Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-11
A Fleeing Fortune.

COED would il do me now? NV habits are set
from mf snd eaTe and the Srsslr1 s of H
eyesight, are the only blessings crave. I have
enough for food and clothing; not enough to
tempt others to iatter. cajole and deceive me.
But early in life longed for riches with an un-
wholesome yearning; money seemed to me the
greatest good. yet even money was not worth
toiling for. When i INDUCED I'm airy castle
building-which was very often-I always pic
tured myself as finding q treasure; landing a
double event at tremendous odds; having for
time left me; or becoming suddenly rich In some
equally facile manner-never slowly, by hard
work. In many novels, the hero, poor, deter
mines to achieve wealth and fame at the end Of
one chapter; and when the next opens, he has
done So The intervening years Of hundrum
are jumped. i wanted to jump them, too. i
thousand times richer. could such a bargain
have been made. But it couldn't; and daw-
sled the ten years away, and was just as poor
for a few hours, actually and literally, a rich
nan; and It happened in way which my fancy
Twas fond of travelling about, and INV small
means caused me to seek inexpensive modes of
conveyance. My legs were the cheapest; and
walked all over England, Scotland, and Wales;
but the coast stopped me, for could not swim
the channel. Pay for my passage must, but
would pay as little as i could help; SO chose a
long sea-route from London to Holland. As the
boat started in the small hours of the night, I
passed the evening in mild dissipation. Dined
of chop and cheese with a pint of cooper"
IN Se pt 81 aa OF pun In Sat
tain-set. only leaving when the brown holland
appeared Then a potato at a singing-tavern
brought me TO half-past twelve, and it was time
10 20 to nv inn in Holborn for nv luggage. This
Was not extensive, consisting merely of a lea
them bag, which could be worn when liked as
aknaIsack; and with this in my left hand, and
. stout oak stick tipped with a formidable fer
rule In my night, L sought the docks. This must
ssem so very eccentric to young people of the
that it was upwards Of thirty years ago-cabs
and habits OF luxury have considerably increas-
ed since then. In the neighborhood OF the Tow
er, the streets were quite deserted, and it a
curious experience to hear ones footsteps re-
tehoing in the very center of the capital of Bus
tle. The traffic, rolling backwards by the main
arteries Of the city, only reached tile ear as a
faint, muffied murmur, like that Of the distant
sea- Turning into a small place-a triangle of
ever, came upon group of three men, who
seemed To be engaged in a scuffie, and suppos-
ing il To be a drunken row, was passing ON
without notice, when one of them called out
sMurdeIi''
What fine old English word that is-how ex-
Iressivei The sight of it in large print gives
the blood pleasant curdle, and forces the pur-
chase OF an evening paper upon the man whose
sopPers would never be charmed out of him by
any simple assassination But heard in the
stiffness of night, there Is a muttered horror in
the word which is appalling
am not a chivalrous man; shrink instinct
lively from mourning danger or even discomfort
On behalf of a friend, let alone a stranger; but
there was an earnestness about that cry which
arrested my steps. Again, in more stified tone:
dyanced towards TIE group, and saw, by
the light of a dim lamp, that two Of the men
were STOPPING over third, who lay on the
ground One of these rose on hearing my foot
steps, and warned me with an oath to 60 my way
and mind my own business; and as did not
heed him, he raised his right arm and ran at me.
knowing something of fencing / lungei as he
came up. catching him low in the chest with
the ferrue OF my stick, and he rolled over into
doubled up. His mate stood up, hestated mo-
ment, irresoiute, and then turned 10 heei i
struck him over the head as he went, but failed
10 bring him down, and he got away. Glad
enough to he rid OF him, went to the assistance
OF his victim, who stih lay on the pavement;
but he was not seriously injured; and when
Had loOsened his neckeloth, and poured some of
the contents Of my travelling flask down his
throat, he WAS able TO get up. Fortunately for
him, garroting had not been yet cultivated as a
science, and he was only quarter-throttled.
His tTst care was 10 feel pocket inside his
waistcOat, having done which, he said in tone
OF intense relief: They have not got 1t
Thanks to you, young man, they have not got
1t Iou won't leave me? You will see me to
the boat? 1 can walk. oh, yes, am better
now"
Don't be afraid" said 7; al will not leave
Won TIL you are safe What boar TO YOU mean!'
1.-The Rotterdam"
why, am going by that myself. am glad
You can walk, for we have not got ovcrmuch
time Ia lose"
We were not more than a quarter of a mile
from the haIf, and had half an hour 10 do il
in; but did not think il incumbent upon me to
80 10 the assistance of the man who served me
We went our way, and left him there; and wbe-
ther he came round presently, or received any
permanent injury to his constitution from that
poke in the stomach, know not
The man had rescued was gray-haired, with
wiZened face deeply scored by wrinkles, and
frame which did not seem capable of making the
stubborn resistance which he must have done in
defence of his property. The cab in which he
started for the docks had broken down, and
afraid OF being late, he had taken short cut
through the by-streets on foot, and had been set
npon by the rascals with whom i found him.
That was the simple account he gave me on our
way TO the wharf, which We reached in time As
for his luggage, that had been taken on board
IN the morning. when his berth was chosen. The
latter precaution 1 had neglected, but found
aiffisulty in securing sleeping accommodation,
for the vessel Was not crowded; indeed, there
were but three passengers besides myself and
the old man. Not being used TO FIVE hours of
theater, followed by walk and an encounter
with street-thieves, was tired, and turned in
soon alter started.
When i awoke, there was vibration, odin
Cf revolving paddles Had l slept through the
passage, and were We at our journeys end?
Hardly, for in that case we should be in still
water, not swaying TO this side and that, bend
ing backwards, pitching forwards, and bringing
ourselves up with jerk, like a sleepy man du-
ring long sermon, "a we were doing. sat mp
and looked over the side Of my birth, which was
on the upper tier, AMI the head OF my res
eued old man Peerins out from the sleeping
place below.
he asked. why are We not going Oh? Why
docs that bell keep on ringinge
Reused by this unpleasant suggestion CT peril,
i wriggled on my shelf, managed. after several
bad shots, TO get my feet into giddy boots and
my arms into Intoxicated coat-sleeyes, reeled up
To the de1k, and found q fog.
TWAS one Of the densest hare ever beenin;
You could not see across the deck, and q man
tsDding q couple Of yards on re<enbied fia-
are in one Of Turner's later pictures The eject
vas the more confusing from the mist not being
stationary, Tor q stfish breeze sent rolling Ease-
Is OF 10 sweeping over rs. The Waves OF fog
mingled with the waves OF water, and the eye
could not distinguish which was which, while
the large bell forward kept mp q continual tin
be, tinkle, In mufsied tones, as though the fog
uere composed Of wool, pulled out very fne,
pertfefes OF which had clogged the elspper.
am happy 20 be able to boast that ! did not
worry the captain, as passengers are so foolishly
apt 20 do when things hook q little awkward; bat
got near him, and listened and observed, AMI
made out by degrees that we were Somewhere In
HE channels about the More, and in commentary
expectation Of being run into, OF grounding on
? Tie sands, and that, wifen revoiyed our pad
dis. which We did at intervals, the charces OF
running into somebody else was added The
lead .as constantly being heaved, and at one
time Shen the water shoaled very much the
nSff suggested anclOring buf the mt vr,a.f