The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-02-17
A Perilous Journey.

A Perilous Journey.
There Is a tide in the affairs Of men,
Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune'-
So says the sage, and it is not to be
gainsayed by any man whom forty
! winters have chilled into wisdom. Abil-
ity and opportunity are fortune. OPP
oortunity is not fortune; otherwise all
were fortunate. Ability is not fortune,
else why does genius slave 2 Why ?
But because it missed the opportunity
that fitted 1t.
What / have-wife, position, indie
pendence--Iaowe to an opportunity for
exercising the very simple and unpre-
tendlpg combination of qualities that
goes by the name of ability, But to my
| story. g.
My father was wealthy country gem
tleman, OF somewhat more than the
average of intelligence, and somewhat
more than the average of generosity
| and extravaganza. His younger BROTH
er, solicitor in large practice in Lon
don, would in vain demonstrate as to
the imprudence of his course. Giving
freely, spending freely, must come to
an end. 1t did; and at twenty | was a
well-eduCated, gentlemanly pauper.
The investigation of my fathers affairs
showed that there was one shilling and
stxpence in the pound for the whole of
his creditors, and Of course nothing for
me. ,g.Ifaf
The position was painful. ] was half
engaged to-Athat is, l had gloves, flow-
ers, a ringlet, carte de yisite of Alice
Morton, That, of course, must be stop
ped.
Mr.. SrIas Morton was not ill-pleased
at tho prospect of an alliance with his
nelghbOr Westwood's son while there
was an expectation of a provision for
the young couple in the union of estates
as well as persons; but now, when the
estate was gone, when l, Guy West,
wood, was shillingless in the world, it
would be folly indeed. Nevertheless
| must take my leave.
"Well, Guy, my lad, bad job this;
very bad JOB; thought he was as safe as
the bank. Would not have believed it
from any one-not from any one. OF
course all that nonsense about you and
Alice must be stopped now; I'm not
hard man, but | can't allow Alice to
throw away her life in the poverty she
would have to bear as your wife; can't
G0itiwOuldn't be the part Of father
it, Idld "
l suggested ! might in time.
Thine, sir time! How much She's
nineteen now. You're brought up to
nothing; know nothing that will earn
you sixpence for the next six months,
and you talk about time, Time. in
deed Keep her waiting till she's thirty,
and then break her heart by finding it
a-folty to marry at all !" t
"Ah Alice, my dear, Guys come to
say iGood bye:" he sees, with me, that
his altered position compels him. as an
honorable man, TO give up any hopes
he. may have formed as to the future"
:Ile left Us alone to say ''Farewell 70.
"a word too hard to say at our ages.
or course we consulted what should be
done, To give each other up, to bury
the delicious past, that was not to be
though or, We would be constant, spite
of all. Ilnust gain position, and papa
would then help us.
Two ways were open: commission
in India, a place in my unele's office.
Which? l was for the commission.
Alice for the office. A respectable in.
Anential solicitor; a position not TO be
despised nothing buteleverness wanted;
and my unele's names and one to wait
for; no liver complaints; no SepOys; no
sea voyages; and no long separation.
ooh, l m sure it is the best thing"
/ agreed. not unnaturally then, that
it was the best.
, Nov, youyoung people, you've had
time enough to say "Good bye" so be
off, Guy, ITere my lad. youTl need
something to Start with" and the old
gentleman Put into my hands a ncte,for
fifty pounds.
4 must beg, sir, that You win not
INSULT"
"God bless the boy "Insultl" Why
PYe danced you on my knee hundreds
of times. Look you, Guy"-and the
old fellow came an'l put his hand on
my shoulder-"it gives me pain to 90
what l am doing. ] believe, for both
your sakes, it is best you should part.
Let US part friends. Come now, Guy,
you'll need this; and If you need a little
more let me know" f"
"But, sir, you cut me off from all
hope; you render my life a burden to
me. Give me some definite task; say
how much you think we ought to have
to keep Allce-I mean, Miss Mort0u-
IN such position as YOU would wish.
Alice added her entreaties, and the
result of the conference was an under
standing that II within five years from
that date could show l was w0gtb
5OOl. year, the old gentleman would
add another 50Ol and on that he
thought We might live for few years
comfortably.
There was to be no correspondence
whatever no meetings, no messages
We protested and pleaded, and dnally
lie said =
. 'Well, well, Guy; I always liked you,
and liked your father before you, Come
TO us on Christmas Day, and you shall
find vacant chair beside Alice,
There, now say "Good bye" and be
on"
] went OF. came to London, TO one
Of The little lanes leading out OF Can,
mon Street, Five hundred a year in
i've years 1 must work hard.
Nv uupIa fDplr litfIa t,nffea ~ me. |