Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-05-29

THE MAIDEN AUNT.

"AND now that l have told you the
whole affair from beginning to end, think
you will acknowledge that I am in al
jolly fix as any fellow could get into
said Captain Elton, when he had concluded
a circumstantial detail of his difficulties tc
his trusty friend, Tom Maddrell, in whose
cosy Temple chambers the two now sat
smoking choice Habanas and drinking
coffee. "Can you see way out of it, my
boy? I'll be hanged if | can, except by
selling out, and that would make my uncle
furious Besides, l really love my pro-
fession, and should be very 10th to leave it.
Come, speak out What can do?'
"Thats just what I'm thinking about,
replied his taciturn friend "but the more
/ look at it the more / can't see way out
What the deuce made you bet so heavy OF
Vauban?"
swell, it's no use talking about it; I'm
in mess, and the only question is, how to
get out of it?"
"And then," continued his friend, fol
lowing out his own thoughts without pay
ing much attention to Captain Elton's re
marks, "was there no way of facing
settling day but by having recourse to bill
discounters?"
"None but selling my commission" re-
piled Elton.
ado you suppose there is writ out
against you already?' said Tom.
lam almost certain of it," was reply
"Inoticeda couple of dirty looking rascals
following me down the Strand l crossed
and my gentlemen did the same, pressing
on as fast as they could; so I put on a
spurt and distanced them. / don't think
they saw me turn into the Temple"
The young lawyer put his head out OF
the open window, and pretended to be
occupied in watching the workmen at the
Thames embankment.
"Take a cautious peep over my
shoulders" he said, "and see if you recog
nize those two loafers talking to the porter
under the archway."
"Those are the very men," replied Ell
ton, reddening with vexation. "What is
to be done? Am prisoner already 2"
"Not bit of it," said his friend
keep cool. Only keep quiet, and don't
get excited. You're not On leave, you
say,% ..a , ,,,,,.. =. :. >, ;. -. -, ., ;.
evening" replied Elton.
"That you must not, or you're a gone
coon," said the lawyer, In tone OF
authority. "You must be invalided. I'll
write note to Jones, and send my boy
off with it at once. Jones will manage
the whole thing"
The note was quickly written, and the
sharp boy despatched on his errand, with
a caution to be quite positive that he had
never seen gentleman answering to the
description of Captain Elton, if any inqui
ries should be made-a piece of foresight
that was not thrown away, for the lad evi
IDENTIFY underwent close questioning from
the two watchers under the archway
Assistant-surgeon Jones answered the
summons promptly, and, after careful
examination of his patients symptoms
promised to place him on the sick list
and obtain for him few weeks leave
$50 that's settled" observed the lawyer
when the surgeon had departed.
GA mere temporary staving off is ne
settlement, Tom," replied Elton, sadly
"But | am equally grateful to you and t
Jones for your friendly offices / shall
now have time to breathe, and shall bt
spared the disgrace of Whitecross Street
/ came to you for advice; but, in stating
the case plainly for your enlightenment,
have got a clearer view of it myself, and
have fully made up my mind as to the
course must pursue"
"What is it," demanded his friend
anxiously. hope you'll do nothing rash
There's plenty of time for mature consid
Grafton"
al shall write full confession to my
uncle, in the first place." said Elton.
why So" objected the other" whel
you know his detestation of all kinds o
gambling?"
~ should have thought of that before,
replied Elton. at is too late now. low,
him full avowal Of my errors, both fo
his past kindnesses, and because, KNOWN,
his strong prejudices against racing ant
betting, should be a mere swindler if
kept him in Ignorance of my transgres
sions, and suffered him to bequeathe hi
estates to gambler"
If that is your resolution" said Tom
"why did you not tell him at once?"
aHis health was so bad that feared tn
shock might kill him." replied the cap
tain. "The German baths have improves
him greatly, and ] shall now defer it n