The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-02-23
From BALLoU's MAGAZINE.
T RANK II ARL A N D;
OR,
TEE BAEKER's SAFE.
BY FRANCIS A. DURIvAGE.

niVuuh VI NoNohD0i ClOseu over Jne Sreal
city Of London, that wondrous microcosm,
and wrapped alike palace and hovel, park
and square, temple and warehouse, in its
heDy folds. The awnings tapped and
ratified in the blast, the swinging signs,
creaked upon their irons, the trees in the
open squares groaned in the surging
breeze, and the tlaring street lamps were
reflected in wavering lines in the pools Of
water that collected fast beneath the rain
that descended in sheets rather than in
drops. -faf
In a wretehedly furnished chamber in a
crazy old tenement that stood by the help
of abutting buildings, in one of those
narrow streets that run at right angles
with the Thames, sat wan, wasted old
man, in leathern- backed arm chair, cow
ering over the pale and struggling flames
of a scanty sea-coal fire. A candle burn
ed dimly on a light-stand by his side, and
thereon an empty phial, spoon and a cup,
still savoring of some nauseous mixture,
indicated, together with the aspect of the
shivering old man, that he was a confirm
ed invalid. 1 '
A counterpane and blanket spread up
on the floor, a cot-bed, two or three chairs
some cooking utensils, a rack containing
an incomplete SET of locksmith's tools,
composed the entire furniture of the wretch
ed room. Within the forlorn apartment
all was silent and melancholy; bus min
Cling with the dash of the rain on the
window, and the roar of the storm with
+ out, rose the hoarse tones of rough bac-
chanalian chorus and the jingling of cans
and glasses that proceeded from party Of
jewellers in the room without
The clock of a neighboring church tow
or struck the hour of twelve. AS the Vi
brations were dying on the air, the door
of the room op ned, aad faint smile lit
up the countenance of the invalid, as his
eyes rested on the face Of a young man Of
twenty five, a handsome frank face, tho
traces of care and illness were stamped
upon the features.
The newcomer wore his left arm in a
sling He tossed aside his dripping fell
hat and a rough fiicze coat that he wore
AS cloak buttoned round his throat, and
advanced to the fireplace.
My dear father he said, inan anxious
tone. How do you feel now?'
Much as usual, Frank replied the in
valid. Life within me is like yondel
fame, It burns low, with an occasiona
flicker, but there is little warmth in it,
You viii be better by and-by; sir. Ha
the doctor been here?'
Yes, he came here aboutan hour since.
God bless him for his care Of you! Die
he leave anything?'
lie had no medicine with him, Frank,
replied the old man. But he left pre-
scription, and the invalid pointed to {
scrap ofpaper lying on the table. He
was very anxious | should take this to-
night But it is too stormy for you to &C
. again, Frank-I dare say it will do quite
as well tomorrow t
4 care not for the Storm, answered
o Frank Bedford, with an expression Of pain
aud trouble, but
He left the sentence incomplete, and ri
sing, paced The room toand fro, with iIreg.
ular and irresolute steps.
-.5 'Hullo what's the matter, Frank?' said
rough voice--and burly, in-favored
parsonage made his way into the room
He was a young man, but dissipation had
done the work Of years upon his face
There was lines upon his brow and at the
r corners of his face, which was deadly
pale, though the eyes were b'oodshot, anc
the lips red and swollen.
Hush don't speak so loud Masters
my father has just sunk into a doze, How
came you up so lateP
why l lay abed till twelve, you see,
/. answered the new-comer. 'And then I'v
been having jolly time with the old Sc
below. Why the deuce didn't YOU joil
us?' r,.a y 34. oS
you know very well jack replief
Bedford, that have no taste for such so
ID ciety EVENT. your comrades were NOR
reputable, do you think / could enjoy, ou
70 of employmentas as / am, with this unfor
tunate lame arm, and my father requirin!
SO much care| 90
9 ui YWhat have you been. about to-day?
a pursued Masters. 5a f
1'vo been seeking for work. can al
ford to be idle no longer " W.
i. 'The doctor. said you musn't use you
hand
4 can't help it, necessity says other
, wise.' s-l ioeys ri 'Qcl 80 eg1,s5
..a 1T was your own fault your arm wa
injured, 1t was mighty Quixotic dee
4, to fling yourself before pair Of fiery hol
ses that were running away, merely be
cause paintedaristotra6cs dollin the cal
ariage wassin danger Of having its prett
neck broke a.rgssl jf.,ste
Il merely obeyed the impulse of my ns
Q ture. replied Bedford, calmly. Il did m
a duty and no more. You would have don
! the same. s ,fT
Not T. replied Masters, with a sneel
ing laugh. Ishould have stood back an
let the horses run. 1t would have bee
but one aristocrat less in the world. Bu
you were always sort of gentlen en- i
your feelings. Quite above your fellows
I II was like you, too. never to answer tha
advertisement in the Times, which state
that If the person who saved the life Of
young lady in such street on sucla day
, would address Y. Z. z, he would hear {
something to his advantage.
.vs6teI scorpedito accept . reward fora Sc,