A Mason's Story.

tomed . However , I propose that our first stoppage shall be , when we leave England , in Italy , so that we may be able to visit the Alpine regions , as I wish to take one or two sketches . Talking about sketches , though , " continued Lord Anglesea , " are you fond of the fine arts ?" "Fond , so far as viewing a good picture is concerned , my lord , " was the l" but if you asked me whether I could draw oneand colour itI should

repy , , , be obliged to plead ' not guilty . ' One branch of fine arts which I am partial to is photography . I could look at photographic scenery all day long . To me it seems a truer delineation of what a landscape really is than a painting . " " That being so , I can introduce you to a gentleman in the town who is an enthusiast in the art , a Mr . Charles Flowerby . He is somewhat peculiar ; I expect you will have to visit him somewhat often , as he supplies me with

books and papers . Any papers or magazines you would like for yourself , you are perfectly at liberty to order from him , to my account . He will , " continued his lordship , drowning Penrhyn ' s thanks , " give you any amount of matter to talk about on photography , as he has a perfect mania for it . Every Sunday he , in company with one of his friends , tramps up and down the neighbourhood taking views . " Talking thus , they arrived at the " Moat , " as Lord Anglesea ' s house was called . It was

A castellated , antique edifice . # # # * Its massiveness and grandeur , and repose An architectural Eden did disclose . Round and about the hall , stretching over undulating grounds , waving and rocking in the breezelike a restless searose gigantic oaks and fir treesand

, , , the wind whistled gently through their leafless branches , making a music like the soft sighing of iEolian harps in mid air . Penrhyn was met at the door by the stately old butler , who , having been in the family for the last fifty years , was deeply impressed with a sense of his own importance , and the obligation which rested upon him to uphold the dignity of the familyas well as his own . He showed Penrhyn to his room .

, After having made the necessary changes in his attire , Penrhyn repaired to the library , which he found stored with some of the most rare and learned tomes that ever delig hted the heart of a bibliomaniac . Here he spent his time until the dinner-bell rang , when he was joined by Lord Anglesea . After dinner he wandered out into the park , which , as I have before said , surrounded the house ; but the cold was so intense that it soon drove him indoors again .

When Penrhyn had been at the Moat a few weeks , Lord Anglesea fell ill , and the proposed journey had to be postponed for a time . In the absence of anything better , Penrhyn sought out the gentleman I have before mentioned —Mr . Flowerby . Mr . Flowerby was a dapper looking little man , who jumped and rollicked about as if he had some hidden machinery , or springs , in his inside . When

Penrhyn first made his acquaintance he was running- across the street in a state of great excitement , gesticulating vehemently , after his dog , which had by some means got out of its kennel , and was roaming the streets . It was some time before the dog was safely caught ; but by his own exertions , and those of his factotum—a dirty looking errand boy , with an immense cabbage rose in his coat —Stumpy was at last secured and led triumphantly away . AhFlowerbyon

, y , mig ht have an eccentric exterior ; all clever men have , but your heart was good and true . Would to God that there was-as much love from man to man as existed between you and Stumpy . I verily believe you could not live without each other . When the dog episode was concluded , Penrhyn approached Mr . Flowerby ( and presented his note of introduction from Lord Anglesea .