Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-24

have just told it to you. He listened at
tentively to all | said. When had done
he looked at the seal and said:
4" / observe that it has the heraldic en-
| blem of a baronet"
He then congratulated me upon the
way in which / had acted. He asked.
too, for this young lady's address, which
she had given me quite correct, and then
he left the shop without another word.
You must give me leave to tell the
rest of the story in my own way. al.
though 1t may be very different wav
from that which the reverend parsonage
employed in relating it to me afterward.
1T seemed that it was runaway
match. a country baronet's son who
had fallen IN love with the clergyman's
| daughter in the village where his father
lived, and they had run away together
and got married. Then they came up
to London, these two poor young things,
for neither his father, nor hers either,
for the matter of that, would have any,
thing to say to the match-he full of
hopes OF getting on in the literary and
artistic line; and she, poor creature, full
of trust in him.
The project of living by literature did
not turn out what was expected. The
young fellow, without experience or
friends, spent much time going about
from one publisher to another, and send
ing his writings to the editors Of the vari-
uo1 uThi
were always returned with thanks
And then he fell i'll; typhus, / fancy,
brought on by insufficient nourishment
and bad drainage and disappointed
hopes. The Registrar-General doesn't
give return of these cases in any list
that | am aware of. But we see some
thing of them in our line of business,
nevertheless.
1t was just at this time that Mr.. Broad
man found out Mrs. Vincent; fer that
was the name of the young lady who
came to my shop with the gold seal.
Cambridge Terrace is not very far from
the Angel at Islington, and there, in a
little back street of small, respectable
houses, inhabited by junior clerks, with
here and there lodging house, in one of
which Mr.. and Mrs. Vincent lived
They were rather shy, at first, of a
stranger, and little proud and naughty,
perhaps. People who have seen better
days, and are down upon their luck, are
apt to be So But the parson, with his
pleasant ways and CHEEKY voice, soon
made it all right and, in jiffy, he and
Mr.. Vincent were talking about college,
for they had both been to the same uni
versity. And there was soon even
smile, tOo-a wan smile enough-upon
the poor invalid's sharp-cut, thin face,
with the hollow, far-away eyes, which
looked at you as if out of cavern. He
was the wreck of fine young fellow,
too; of oRe who had been used to his
hunting and shooting, and all the fine
country sports which make broadcast
ed, trong-limbed country people the
envy of us poor, thin, pale townsfolk.
Mr.. BrOadman came direct to me when
he left them. did not live far off, and
he thought that might lend them
neighbours help. Davis" said he, " that
poor fellow is dying; can see death in
his eyes"
What is he a-dying OFF," replied.
He looked at me steadtastly moment,
and could see moisture in his eye as
he said, slowly and solemnly "Of
starvation, DavlS-of actual want of
food"
GA gentleman starving, in London, in
Islington, a baronets son, too! Why,
it's incredible"
"Not at ALL" said Mr.. Broadman;
these are the very people who do die of
starvation in London, and in all great
cities. Not the poor, who know where
the workhouse is, and who can get at the
relieving officer if the worst comes to
the worst; but the well-born who have
fallen into destitute poverty and who
carry their pride with them, and dive in
to back alley, like some wild animal
into hole, to die alone. Mr.. Vincent
wants wine and jellies, and all sorts of
good things-if help hasn't come too late.
No, no, my friend, he continued, putting
back my hand, for l was ready to give
my money in proper cause. mo, no;
l have left them all they want at present,
Davis. But III tell you what you can
do; you can, if you like to play the good
Samaritan, go and see them, and cheer
them up bit. Mrs. Vincent hasn't for
! gotten your kindness to her, l can as
sure you. And / think her husband
would like to thank you too, and il would
rouse him up bit, perhaps" AID then
Mr.. Broadman told me, shotly, some
thing of what those two poor things had
gone thrOugh-she, loving AID trusting
him so; and he, half mad he lad brought
her to this pass, and could do nothing
for her.
Mr., Broadman wrote tina very day to
the baronet; proud, hard nan, I'm told.
But the letter he wrote Jack was soft
enough, and melting TO cad; it was so
full of human nature, pu see-the ia
theirs heart swelling up t the thought of
getting back his so, and bursting
through the thick crus Of pride which