Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-22

made to him, by the acceptance Of which
he would have secured to himself . hand.
some income for life. But he disclaimed
it and went quietly up to bed, on Novem-
Der night, in the shabby sponging-house,
with the observation that he was in no
hurry. So that when an extraordinary
turn in the laws suit took every lawyer by
SURPRISE and the legal world stood aghast,
amazed, dumbfounded at decision that
put him in possession Of the entire wealth
of that remarkable uncle of his who used
to pinch my ears, he alone was cool. can
see him now fastening the elastic band
about his umbrella as he walked out of the
court, as calm as the cabman whom he hailed.
On the morrow morning, when he had
read the report of the case in the papers, he
turned to me and said, IL was right, my
friend; you see that l was right. And
now tell me which are the rooms in the
castle you would prefery Drop in at
Coutt's, and see the liberty have ventured
to take with your balance Tell me If
you like your brougham; it is at the door.
Now see whether you cannot become Lord
Chancellor"
In sober truth. my brougham was at the
door; my account was princely one; and
l had the pick of the castle apartments.
The scene was glorious one when the
sun of Lewis's fortunes was " its nOontide
splendor. The beautiful the brilliant, the
gifted, the illustrious, crowded to his halls,
thronged his drawing rooms, peopled his
park, and tasted of all the sweets of his
refined and liberal hospitality. He alone
remained calm and easy, might say un-
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 a smile from him.
l was, think, more grateful l 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 at my profes
sion, and Lewis was able to introduce me
to first-rate business. had at times more
than could well manage. When l 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, flatter 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; and it
was Lewis's money that enabled me to
make figure in the world, which is half
the battle in the professions. But he
wanted me; was necessary to him; and
therefore it was for himself that he was
open handed with me. l am not the first
orphan who has been adopted; nor the
II oh -l,n hnu lan haf lad
in after-life; nor the first man who has
owed his stepping stones to fortune, to &C
cident I don't sec why should be pes
tered about it,as though there was some
thing 50 very extraordinary in my case. |
made my Acknowledgements once for all /;
and fail to see why should be perpet
ually uttering thanks. 1t has been said
that gratitude is lively sense of favors to
come. | am sure that | 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 | ever de-
! med it? My wifes brilliants were a pres.
ent made to her by Lewis when we mar
RED Does not this happen every day in
the week. Am bound to like man be-
| cause lie finds pleasure il my society and
profit in my advice? Let me tell my story
| in my own way to the end. We were at
the castle. Ny 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 godtather's desire to
| have the boy as much with him as posi-
BILE. Lewis was very fond of children, and
they l am bound to add, were very fond
OF him.
Well, 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
l had business Of my own in hand but
was always good -natured fellow, | be.
lieve, and followed my old school fellow
He began quietly as when he put the band
round his umbrella when he had gained
his cause
"The vicissitudes Of my life are not
ended yet. My dear old school-felicw
learn that once again haven't penny in
the world"
At this point begged him to excuse me
! for moment; and ran to my Wlic's 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 NEST te4beddiicnt Of COnS0rts, and / will
do her the justice to say that she did not
forget thing even to the baby's socks.
returned to the library, and taking Lewis
by the hand, expressed my regret. He
continued
Mot penny in the world! am beg,
CARED, my dear friend, by the men whom
have helped to affluence. My own people
have turned upon me. Ny own stewards
have destroyed me. The people and
places found poor and bare, and that are
now thriving, are the centres of the infamy
that has stripped me. You heard one OF
| my bailiffs this morning give me notice.
This rascal is rat number twenty, and car
ries off 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 80 un-
grateful as bad servant whom you have
petted, and can pet no longer. See that
fellow crossing the park with aloaded cart.
He came to me shirtless: rat number
twenty-one"