Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-07-07
A STRANGE IMPOSTER.
The Story of London Baker and I
Lodger.

IN Half-Ioon street, Hlccad1lly, The pro-
prietor of the house was baker. well to
do in the world, and, like MANY of his
countrymen, an intense admirer of eyery-
thing that pertained to rank or nobility.
He was a fat, jovial fellow, and often invit-
ed me to the parlor to have talk over a
pot of 'alf-and-alf observing with much
pride that noblemen and gentlemen who
had been his lodgers had often honored
him with social chat over that beverage
One evening, while he was entertaining
me with anecdotes of certain lord. a re-
spectable-lo looking man called and engaged
rooms on the ground floor, which were
then vacant. The stranger, seeming salts
fed with the price, said that as he had lust
come up from Banbury he should occupy
the room that same evening.
''Banbury, Banbury," said the baker;
why, that's my native place."
''Indeed," said his lodger in surprise;
'then [ suppose you have heard of Mr.
Wickham ?"
Although [ have no personal recollec-
ton of the gentleman" replied the baker
81 know his family as well as I know my
fingers and thumbs. Why, sir, he is the
richest commoner in the country. It must
be now fifteen years since I lived at Ban
bury, and [ am somewhat in ignorance .
about affairs down there, but if YOU are a
friend of Mr.. Wickham, you're as welcome
to my house as flowers in May or Goals at
Christmas
If an angel had suddenly descended
through the ceiling with a clap of thunder,
no deeper impression could have been pro-
duced upon the baker than he evinced
when the person he accosted informed him
that he was the veritable Mr. Wickham
himself. The baker seemed overwhelmed
with obsequiousness and respect, and rush
ed out of the room to call up all his family,
for MI. W1ckham to see them. After Civ
ing detailed account of the manner in
which he first met his wife, and the respec-
tive ages of the children, heinsisted on all
drinking to the health of his guest. He
did not for moment doubt his havingMr.
Wickham for his lodger; yet he could not
help wondering that neither footman nor
portmanteau appeared. The next morn
ing he made bold to ask how a gentleman
of his estate came to be unattended.
''Hush, exclaimed Wickham, holding
up his hand in posture of admonition:
''my servants are not in the way at pres
ent, as don't want my arrival to be known
L am going to arrest a merchant who owes
me three thousand pounds. If he should
know OF my presence in town my purpose
would be defeated; so keep quiet, and
don't mention my name, whatever you do.
You shall know all in good time
That night a servant came, and Mr.
Wlckham fell into great rage at him for
allowing the porter to put his trunks on
the wrong train.
''This, sir, will cost me delay of three
days, shouted the irate Wickhan, SO that
everybody in the house might hear. "Have
you telegraphed to warn them of the mis-
take ?'
'Jeames has just been to the hoffiee,
sir" replied the valet, with submissive
Difference; 'tand he says the baggage will
be here the day after to morrow"
'And what In the name of Heaven am [
to do III the meantime?' resumed the be-
wildered Wickham. f'My friend, Lord
here [ am, owing to your stupidity. with
out money or clothes, and cannot attend to
my business. You had better send James
at once to Banbury to bring me some linen,
md tell him to get fifty pounds from my
When the servant had taken his depart
ure, the ker ran to his drawers, ana Law
ing hands on the best linen he had, car
ried it to Mr.. Wickham, and begged the
honor Of his wearing it, He also laid fifty
pounds on the table, and expressed hope
that his guest would not take it amiss if
he offered these slight tokens of his respect
and regard. Wickham at first refused, but
was not proof against the pressing solici-
tatlons OF the obsequious baker. Three
days after the fooman appeared in gor-
geous livery, with the missing trunks; and
the baker more satisfied than ever that he
had to do with Mr.. Wickham, one of the
richest and noblest of gentlemen in the
kingdom, made it more and more his busi-
ness to give fresh marks of his respect and
attachment. In short, Mr.. Wickham did
the baker the honor of accepting from him
three hundred and sixty guineas, for all of
which he gave his note.
About six weeks after the opening of
this adventure, the affable and condescend-
ing Wickham, while enjoying himself at a
tavern, was seized with violent head
ache, accompanied by burning fever
AS soon as he found himself i'll, he went
home to his lodgings, where he was
waited upon by one of his footmen, and
assisted in everything by the good baker,
who advanced all money that was wanted,
and passed his word to the doctor,
apotheearies and everybody else
Meanwhile the patient grew worse and
worse, and on the fifth day was given
over. The baker, grieyed to the heart
at the condition of his illustrious friend,
felt bound to tell him, though with much
reluctance, what the doctors thought
OF his condition. Wickham received the
news calmly, and with all the resignation
OF true Christian fully prepared for death.
He desired minister to be sent for, and
received the communion the same days.
The next morning, the distemper and dan
ger increasing to an alarming height, Wick
ham told the baker that it was not enough
to have taken care of his soul; he ought
also to set his worldly affairs in order, and
desired that he should make his will. A
scrlvener therefore was Immediately sent
for, and the will was made and
signed in proper form before sever
al witnesses. Wickham, by this will
bequeathed all his estate, real and per-
sonal, jewels, coaches, teams, race horses,
packs of hounds, ready money, &C., and q
house with all the appurtenances and de-
pendencies, to the baker Never was any
thing more noble or generous. This done,
Wickham called the baker to him, loaded
him and his family with benedictions, and
told him that Immediately after his decease
he had nothing to do but to go to his law
yer, who would give him full instructions
how to proceed. Soon after he fell into
convulsions and died.
The baker first applied himself entirely
to carrying out the provisions Of the will,
omi.ting nothing that was ordered to be
done. The body was not to be inferred
until the fourth day after death, and all
was ready by the second. The baker had
now time to look for the lawyer before he
laid his benefactor in the ground. Having
put the body into rich coffin, covered
with velvet, and plates of silver, and made
all the other arrangements, he began to
consider that it would not be improper to
reimburse himself as soon as possible, and
to claim possession of his new estate. He
therefore went and communicated the
whole affair to his lawyer. This gentle
man, being of shrewd and suspicious
turn, expressed much astonishment at the
manner in VIII h his client had come
into so large an estata, and Immediately
instituted an inquiry. He requested the
baker to call the next morning, when ne
would be enabled to advise him on The