Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-07-08

A STRANGE IMPOSTER-
The stery OF . London Baker and his
LOdger.


On my arrival in London took lodeiner
in Haif-Moon street, Piccadilly, The pro
prietor of the house was baker, well ts
do in the world, and, like many of hi
countrymen, an intense admirer of every
thing that pertained to rank or nobility
He was g. fat, jovial fellow, and often invit
ed me to the parlor to have a talk over q
pot of 'alf-and-alf," observing with much
pride that noblemen and gentlemen who
had been his dodgers had often honored
him with a social chat over that beverage.
One evening" while he was entertaining
me with anecdotes of q certain lord. a re.
spectable-look man called and engaged
rooms on the ground floor, which were
then vacant The stranger, seeming salts.
fed with the price, said that rs 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 1 suppose you have heard Of Mr..
Although have no personal recollec-
tion Of the gentleman" replied the baker
81 know his family as well as know my
fnssrs and thumbs Why. sir. he IL the
rickest commoner In the country. It must
be now fifteen years since l 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
. my house as flowers m May or Goals at
Christmas
II an angel had suddenly descended
through the ceiling with 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 obseGuiousness and respect, and rush.
ed out OF the room to call up all his family.
for Mr.. Wickham to see them After Civ
ing q detailed account of the manner in
which he first met his WIFE, and the respec-
tive ages of the children, he insisted on all
drinking to the health of his guest, He
did not for q moment doubt his havineMr.
Wickham for his lodger; yet he could not
help wondering that neither footman nor
portmanteau appeared TIE next morn
ing be made bold to ask how a gentleman
of his estate came to be unattended.
Hush" exclaimed Wickham, holding
mp 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.
] 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..
Wickham 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
Aovc he svofo
everybody In the house might hear. "Haye
you telegraphed to warn them of the mis-
take?"
'Jeames has just been 10 the hofice,
SIR" replied the valet, with submissive
Difference; ''and he says the baggage will
be here the day after to morrow"
'.And what in the name of Heaven am /
to do In the meantiae?" 2" resumed the be-
wildefed Wickham. ''sIy fnend, Lord
Grosvenor, and others, are out of town, and
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,
and tell him TO get fifty pounds from my
secretary"
When the servant had taken his depart
ure, the baker ran to his drawers, and lay
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 solicit
tstions Of the obsequious baker. Three
days alter the footman appeared ia gor-
geous livery, with the missing trunks, and
A.t-< <.-<e<- u - ~ L
had to do with Mr. Wickham, one of the
kingdom, made it more and more his busi-
attachment. In short, Mr.. wickham did
the baker tae 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 afable and condescend-
ing Wiekham, while enjoying himself at a
tavern, wss seized with violent head
ache, accompanied bv q burning fever
A sooA 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,
apothecaries and everybody else
Meanwhile the patient grew worse and
worse, and on the fifth day was given
over. The baker, grieved to the heart
at the condition of his inustrious friend,
felt bound to tel him, though with much
reluctance, what the doctors thought
of his condition Wickham received the
news calmly, and with all the resignation
of q true Christian fully prepared for death.
He desired q minister to be sent for, and
received the communion the same days.
The next morning, the distempef 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
scrivener therefore was immediately sent
for, and the viii was made and
signed IN proper form before sever
al Witnesses. Wickham, by this viii
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-
Tendencies, 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 fen into
conyulEons and died.
The baker sfrst applied himself entirely
to carrying ont the provisions of the will,
emitting nothing that was ordered to be
done. The. body was not to be inferred
untd me fourth day after death, and all
was ready by the second The baker had
now time to look for the lawyer before he