The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-15

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door; my account was princelv one: an
| had the pick of the castle apartments.
The scene was a glorious one when the
sun OF Lcwis's fortunes was in its noontide
splendor The beautiful, the brilliant, the
gifted, the illustrious, crowded to his halls,
thrOnged his drawing-rooms, peopled his
park, aud tasted of all the sweets of his
refined and liberal hospitality. He alone
remained calm and easy, | might say UNI
concerned. Misfortune had hit him hard
and had not stirred muscle of his face ;
fortune was now his generous friend, and
she could barely extort smile from him.
| was, think, more grateful. | blessed
and thanked-the Fates. For while any
care as to my means of living was removed
far away from me, [ neglected no opportu-
nifty of promoting my own advancement
in my own way. | worked ut my profess
sion, and Lewis was able to introduce me
to first rate business. | had at times more
than could well manage When was at
the castle | would retire from the scene of
the festivities to my own apartment, and
there turn out my brief bag upon the table,
| and read into the small hours Very few
men, tiatter myself, would have done that
with the advantages that had within my
reach. But | was determined not to be de-
pendent on Lewis | was resolved to draw
the line somewhere; for as think have
| remarked before, | never really liked him.
| grew rich-I do not DENY it: ard it
| was Lewis's money that enabled me to
| make figure in the world, which is halt
| the battle in the professions. But lie
wanted me; was necessary TO him and
therefore it was for himself that he was
| open handed with me. | am not the first
orphan who has been adopted; nor the
| first schOol-chum who has been befrended
in after-life; nor the first man who has
owed his stepping stones to fortune, to ac-
cident. / don't see why / should be pes
tered about it, as though there was some
thing SO very extraordinary in my case. l
made my Acknowledgements once for all
and fail to see why L should be perpet-
ually uttering thanks. 1t has been said
that gratitude is lively sense of favors to
| come. / am sure that L expect nothing
more from Lewis. The brougham in which
| ride was his, granted my house was part
of his estate, granted. The case in which
pocketed nearly three thousand pounds
was of his introduction; have L ever de-
MED it? My wife's brilliants were pres
ent made to her by Lewis when we mar
ried. Does not this happen every day in
the week? Am | bound to like man be-
cause he finds pleasure in my society and
profit in my adviceg Let me tell my story
in my own way TO the end. We were at
the castle. My wife and children had
been staying there for months, and had
been in the habit of running down in the
intervals of my arduous professional du-
ties. Lewis had stood godfather to our
eldest boy, and had settled sum of money
on the engaging young fellow that insured
him a good position in life; so that we felt
| bound to humOr the godfather's desire TO
have the boy as much with him as posi-
BILE. Lewis was very fond of children, and
they | am bound to add, were very fond
of him.
W ell, on a certain autumn mOrning-the
first on which a fire had been deemed nee
essary in the breakfast room-Lewis asked
me to give him half an hour in the library.
had business of my own in hand; but |
| was ALWAYS good-natured fellow, / be-
| neve, and I followed my old school fellow
He began quietly as when he put the band
round his umbrella when he had gained
| his cause
The vicissitudcs Of my life are not
ended yet. My dear old school-fcllo
! learn that once again | haven't penny in
the world"
At this point / begged him to excuse me
| for moment; and ran to my wifes bou-
doir, and told her TO have everything
ready for the midday train Above all, she
was not to forget her diamonds. She was
| the most obedient of consorts, and l will
do her the justice to say that she did not
forget thing-even to the babys socks.
returned to the library, and taking Lewis
by the hand, expressed my regret. He
continued
Not penny in the world. | am beg
CARED. my dear friend, by the men whom
have helped TO afiluence. My own people
have turned upon me- My own stewards
have destroyed me- The people and
places | found poor and bare, and that are
now thriving, are the centres of the intamy
that has stripped me. You heard one of
my baililfs this morning give he notice.
This rascal is rat number twenty, and car
ries off a handsome competence with him.
But some are not at the trouble of masking
their ingratitude. There is no creature
upon two legs, nor upon four, half SO UNI
grateful as bad servant whom you have
petted, and can pet no longer. See that
fellow crossing the park with aloaied cart.
He came to me shirtless: rat number
twenty-one."
But how has this come to pass, my
dear Lewis?" / asked; land is ii alto
gether irremedial p
at has come to pass as have told you.
Every man on whose honor | have relied
has betrayed me. My model cottagers,
am told, laugh at me for a fool. L have
trebled the.trade in my county town, and
the townfolk haven't good word for me,
oil I'll haI NIL
local paper has turned about with its read
ers. Last week / was munificent; but in
to-dav's copy | am fool; in the next edi-
ton shall be rogue. should advise you
to clear the sinking ship while there's
bOat-that is, a coach-at hand.
Leave you, Lewis, at such moment"
exclaimed; for l was hurt at his sugges-
ton, which was not very delicate one
under the circumstances. leave you
now. | would not think of such thing;
nor should anything less than the case
the tremendous case-of Thunder Q. But
ter, drag me from your side to morrow"
A smile passed over the placid face OF
Lewis while | spoke 1t was a smile L
had seen before and at which less amia-
BILE man than, | can say without vanity,
am, might have taken offence.
You leave tomorrow, theny' Lewis
asked.
81 must"
"WelI, we shall tide over the week, |
dare say; but there will be elbow-room in
the castle before then, | can see"
did not like Lewis's style. OF course
made every allowance for him under the
circumstances and when | had seen my
wife to the station with the children, the
maids, the jewel and dressing cases and
my dispatch-box, in which my deeds were
safely under lock aid key, made a second
attempt to be kind and sympathetic.
asked whether there was anything | could
do for him in London"
Yes" he said, raising his cold blue
eyes, and cutting his words with his gilt
tering teeth Eyes remain i'm it
This was too much; and L left him.
Now all my impressions as to his charac-
ter were confirmed; and / could under
stand thoroughly why | never liked him.