waa actually offensive to the dean. Perhaps the spirit of mischief still lingered in the bishop's breast; perhaps at times the bishop found the dean almost as trying as the dean found him. Under the circumstances, such a bearing -on the part of the bishop shocked the dean almost into speechlessness. He gazed at his Fpiritual superior in a manner which, unless he was mistaken made his lordrhip wince. "Has your lordship not missed 5"our lordship's sermon-bag?" At the question his lordship plainly Started. "My sermon-bag, Pettifer? What do you mean?" ".My lord. I mean what I say." The lordship was perturbed. Rising from his chair, he began to fidget about the room. "Why do you ask?" "Becpuse it has been returned to me." "Returned to you no!" "Yes. my lord: I have it here." The dean produced the little bag from in?ide the larger one. He held It up in front of him as he had held It up In front of him at the Impromptu meeting at the deanery. "I will not ask how it came to stray from your lordship's keeping." The bishop looked at the dean; the dean looked straight at him. It was evident that his lordship was not completely at bis en,e. "I perceive that you have heard the story." "I regret, my lord, to say that I have." The bishop plainly flushed; perhaps he found the dein's tone and manner slightly galling. "Perhaps it was not quite the thing to do, but" his lordship shrugaed his shoulders "wh.it dees it matter?" The dean, in turn, winc ed. "What does it matter, my lord? Surely your lordship knows that it matters?" "How did the bag come Into your possession, Pettifer?" "It was brought to me by Mr. I'.oulter. the landlord of 'The Boso and Crown. " "Boulter! 'The Kose and Crown! No, by Ceorge!" His lordship said. "By ffeorge!" and as he said it the dean shrank back as if he had received a blow. "Mr. Boulter, as the price of his silence, extracted from me a promire that his lease should be renewed." The bishop woke up. He showed more alertness than he had hitherto displayed. "Ycu promised him lhat his lease should be renewed the lease of 'The Ip se and Crown?' " "I did. I thought it better that T should do so than that such a story should be told." "Story? What story?" The dean. I h' fore he answered. Indulged himself with a pause for consideration. "My lord, if any word which I may utter seems lacking in respect, as coming from me to you. I entreat your pardon. My lord, when I heard that, after preaching a sermon, and so grand a sermon, upon total abstinence, you passed straight from the cathedral pulpit to the bar of a common public-house, and there drank su large a ciuantity of wine that, in the temporär?" forgetfulness. which it occasioned, you left the sermon itself In-hind you in the bar. I felt that it were better that I should promise almost anythinrr than that such a story should be told." .As be listened th bishop's countenance underwent a variety of changes. When the dean had finished the bishop dropped into a chair, and laughed. Not a genteel simper, but a loud and long guffaw. The cban felt that he could not endure such levity, even from a bisheip his own bishop, too. "My lord, in such a matter you may see occasion for merriment, but if you c ould have seen, at the deanery, the faces of the oathodial clergy as I told to them this story " "Pettifer. what do you mean?" Springing to hi.s feet, the bishop grasped the speaker by the arm. The dean was startled "I say. If you could only have seen their faces " "lo you mean to say that you have told this story to ar.y one?" "I was constrained to state my reasons for giviner such a promise to the landlord of 'The Kose and Crown.' " "I hardly know if 1 ought not to strike you. Arthur Pettifer." "My lcrrd!" "I hardly know if T ought not to pillory you in the market place, and so compel you to do penance for your slanderous tongue. I have long been conacious of a certain Pharisaical narrowness in your mental and in your moral outlook. 1 have seen in you What has seemed to me a hideous tendency to think the worst both of women and of men. But I never thought yru capable of such gross obliquity of Judgment as you yourself appear now to own to. Is It possible that you believed that such a story as you have told me could lie true?" The dean had turned quite pale. He seemed to speak beneath his breath. "Is it possible that Boulter lied?" "Is it possible, Arthur Pettifer, that you could belt eve that I I. Ralph Ingall, with whos life's history you are as well acquainted almost as myself could so perjure myse-lf that, as God's minister, in God's house, I could pledge myself never again to let alcohol pass my lips in any shape or form, and that then, with that pledge tili wann upon my lips. I could pass straight into a pothouse, and stupefy myself with wine?" "Was it was it Budgen, then?" "Budgen? Budgen? Pettifer, this is worse and worse! You know that liudgen has never touched a drop of alcoholic stimulant since the day that he was born. I will tell you the story of that bag so far as I know it my&elf. And I will see that your promise to tiie man Boulter is kept, both In the spirit aiul the letter. 1 will place It upon you, as an enduring penance, that for the continued existence of his drink shop vou, and you alone, shall be responsible." The dean was silent. He seemed to totter as a man who received a crushing blow. The bishop paced up and down the room. lake an accusing spirit possessed of a tcdenible corporation he pouml out upon the dean a curious, correct and circumstantial history of the adventures of his sermon-bag. "There was a man at my. liege whose name I need not mention. We were ordained together. I will put it gently, and will say that he did not take full advantage of his opportunities. I believe that, for some time now, he has ceased to exercise his clerical office. He has become a reporter for the (the bi.hop named a. paper which all goexl ehurchmen are supiosed to read) and he came to me yesterelay afternoon into the vestry after 1 had done my sermon, possibly you may have seen him there. He told me that he had comer down from town specially to report my sermon. According to him the train had been late, and he only arrived in time to hear a part. He asked me if I would let him see my notes. On the spur of the moment I handed h'm my bag with the sermon in it. I told him that he might make what he expressed a desire to make, a verbatim copy, and that he was then to return to me my property. I felt Immediately afterward that I had, perhapa. not done the wisest possible thing. , But it was then too late. After the story you have teld me, what he did with the bag and sermon I ran guess." While the bishop was still speaking a servant appeared at the door. "My lord, a perwon I believe a clergyman desires me to Inform your lordship that he wishes to see you at once upon very pressing business." "Yes, my lord: that is so." The scandalized servant turned to find ,that the person alluded to had. uninvited, found his way tnto the bishop's presence. The bishop recognized his visitor; he plgolned the same to the servant who had not shown him in. The visitor in question was an indi

vidual of somewhat doubtful appearance. He looked half cleric, half layman. He was short and stout, and so far resembled the bishop, but the resemblance went no further. The bishop, taking jossession of the little leather bag which the dean etill retained, held it out to the newcomer. "Well, sir, have you come to make another copy of my sermon? As you ier-e-eive. it has been returned to me, but not by you." The stranger wiied his brow. He seemed more than a tritle embarrassed. "I regret to say that I have not yet taken a copy of it. my lord. The fact is, my lord, that, as I told you yesterday, I left town without having lunched, and after leaving your lordship in the cathedral I felt so exhausted that I just stepped acrot-s the road to take a glass of Wine " "Quite so, sir. I understand too well. Since my sermon upon temperance has once been returned by the landlord of a tavern. I do not think that I care to run the risk of its reaching me by means of a similar channel a second time. So far as yeu are concerned, sir, my sermon must go unreported." The bishop rang the bell. The servant J'eapioa:vd. "Dawes, show this gentleman out." The gentleman was shown out, though it seemed, from his manner, that, there Uli was something which he would have wished to say. When lie had gone the bishop placed th" little leather bag upon the table. He turned to the dean. He looked at him. and he said, more in sorrow than in anger: "Pettifer. how long does it take you to know a man?" The Cornhill.

AvTi:n to m: Acrnr.ss. Slace Ksperienee of a UriRlit cw Bugliinil ;irl. This Is th ? story of the experience of a country girl who wanted to be an actress. It is in her own words, as she uttered them the either day to a Boston Globe man. "I quite agree," said she, with the old quaker's sentiment that 'Every one is very queer except thee and me, and sometime's I think even thou art a little queer,' but I would e., farther and make no exception of myself. It has always seemed to nie that to be just as queer as one wished would bo the hlght of luxury, and when asked my idea of happiness I have always replied. "A little money and never to remain more than six months at one place." Strange sentiment for a girl of twentyone, though true, nevertheless; but, as my favorite author says. "That does not belong to this story," for I have started to tell some of the discouragements we I" or girls encounter in trying to become actresses. For five years an agony ef dramatic passion has wound itself around my heart, but niy home being with a very pious and ld-fnhioned aunt, the cultivation of such an art has been attendel with well, to say the least, much diiliculty. With what artistic and varied excuses have I slipped off to Boston! How many times have I run down the broad and commodious (?) thoroughfares of Brston in endeavors fgenrally successful) to board certain outgoing trains all for th" sake of an hour's lesson with si me retired actor or ex-stage manager, the emotions of e'amille, Frou Frou. Pauline, still throbbing- in my breast, lending excitement to the chase! .So far all my efforts and struggles seemed to mec t with no reward. Visions of a barnstorming company flitted through my dreams and only a small remnant of f. rally pride restrained me from making the? vision a reality. I had heard a ceru::i c ritic whose advice and opinion I tcU confident would be of the greatest Ufe to me. Indeed, it then appeared to me th;.t if T only could bo allowed to recite before him my future would, at least, be started. So two weeks before Christmas I wrote a meek little note, humbly intimating that I would like his judgment of my ability in the dramatic line. Days passed before the answer came, but In lh- meantime I had awakened to the fact that in my devotion b art my wardrobe had suffered, and an inspection plainly shcoved that I bad no suitable gown in whic h to c lothe my talents when I should make my bow befoio the great one. I r.ni a girl of resources, but not of means. I busily se-t about making a costume which should not appear provincial in the great city. In my absorbing 'anxiety as to the sweep of my bell skirt, and in the fear that my sleeves would not contain the requisite amount of cloth, I half forgot the pex'i creatures whose emotions I was to portray. My genius In dressmaking is always properly rewarded. The gown was certainly of the smartest, and with a new hat and fresh gloves I felt that I could rise superior to my last winter's coa t. Still the answer to my note failed to apiear. Finally It was handed to me from the wintiow of our country rosteifftce by the smiling mistress of the mail. With an eager hur.d I grasped it. and. hurryinjr into the house and upstah-s to my room. I tore it open, and to niy joy the opeming words appointed a meeting but when? On the following Monday at A :?.). Now Monday was a holittay, a sort of postponed Christmas. How cmld f fcet away? Too late to telegraph but fail to appear? Never: 1 cannot recall my exact excuses for my absence, hut on Sunday I started, ostensibly on a visit to ii Intimate friend. It was snowing, so the splendor of my co.-tuine whs enveloped in a mackintosh. Will I ever forget my early start the following morning for my friends house? A walk of a mile with the mercury at zero, the train of my gown to hold up and an umbrella and Lag to carry! When seated In the drawing-room ear, bound for Bston, a Dramatic News In my hand, the play books of "CamiHe." etc.. in my lap, from which I continually refreshed my memory, I incited tlie extreme curiosity of four sedate and extremely proper yemng ladies who farrounded me. I felt that what had long been a dream began to assume the fc.rm of a r.-ality. Soon the scene was changed fur me by the entrance of two college boys, who occupied chairs opposite mine for a short time. Our frequent glam-es and final adleux were of the greatest interest to my neighbors, and. when on ordering the usual buffet car lunc heon, I supplemented it with a bottlf of champagne, tlit-ir disapprobation knew no bounds. But a spirit of recklessness governed my demeanor all or nothing! One more hour and I stepped on Boston pavements. Sec uring a room at one of the nearest hotels, and with Ji last c url of my blonde locks ami a final rec itation before the mirror. 1 started forth. The whole atmosphere breathed forth the deserted air of a holiday. The street and number were easily found, and in a few moments I sat in the receptionroom awaiting the coming of the dramatic critic. The door opened, and I was in his presence. After numerous preliminary questions he asked me to follow him to the concert hall. As I crossed the threshold the c-old and empty atmosphere of the great place sent a chill of despair to my heart, but at his request I ascended the stage and confidently started off on the lold PIeeches of Mrs. Hternhold in that daring Interview with Hawsley. from that to the woes of my beloved Camille. Alas! her emotions, which had always thrilled my soul before that clay, failed lo manifest themselves in my aiding. Indeed, her tragedies seemed to pall before my own. At. a fancied look of disapproval on the Groat One's fare I hastily change rny traglc role for the audaciously gay one of "lady Gay .spanker." With renewed assurance I beg:an her opening speeches. My lausrh, generally so full and melodious (how many hours 1 had spent in the cultivation of said voeaUstie effec t!) failed me, and only a few faint-hearted

For Horse end

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DO YOU WANT TO KHOW HOW TO SUBDUE THE MOST VI6I0US HORSE?

Hapert fMM lo?e and ptocBoo MILL TEHCH VOU 1. How to train a colt tobe gentle, to ride, handle, follow, to drive in harness, even without breeching. 2. How to prevent and overcome fear: also kicking, running away, haltorpulling, balking, bad to shoe, etc., to tell the age, and a hundred other things of great value to you. This system is based on purely humane and scientific principles, thus avoiding tho cruelty of whipping, beating and jerking, so core men i n the subjection and management of horses. .Such cruelty i3 a manifestation cf ignorance and lack of intelligence as to the true system. " This Book on jht to ?jc Understood fcj Everyone who handles llors." J. I. CASE. "This book contain the most useful information to the owner of the horse that it has ever been my privilege to examine, in any singl volume or work. P. 0. SUTHERLAND, Tres. Mich. State Veterinary Association." "What a vrorkl of trouble, a!sn of life and limb, it would save the millions that handle and drive horses, if they understood your common-sense theory of handling and breaking horses, and should practice it. It ought to be studied and understood by every man that raises or handles horses. J. I. CASE, Owner Jay-Eye-See, Etc. HOW YOU hW OBTAIN THIS VALUABLE WORK. C The entire .Series will be complete m 13 parts, issued w eekly. On receipt of 10 cents we will trll yon Fart 1. Parts 2 to 13 inclusive may be obtained In like m.muer, or ou receipt of 1.25 wo will send you tho entire Seiies as fast as the parts are issued. Oue part to be issued each week, beginning the ürst week in January.

INDIANA STATE SENTINEL:

Inclosed find 10 cents for part one of "Manner's"" Standarel Horse and Stock Book (or 1.15 for the complete series of 13 numbers, as issued). Sond to following address: Name tieet

Town , "ha. ha, has" isiud forth: but I bravelv went on aiul paused not until the ni!ie's hanl was rr.i?e in slsrnal my ti:u was up. A servant, at The door announced the ln-ur. To the many questions I poured forth he only .suid: "I will write you what I decide after thinking- over wltut f hae just heard." With a haMty aoocl-Ly I Wt. my fate outwardly unruled, but deiidd in my own mind. 1 l'elt lhat 1 had failed, but how totally 1 was yet !o learn. The midliiKht exinvfs took home Its usual luimler, but I doubt if it carried a inure 'injected soul than mine. Home was reached, and with out wis id cheerf ulrifsw 1 ivputed the d?l.ils of my allc-ged visit. The days succeeding my return were passed In alte-rnate pHiods of darkest despair and most hopeful coulidence. 1 f persevr-ranee. determination and a willingness to tsjerifk-e all my means to an end aiv any attributes of an aeirefs. 1 certainly deserve a place in the star tanks. On the third day my fateful letter arrived. I read il; you may lead: "My Dear -Madam' 1 sincerely and profoundly hope that caini rerleciioii has made clear to .vou how unwise it would be for yon to make any steps stafrewanl. Your enthusiasm, sirong itality and nervous energy are your sole oiialitications. "Jn voice, ease and hannoniousness of manner and movement nu are very, very lacking. The audience listens Kt reai sympathy and depth cf emotion, of which you have, as yet. but little. "You are at present more theatiical i. e. stagy) than any actress 1 can recall on the boards. "You are absolutely sure of failure In tragic roles. "Don't. I beg. mistake the crude instincts of an admirer of theatrical effect for the inspirations of a lover cd' dramatic art. "I hoie you will think this over seriously and plve some weight to my abi.okite.v disinterested, jo.dsnient." Think! Renounce the sUige forever, ai.d give up my future career. O, heartrending thought! Would yr.u c! it? The Text f Life on Of-erl ll". Mr. T. I. O'Connor sn?j,v(s that were a dozen members of the house o' commons to have to select a man with whom to pass six months alone on a desert island they would all choose Mr. John Morley. Well, 1 should not. A l.d this 1 say without any imputation on Mr. Morley as-a man cf ailed knowledge and agreeable temper. I should take a conservative with the cheerful disposition of Mark Tapley, with u wide conversational More, differing from me upon every conversatioinl subject and possessed of a. Crusoe ability in hnoi-k-Ing up an abtxle, milking- goats. et-. 1 can Imagine nothing nwie l.oiiiide than this eternal- convpanionuhip. This pair would be so sick - of eneli other within three months that each would he almost justified in killing th-s other. And one of the reasons Vw hy I f-hould not relish Mr. Morley for my companion is that if he 1 id not kill me I should probably kill him. Clearly, therefore, mv companion ought to be a conservative. . I oner knew two men who determined to xafs the rest of their lives on a small

Stock Oners,

1 - ä -... :- if 77 -avrvV ti "-777'; j-Aj Sfev;- , v . j? ä iT ' ,1S04. State island j-it outside the . i'f i f .-"pezzia. Keiug rich, tht-y h-d a cooii'or; .tt'le heute buill for t!: iae i s i n ! island ard J started on their Siamese v.in ;,perielif-e, Within a few months they h.id divided the island Into two equal parts. Kach lived on his part v n 1 ! ."'l k- the Other to enter it. Iibou-i,er.-. Johuii)- Joli iiaoii ttrollier Anion, John S. Johnson, the world famous bicyclist and ska l er, has a t -rot her of whom great thii; : re expected. Hi limine Is Anton, atul he resides hi Min neapoli-. An ton is much ycunner than Ids celebrated brother, but he has already shown fat work n the wheel, and his friends belkve that witii a littli more ae and experience he may develop i.do a wheel.'iig phenomenon and a fit stuhle companion for the sp.ir cyclist of the family. Anton is also a skatT of no mean ability, and th" two brothers will be a haul pair to ln;lt oil tile Ke tlie 1'ntllit g winter, l.a.-t e;,r John S. Johnson defeated Champion .be D"iioirhue, and when the i-e is in condition these rivaln for skating honors vvid meet attain. John recently pla . ed to his credit all tfm world's bicycle records from yards to a mile from lxith standioMT and flying statt, and he is in such condition that he will ieU:ic but loth- fairing for the skating contents. Johnson's wonderful wheel records are the fo, lowing: I'lyintj St.uidtrn start. start. One hundred yard.... ' s. 9 1-Ss. cine-eiKliih mile 1- l-'.s. 17 1-f.s. One-third mik : I ;:-. s. r 3-r.s. one-half mile .V.s. ßy 2-1. Two-third mile lm'i'.e Inill. One mile In:.:..", ;!-:"-. lui.öi 1-1.3 A iung M.-ii-Umiiuu. The precocious American boy got la some line work at the Columbian priz shooting match at West I'ulhnan, 111., when c'larein-e 1. Kong, who is ten. years old ami weighs only slxty-flv. pounds, eat :ied one of th souvenir medals by Illing s -venty-Ihe shots without a single gose ec .Master Clarence, whose father i .lohn K. long of Lafayette, Ind., began to develop his talent about a year ago. learning from his father, who is a crack shot. H indulges in fancy shooting of all kinds, such as nipping small dhks from his fathe r's lingers, lighting parlor match'-n and cutting cards held edgewise toward him. He even .shols the j'shes from his father's cigar, and such like fool tricks. ll-i:rnel Urmt. Jjhdy (k" polite lalxirer who has offered her his seat) "O, no! Keep ymir seat, gl! msn; you have Ken wot king hard all elay." Polite lyalmrer s mpa t liet i-al1y "Take it, ma'am. Throe, Oi'vo bin enrryln th' hod all th' da ; but you've noppin'." Puck. rnintrrn. Manufactured gold is said to be worth $1 a pennyweight, and any value In e-css of this represents workmanship. The length of the Nile river, according to Stanley's survey, is mils. Tea was introduced Into Tai rope frort China about the ';.d of the sixteenth century.