The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-12-10
A BELEAGCERED HOME.

lHdt brought The news of our ruin as We
sat at breakfast with the windows open
TO the ground looking out on the sunny
lawn, a silver streak of river beyond
ana the mountains shining blue IL the
Instance. The first day Of spring balIny
anu reyiyitying. | am no believer in
pfesentiments; misfortune desccnds
upon Us unawares, without warning or
ioreshadowing, and the House Beautiful
81 our hopes Is swept into ruin
We had been very happy in our mar
ricd life, little more than d twelvemonth
old, with everything seemingly clear and
bright before Us. And nOw all was
doubt and gloom; our means had van
lshed into thin air III my fortune that
had been my mothers, and that my
father Q Colonel in the Indian army.
had generously resigned 10 me, was in
vested in the Lahore and Delhi Bank
and that had collapsed into ruin.
we had scttledin Wales on our mar
riage, where / took a pleasant little
house situated on a sunny slope OF a hill
overlooking the valley, well sheltered
by trees, embowercd in Towering
shrubs and covered with crecpers. quite
an idyilic little place. | had made up
my mind 70 buy il, bat the owner re-
qulred such heavy price for it that
hesltated about Withdrawing any Of my
capital from an investment where the
return was 50 handsome ~ in our bank :.
and now it was all gone
had no profession, cifhrr. 10 fall back
upon; | had served for fey years in NV
fathers corps, but the climate of India
did not suit me, and as | was an only child
and we had ample means | retired and
came home ut the CclOncl's wish Then
! married my old playmate and my
fathers ward, Jane Hammond, to his
great delight, he promising himself to
complete another two wears service and
then TO come home and live with his son
and daughter.
While was reading the letter ann0unc-
ing the fatal news Jane saw by my face
that something dreadful had occurred
" Is il papa" she cried, for she always
ctlled my father thus has ANYTHING
Happened to him." She seemed lbso-
utely relieved when | told her that
nothing had happened but the loss of
all our means.
There is a kind of excitement about
misfortune, when it first comes upon us.
that eases oil certain portion Of the
shock. We were quite CAV over it. |
remember, that first day We were
young with the world before us. We
night our way TO success Hitherto We
had been spectators only; for the future
We must be actors, heart and soul. We
would sell OIL everything here and 90 up
to London, where I must try for employ
mcnt. Jane would 20 out as a daily gov
eIness.
one circumstance interfCrCd with any
plans OF immediate activity on her pari.
We were daily, almost, expecting the
advent OF young stranger; and that
must be got over first Then there were
several other hindranCcs. We had the
house upon our hands for another six
months at least
Something could he done about the
house At once, my wife suggested We
could write 10 our landlord uud ask him
70 take il of our hands, or to accent 4
specified sum in lieu Of notice With
IN impulse of new born activity | sat
down To write the note at once. UneX-
pectcd misfortunes, | wrote. had nut it
out Of my power to occupy a house at
such u cnt any longer Would my land
lord kindly consent to some Arrangement
for relieving me of portion of my
responsibility? He must do it; he's
sure to do it for his own sake" said
Jane, decidedly "If he won't. we'llput
a chimney sweep in the house, or the
travelling tinker But | didn't feel
quite SO certain, knowing that landlords
are usually tenacious of their rights
our landlord was not native born
Nclshman, but retired attorney from
one of the large towns who had bought
the property at "a bargain, and was bent
upon making the most out of it, He
lived in small cottage about "A quarter
OF mile away. with "A rather bold faced
housekccpcr He and | were friendly
enough, but Jane would never take the
slightest notice of the huuSckccpcr and
think the young woman resented this
hautetr little. Mr.. Trantcr-that was
my landlords name evidently thought
me good tenant, for had spent a good
deal of money in putting things To rights
about the house, which had been before
in rather neglected condition I paid
rather high rent for the place as rents
went in that out-ofthe- locality
ninety pounds year paid half yearly
The custom was in those parts n pay the
rent on specified day, a good while after
il was due. Thus the Lady-day rents
would be paid late in June, and TIE
MichaclmaS about December
| was great simpleton. thought
afterward, TO write such letter: for
there is no need for man to trumpet
his mistortunes, which get wind soon
enough without his aid But | had AZ
that time q stupid kind of confidence in
the good will of people about me, en-
gendered by careless, good-unturcd
temper, of which it has taken good
deal Of cN" cricncc To rid me.
he day following thpt on which the
sad news came Was the 25sh of March
All the sunshine was gone now: chill
northeastcr blowing: all the excitement.
too, attending our misforiunes was over.
and the cold, dismal reality clearly yisi-
biz. he news of our trouble had rot
about, through the medium of Trantcr
and Company, no doubt Every one-at
least SO We fancicd-lookcd guccrly at
us, y shower OF aforementioned little
bills came drifting in upon us In the
course OF the day came reply from Mr.
Tranter-a note, at least, taxing no no.
tice OF my letter, but reminding me that
the half years rent was this day due
The same evening about six | was told
that David, the fisherman, was in the
kitchen, and wanted particularly to see
me. David had been my guide and com
panlon in many pleasant fishing eNpe-
dition; a wiry little fe low, his face
lined and scanned with smallpox; with
quick, intelligent eyes: and long, 1.-THE
fingers; that were deft at anything
David's wife went out rs nurse. and in
that capacity she had been retained by
my wife for her approaching trouble
Beg your pardon. sir" said David
touching his forelock in salutation. Il
wish TO speak with you very particular:
yes"
With that | took David into my own
room, where | kept gun and fishing
tackle. :" Beg your pardon, sir" he said,
breaking forth suddenly into speech,
you'll think me very impudent fellow,
but DO YOU owe Mr. Tranter any money!"
Not | why do you ask, Dayid?"
Well, sir, As ! happened to make
can at the SINNERS Arms lust now,
my cousin Hugh Jones, came into the
bar, not seeing me, and he said to the
man he was with Is it a good Job |
VIII have At Brynmor Tomorrow |
capital said Norris--for that was the /
one he was with; there will be weeks /
possession, and then the sale; and be.
tween Mr. Tranter and me we will skin
tie young Englishman nicely There's
for yoC"
This Morris, il seemed. was an auc.
tioneer and agent in small way. bailif
of the county court, and wrecker in
general. \ bury, demonstrating man,
going about IN a silent, stealthy manner;
respectful 10 obsequiousncss to persons
above him in position, but with a hard,
cold eye that BODIED i'll for anyone at his
mercy But | was in no danger of any /
person of law What could Morris he IN /