The Van Buren press., 1877-05-15
MISCELLANY.
m WTO OVILIHTV u
The Two Joneses. fa -
.asA .-@f ~ wool af Is
A STORY OF ST DAvID'S DAY.


1t was the first of March, in the year
of grace lS-. In merchants office,
not far from Cheapside, little man sat
at high desk, trying hard. apparently,
to keep one eye on the rows of figures
before him, and the other on the Office
clock Failing in this, his glances trsv-
eled from one to the other with pendu-
lum like regularity. At last the clock
struck the wished-for hour Of six; and
the little man shut the big ledger with a
bang, and after locking it up carefully in
the office safe, dashed into a dark cup.
board, and began hasty but careful
toilet. involving great splashng of water,
and much violent exercise with stumpy
nail brush. Evan Jones was nominally
EeSoaaag. rs tGle Tlfr4H B94k,cF 4" Ri Brown, wi,
hard-wo merchants. He was fifty
years ofage, short, fat, and goodnatur
ed, though little peppery at time He
had q numerous family, whom he found
it anything but easy to feed and bring up
on his modest salary of fifty shiliags Il
week With strict economy, however,
he managed just to make both ends meet.
Not for him were the breezy sands of
Ramgate, or the chestnut avenues of
Hampton Court Not for him were the
mild havana or the fragrant cigarette
He had no vices and desired no luxuries.
One indulgence alone, in the course of a
year, lid he permit himself. He was a
Welshman to the backbone, and herein
lay his one extravaganza. Come what
might, and however depressed the con-
dition Of the domestic money market, he
was always present at the dinner Of the
"United Welshmen " on St David's Day,
The necessary .,uinea was to Jones as a
hundred to many of the other guests who
assembled at the banquet in question:
sum to be saved and scraped together by
infinite sacrifice and self denial But 2.
Though Z" back and sides go bare,
Though hands and feet go cold"
as the song says, scraped together it must
be, by hook or by crook. For nearly a
week prior to the present occasion,
Evans dinner had consisted Of saveloy
and penny roll and on the day Of our
story he had taken no food whatever since
his frugal breakfast, intending to com
pensate himself handsomely for his alb
stinence at the expense of the "United
Welshmen" He had, in truth, gone so
long without TODD as to feel little ex
hausled but he consoled himself with the
thought of the splendid appetite he would
carry to the festive board and having at
last completed his toilet, he shut up the
Office, and started for the hostelry where
the dinner was to be held, feeling at least
six feet high, and humming ar hyd y nos
with patriotic energy.
AT almost the same moment when Evan
Jones started on his journey, a tall hand
some man, in faultess evening attire
stepped out of West end mansion, out
side of which bgougham was waiting.
A graceful little lady, with bright girl
ish face, accompanied him to the hall
door.
"You won't be very late, Owen, will
you?" she said, coaxingly.
mot very early, am afraid, pet. We
= Welshmen are rare fellows for keep
ing it up and if come away before all
the notional toasts had been duly honor.
ed, | should never hear the last of it,"
"Verv well, dear; then ! suppose ]
mustn't expect you till ! see you hope
you will have. a.pleasant evening, Don't
take too much wine." she continued
laughingly.
Cant answer for myself on such an
occasion" her husband responded. "The
- Tavern he said to the coachman
and kissing his hand to his wife, in few
moments was whrled out ofsight.
CHAPTER II.
The "JJniteu WelShmen 4" had finished