Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-14
The Stprp T'e'llet.
TWENTY POUNDS
A TALE FROM REAL LIFE.

TWENTY POUNDS.
,,.s A TALE FROM REAL LIFE.
Could it be Maxwell, who I believed had
left England for Brazil week ago? Why
he was seen on board the vessel, just starting
Nevertheless, it was he, there could be ne
doubt about it, and though ne did not appear
to see me, and had not time to cross the
road to speak to him, I was quite sure upon
the point. s'.,'s aa
Presently met Henry Staining. He wal
in rollicking good humor, as usual. As lively
and kind.hearted q man as ever lived wat
Staining, and I fear might add almost at
foolish. A full purse, a robust frame, and
abundant leisure, what advantages they are
And, yet, without the steadying influences of 6
sound judgment and Of moral tone, what mis-
fortunes, sometimes, the combination en-
tails
"Staining, what can have induced Maxwell
to abandon his voyage to Brazil ?"
"Nothing and this for the simple reason
that on that voyage to Brazil is Maxwell pro-
ceeding at this moment"
my friend, certainly not, for saw him
only ten minutes since, not far from. here"
"My friend, certainly "yes," for | had a
letter from him week back, posted just be-
fore starting; and the vessel, know, sailed
directly"
"Then he left her, that's all"
"Not in the least degree likely. You did
not speak to him-or rather the man you mis-
took for him p
True, I did not; but"
"I'll bet you ten pounds you are wrong"
Il never bet; but I am perfectly sure
that"
"I'll bet you twenty pounds to shilling
you made 9, mistake Smith, you are getting
old, and your eyes are failing you. Twenty
pounds toone shilling. Awful odds; but
your shilling is gone, Smith"
Il am quite willing to risk my shilling
but"
"Here you are, young gentlemen" cried a
CHEEKY voice, proceeding from bulky person
close upon US. "Betting-betting ON the
highway. Illegal, mind-I'm witness"
1t was Maxwell Staining looked g.
ghast.
"You are astonished. You thought me on
the way to Brazil. And so 1 should have
been, but that at the very last moment, when
the vessel was just moving out of dock, my
firm sent tcounter.instruction, and had to re-
turn to London. Annoying, wasn't it =? Such
a loss"
"Such loss, indeed p murmured Staining.
But then he turned to Maxwell, and greeted
him heartily.
Maxwell soon left US, and Staining having
taken from his pocket-book twenty-pound
note, handed it to me.
"There you are, old fellow. "A fool and his
money! &c. Another illustration of that wise
adage."
Mot exactly, for you don't suppose that I
shall take your money!"
Eyes, l do and 1 shall be extremely an
noyed if you make any difficulty"
I protested; but presently he said, in irri-
tation, "Then be my almoner, and give the
money in charity" And he pressed the note
back upon me, and left abruptly.
There are objections to standing in the pub
lie highway with bank note in your hand,
and puzzled expression in your face, 80 the
note was transferred to my pocket, and l went
my way ponderiug, when l was met full tilt
by clergyman whom I very we'll knew.
"Hulloa r he cried, "Mr Smith, both you
and seem to have our minds so much occu-
pied to- day that We cannot take care of our
bodies.".
apologized. mo grave matter mine," I
said but you look sad. Nothing wrong with
you or yours2"
mo, thanks but I have just left depres.
sing scene, one which would willingly throw
sunshine upon, but have not the power"
Then he gave me the particulars. "a
young couple, married in hot haste, have
come gradually to grief. At first, in quite
comfortable circumstances, they are now in
distressing poverty. The wife and child are
i'll. Relatives and friends have receded into
the remote background. And, worse than all,
the husband"
"Has become Incorporate or gone mad"
"Neither one nor the other-that is to say
not to the full extent But he has become
Aighty, or else, much fear"
"Something worse?"
"Yes; for to be dishonest is worse than CO.
ing mad. However, have only suspicious,
and 1 do most truly think, if anything wrong
has been done, it has beer prompted by a
desperate desire to alleviate the suferings of
his wife and child. And it is such mere
trife that is needed, apparently, to put all
straight, that groan at my inability at the
moment to find il"
"What is wantedY"
swell, it's only twenty pounds, but even
that is formidable sum to clergyman whose
income is not equal to that of bis baker"
But" urged, for liked to pose my spir-
itual adviser if I could, "you hint at down
right crime. Certainly it would not be right
to prevent the due course of justice? Think
of the claims of society,""
II decline. ! think only of a suffering fam
lily. and leave police courts 10 hardened GRIM
inals.
"There is the money which you require
Haste away, and do all the good you can with
it."
My friend looked astonished. He even
hesitated.
1T is very, very good of you" be said, "bus
really-do forgive me-is it not more than
than you"
"Can afford. Yes, it is; but be easy-the
money ts not mine"