Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-12-04


lands, Jarkyns meantime drawing on the
Oriental bank at Hong Kong, in anticipa-
ton of remttances that never came. The
worthessness OF these drafts being proved
TO Neil, who had advanced cash TO Lark
yns, the gay adventurer was arrested for
swindling when the pair had returned
from Honolulu. Larkyns was put in
San Francisco Jail, and was released only
when he had drawn In good faith upon his
kinsfolk in London for $1,000, which drafts
were duly honored at the pathetic plea o
Larkyns. This man of the world, then, in
the face of public exposure and disgrace,
addressed himself to a rctrioval Of his
character. 1t was hard work. He donned
suit of coarse clothes and labored on the
wharves as stevedore; he drudged in a
lumber yard he got odd jobs at translat-
ing in publishing house he wrote bright
letters and dramatic criticisms for the
newspapers, and in short, turned his.hand
to anything and everything that promised
an honest penny. Finally he went to the
town of Calistoga, where he began a map
of the locality, finishing with the skill of
an accomplished draughtsman work that
would soon bring him money. But the in-
stincts OF his gay life were strong upon
him; he loved his bottle of wine, his in
triguing adventure, and his dangerous
amour. A jealous husband In San Fran
cisco found one day letters that to his mind
proved the faithlessness of his wife and the
guilt of Larkyns. He said no wordito any
- ha opH ioip
and went to Calistoga. The man who was
bent on seeing life, and had exhaused Eu-
rope and India, went TO the door to meet
one who had called for him. The Califor-
MAN drew his pistol and shot the gay Brit
on dead on the spot. Putting by his weap-
on with the air of one who had avenged a
wrong upon society, the injured husband
gave himself up to mining superintend-
ent as the only accessible representative of
constituted authority. and now appeals to
the fine sense of justice and chivalry which
a California public has never been found
to lack on such occasions.
For Larkyns living, the man who "bilk-
ed" his friend and SPARED his way" at
costly hotels, there was.not much. sympa-
thy. For Larkyns nipped by death I'M
timely, without a chance to defend himself,
there is some pathetic Renaissance. Peo-
pie recall how lavishly he spent money
when he had it, whether 1t was his or not !;
they do not curiously inquire into his NOR
ais ; they know that he "stood treat on
occasion, never went back on his friends,
and was not bad fellow, after all, as the
world reckOns bad fellows He began his
career with the intention of seeing life he
saw it-a great deal. When he had seen it,
no died as the fool dieth-in blood and wan
tonness. Some such ambition as his fires
young men who fancy that they may see
life as he saw it, and escape the ignobe
death that rounded Of his gay existence.
The ups and downs, the picturesque muta-
tions of such a career, fascinate other men
as they fascinated Larkyns, though it is
not given to.all who follow in his footsteps
to shuttle off their mortal coil as tragically
as he did. The weary, plodding man, pur-
suing his level way in the common round
of existence, may feel a pang Of envy, as
he looks up at the meteoric career of the
adventurous man of the world. He may
| regard his own small achievements and
prosaic surroundings with. something of
| disgust. But we have told the story OF
Harry Larkyns to very little purpose II
that unvsrnished fate has not given new
force to the wise mans saying that "there
is way that seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof is the way of death."-
N. Y. Times.