The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-03
CONC 10 THE BAD
CONCLUDED.

T had heard what had happened, so
I went out to see him.
"'Jack, he says, I'm off for good.
You must come with me. I've not
treated you well, but you must come. ,
"'Can't on any account, and shant,
says I.
"'Jack, he says, catching hold of
me, I'm half mad already. If you
don't come, I won't answer for what
may happen. By -! I'll kill my
self. just run up with me, and I
swear I'll keep quiet.
"Well, sir, they-that is, my wife
and he-persuaded me between them,
and I promised to see him safe to
town, on condition lie put himself
into his friends hands. You see, he
had two brothers, but they had given
him up, as it were; only there was
sister, and this poor girl comes up to
London, and stays with her aunt, to
see if she can persuade him to go
quietly home to the North with her;
and, thinks I, if I can but see him
off with her from town, I may be
doing some good. So up we went,
and to the Piazza, as usual. That
night and the next morning I kept
him sober, and towards afternoon I
left him asleep. He was to see his
sister at o'clock, and off I goes for
q stroll. First thing I saw when /
got back was hair dresser, a-talking
and laughing with the waiter outside
his door. 1 guessed something was
amiss, and rushed in. He'd got hold
of the cursed brandy-bottle, as usual,
and, worse than all, I'd sent for the
barber, and-as true as I Gye-he
had got his head shaved! 1t was no
good swearing at him or the waiter
the thing was done.
"'You mustn't go to your sister in
this state, 1 said Give me her
address, and I'll say you're not we'll,
and you shall see her tomorrow
"Not bit of it. Nothing would
keep him, and he was still strong
enough to be dangerous. So we
took cab, and set off. It was q
West-end square, and as the door
opened, l saw the pretty dear her
self-yes, you may laugh, but I can't
think of that poor girl without feel
ing downright sorry-I saw her peep
round the corner, waiting for him.
Try to be man for once, SIR I
whispered. Here! give me your
arm, and, for mercy's sake! keep
steady
"She came forward, holding out
her hand. The drunken fool-for
he was no better-he staggers for
ward, gives q yell like a maniac.
takes his wig of, pitches it straight
at her-straight at her face, as Tn
sinner-and falls headlong down ut
her feet. She gave such scream,
and out runs an old lady.
Take him away this instantr
she sings out You vile man. you.
to bring him here in this state! Yon
are as bad as he is! Take him away /!
and, when he's sober. tell him never
to come near either his sister or me
again!
'The girl had tainted, poor thing.
Altogether, it was too much. I took
him back to the hotel, put the old
lady's message down on q bit of
paper, told the landlord to do his
best for him, and started back to
Cambridge, by the night mail. I
could stand it no longer. And yet,
if I'd only known-but, no, it could
have made no difference All the
world conldn't ha-o h1p; him RON
ruin, firmly believe"
Jack here made such long pause,
that we had to remind him how late
it was getting.
"The fact is, he resumed at last
II never like even to think of what's
coming. If il wasn't that 1 have got
soI far, I wouldn't finish the story,
for, L tell you, it's not pleasant to
me. You see, 1 got back again here,
as I said. Well, was uneasy like
couldn't sit still, or rest quiet, for the
next few days. I'd sort of presenti-
ment that all was as wrong as il
could be; and my wife, she says to
me-