Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-28
TOMS LUCK.

who hurried by, not seeing me in the crowd; for
he was looking straight on, or downwards, like
one who did not want to be recognized. HIS
dress might account for that long boots coming
above the knees, pea-jacket, and a forage cap
| spite Of the volunteer movement and its hybrid
fashions; and yet Tom was not one to be bash
| full on account Of his clothes. / hurried after
him, and put my hand on his shoulder; he started
as if / had touched the nerve of a tooth; and
without glancing round, darted into the road, as
though bent on raising the average of street ac-
| cidents. Hanson cabby refined his horse
| upon his launches; and cursed him; an omnibus
| driver did ditto; butcher ditto; a news agent,
fish monger, and private groom, ditto; and
he had been in Rome and Vp pVpose TO IA. Pops,.
| infallibility, he could not have been assailed
! with worse language. When fairly through it
| all he looked back, saw me, and came across
| again, this time less recklessly.
| "Why, Tom; so you have come h0me!' cried
| i, grasping his hand.
| Eyes" said he; at landed at London Bridge
this morning. l have just lett your staircase,
| finding your outer door sported."
| Come back, then"
"Why did You bolt from me in that way?"
| asked when We were comfortably seated in my
| room.
| because I thought you were some one to
| whom L owed money, :" replied Tom. s'Heigh-
bo! have been freed from that feeling for four
months, but the moment set foot on the quay
\ il ali came back
| "No; fortunately, could never get credit
| enough for that. l suppose fifty pounds would
| clear me, with the exception or my tailor, of
| course, but / can pay him with fresh orders
| always But fifty pounds which you cannot
CAM
Poohl You will soon clear that off when you
| get into practice"
~ don't know" said Tom, with a respondent
| sigh: 90 the moment get my money, it melts, 1
| cannot tell how Then / do not see nv way
| clearly. should like to go into service as an
| assistant surgeon, but there is the outfit, and
| do not want to be any further expense to my
mother, if / can possibly help it. Jones wrote
to say that he would take me on again as his
assistant while / looked about me; but to 60
there would be running into the very jaws Of
| old Kirby, my principal creditor"
| "And who is old Kirby?"
| can innkeeper and iivery-stable keeper to
! escape from whom got attached to the anbu-
lance and went out. 1 had been Sinking him
| for months, till at last 1 got tired of it, and
| determined to leave the neighborhood. And
| had not been in England four hours before ran
| plump up against himl He came hurrying after
me; 1 pretended not to see him, Owed down
by-street, doubled, came to your chambers, and
had just left the court, when you saw me, as
ais this Kirby such a severe creditor, then ?n
| "No; do not know that he is he is a good
| natured sort of old fellow enough, and rather
liked me, but he likes his money better. The
last time L saw him-tO speak to, meant
cost me sovereign to disguise how hard up
| was"
| "How was that?''
| "Well, it was about three weeks before Join
| ing the ambulance that went one evening into
| the billiard room at Kirby's place, thinking he
| was away at some race-meeting in the north,
| when he came in, full of Derby sweep he was
getting up. The room was crowded with men
| playing at pool and looking on, and almost all
of them put in. Now, you know that L have no
couple of pounds at cards or betting, and might
| have had a days hunting for the money. There
arc so many pleasures to be had for the buying
| that never have a shilling to throw away upon
| what gives me no agreeable sensation whatever
| This sweep was particularly devoid OF tempta-
ton to me, for there were to be one hundred and
| fifty members and the chances against each
| were therefore tremendous. However, feared
that if 1 demurred, old Kirby would suspect
| that sovereign was an object to me, and imme-
4 diately think of the thirty or forty owed him
| for dinners and horse hire, so told him to put
nae down, with as careless an air as possible and
| handed him third of my whole property. No,
| not quite a third; for / possessed three pounds
twelve shillings and sixpence, and only paired
| with a sovereign.
"And what horse did you draw"
| Some colt or another forget the name, 1t
was sent to Jones, who forwarded il to me-
was very busy at Derby time, and never saw any
English papers; but heard the names of the
fnree nrst horses, and mine was notone of them;
GLOW could you have been so foolish as to get
| so deeply into this Kirby's books?" asked.
!" Because he gave me credit" said Tom SIM
| ply. He took fancy to me because 1 could
ride, think, and he proffered me a mount with
the Queens whenever could get holiday,
telling me ready. money did not matter; could
pay when l liked. And, as you know, 1 was
used to horses, and never had to think about ex-
Penses in my poor fathers time, before the
"Kirby will never press yoH!" exclaimed I.
can on him and say that you will pay him
when you are settled in any way"
He would not dun me If he could helm IT, I
Saresay," returned Tom; "but he NAV have
losses himself / fear he is hard up, or why
should he have called so often on Jones to ask
for my address? Jones, like COED fellow, never
| gave 1t to him, and sent me warning. do wish
1 could pay, for 1t would be convenient to 20
back there for the present"
9" wish had the money to lend you, Tom. :"
said i, and meant IL, for had great regard
for Tom Martin. He had been nay flag at school
and his parents had been very kind to me in the
he had buck1ed to work ,manfully, instead OF
crying over split milk; and If his expenditure
spirited young fellow cannot be expected to
change all his habits in a moment withouta
struggle.
"fknow it, old fellow" replied he, "and
should have asked you to help me at once IL
had thought it would not have Inconvenience
you. That tells il own story, however, ;" and he
lying on the table, with from "Nosale & Slack,
Publishers" pasted on IL; "your manuscripts
are still boomerangs, am sorry to see."
MI Inougn not getting on very rapidly in any Of
could offer my friend dinner, at all events: and
he said he was ready for it.
As we strolled towards one OF the large dining
rooms, asked him how he came to 90 out so late
the war was over and the majority of En- glsh sur
geOns attached to ambulances had returned
home; and he entered into all the circumstances
OF his case. OF course he had great deal to say
to an interested listener, and our dinner wa.
rather protracted in consequence; indeed, seye-
raj people came in, sat down near us, had their
meal, paid, and left, before we asked for the
cheese. We got to that national conclusion at
last, however, and Tom was telling me over IL
about a poor lad who had been forced by the
Communists into their ranks, shot down, taken
prisoner, and only saved from execution because
his wound was of so curious TO excite the Curl
osity of a surgeon, when he suddenly stopped in
the middle OF a sentence: and looking up to see
what was the matter, / wondered at the hush of
color which had spread over his cheeks and fore
head, and the expression of sheepish embarrass-
ment about his mouth and eyes. Before could
ask what was the matter, hearty voice behind
me called out "Ah, Muster Martini So have
run You to earth at last! / caught a glimpse OF
you this afternoon, but could not come up with
you"
"Ah, Kirby, how are you? am glad to see
| YOU" replied Tom, holding out his hand. But
he did not look glad, and the convusiye twitch
| at the corners of his mouth was not a smile, as
| he hoped.
est down, and take glass of wine," said /,
| thinking Cancellation was the best thing dnder
the circumstances; and to my relief the creditor
| acceded. L considered it a token that he meant
| to be reasonable.
"Well, he continued, addressing Tom, GIVE
been looking for you everywhere the last two