River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-01-16
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS

I clerk IN L0nu0n Dank. MY idbucI wa
an officer in the army, and he often told
as boys that setting each of us up in some
business or profession was all he could
ever do for us, for the scanty pittance be
would leave behind him must belong sole.
ly to my mother and sisters. But my
brother and were energetic and hopeful
So long as each day brought us enough
to satisfy our daily wants, we rocked lit
tie of the failure.
One bleak, cold January morning was
greatly surprised ON my arrival at the
bank to lind my father pacing up and
down before the building. l was not
living at home Just then, and his presence
there made me fear lest something was
wrong.
Philip he began, "are you in timel
Can you spare me three minutes2"
ayes, sir. replied, "for wonder,
see am ten minutes earlier than | need
be- What is the matter9"
"Do not look so startled" he said,
"Nothing is wrong. You know Mr..
Fosberry2'
"Oh, YOU mean that half-cracked old
man who is awfu4y rich and is my god
father as well as cousin thirty times re-
moved2" l asked.
Yes" was the reply. well. last night
| received letter from him, after years
of silence, in which he asks after you"
And he read me the letter.
"What queer old boy!n | exclaimed.
"What does he mean2" tor / did not ex-
actly understand it.
Mean" cried my father, excitedly,
snatching the letter from me, and crush
ing it in his pocket "Why, to make you
his heir, Philip--his heirP'
"Whew' said |, blushing; chats a
good idea"
You must apply for leave to 90 of at
once,'' said my father. "Strike while the
irons hot. It's splendid chance, Philip
splendid Use IL we'll, and your fortune
| is made"
So l thought, applied for leave, and set
off for the Paddington Station soon after,
with my ears ringing with legion of in
| structions fol pleasing old men, given me
| by my fellow-c clerks. The only one !
could clearely remember was, to rise
whenever he came into the room, and
then eschew every comfortable arm chair
| for fear he should want it. felt burst
! ing with importance, AND actually treated
myself to glass of hot whisky ana wa
ter at the refreshment room.
Hello, William suddenly cried a
voice.
why, Jack, what brings you here2" /
replied, recognizing friend, John Evans.
II am going down to Gloucester" said
he. Where are you off to!
''Oh, to such luckl" | cried. I am off
beyond Hereford, to humor an old gen
tleman."
"What?" said Jack.
"Come along, and I'll tell you all
about it, said l. Second class2 Yes all
right Here we are
After we were settled in our places, an
old man got in. He was poorly dressed,
and wore a green shade over one eye,
while the other looked weak and droop-
ing. We grunted our disapproval at his
entrance, and made mutual grimaces, but
as his blind eye was toward us they We're
lost TO him. AS the train moved off, l
TOLD Jack my story, which you know al
ready.
Well done. Philip Your bread is
buttered for you" he exclaimed, when he
mad heard me to the end. "What a
glorious chance Man alive, wish | were
in your shoes, that's all"
Eyes, yes. my boy. All right" | ex
claimed. "Well, it's shame if | don't
secure a good smoke now, before the light
of my pipe goes out into obscuritg. DO
you object to smoke, sirf'
This latter question was addressed to
the old gentleman in the corner, who APP
pcared a curious mass of old coats, rail
way rugs, and newspapers.
II do object very much" was the
gruffly- spoken reply
Very sorry, sir" said /. "Ill keep
nv head out of the window. them
Shame seizes me when recall this in
cident. In leu of attention 70 the old
mans wishes, l coolly lit my pipe, aud
though knew the wind would blow the
smoke right into his eyes-though |
heard him growing with rage-I pulled
on heedlsssly. l should be sorry to be
so rude now, but you see | was young
and excited.
The short January afternoon was draw
ing to close, and very soon after we
we're dependent for light on the lamp
that hung from the center of the carriage
roof.
Whether it was the old mans example,
who had gone to sleep, or the monoton-
Gus noise of the train as it sped along, or
| thatour powers of chatting were exhausted,
/ | knew not. but anyhow we too began to
/ feel inclined for a nap. But we found
| the lamp an intolerable nuisance with its
necessarily pickering light.
Bother it! Can't we blow 1T out2''
exclaimed.
mot if we cracked our cheeks. But
! I've notion!n cried ever ready-witted
Jack. "aand me the old boys hat"
| "Whatever for2' as handed him the
article in question. 1t W 5 worn and
rusty. but well brushed and we'll shaped.
$40 make an extinguisher of, replied
Jack; and so saying he fitted it on the
lamp, making the globe act like the bale
head of the owner of the hat l. fitted to
a nicely, and so tightly as to keep well in
its place. The arrangement answered
splendidly, and not a glimmer of light
was to be seen.
When the train stopped at Swindon we
awoke, and rushed. our of the carriage to
get refreshments, quite forgetting our fell
low passenger and his hat. On returning,
we found they had both flown. The
train started and when we arrived al
Gloucester, Jack left me. | had cool,
lonely Journey to my destination, little
station just below Hereford. When |
arrived, it was nine O'Clock; dark, raw
night; was very sleepy and tired. For
some moments l could not find my port
manteau; thon my hat-box was missing.
and while l was searching, the guard was
excIaiming about the delay of the train.
AT last 1t was all found, the guard whis-
tied, the train moved off, and was
standing on little country platform, In
a strange place.
"Any CATS or fiys TO get here2' asked
the station master.
"Dear me, no, sir" was the reply. "But
we can get you something down in the
town. Where is it TO go, sira"
81 want to go 10 Mr.. Fosberry's, of
Castle Hall" l replied.
| paced the wretched little station till
the conveyance came. with my mind full
of the coming meeting. ! asked the
driver how far we had to go.
How far, siri' said he. "Oh, about
four miles,