Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-29
TWOHUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS.
A Story for the Possible Heirs of Old
Gentlemen.

SentIenens
shall never forget the uncomfortable post
ton that found myself in through too free use
OF that unrulv member the tongue. / was a
young fellow then, clerk in London bank. My
father was an officer In the army, and he often
told us boys that setting each of us up In busi-
ness OF profession was all he could ever do for
u.s. for the Scant pittance he would leave behind
him must belong solely to my mother and sis
ter. But my brother and were energetic ana
hopeful So long as each day brought us enough
to satisfy our daily wants, we rocked little of
The future.
One bleak, cold January morning was great
ly surprised on my arrival at the bank to find
my father pacing up and down before the build
ing. 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 timer" Can
you spare me three minutes?"
Eyes, SIR replied, ''for wonder, I see am
ten minutes earlier than l need be. You know
Mr.. FOSberry?"
''Oh, you mean the half-cracked old man who
Is awful rich. and is my godfather, as well as
cousin thirty times remoyed?" L asked.
YES" was the reply. well, last night re-
ceived letter from him, after years OF silence
In which he asks after YOU" And he read me
the letter.
"What queer old boy!" exclaimed "What
does he mean?" for did not exactly understand
s.Mean," cried nv father exctedly, snatching
the letter from me, and crushing it in his pocket.
'Mean.'-why to make you his heir, Philip-hS
HERR
"Whew," said /, blushing; that's good idea"
said my father. strike while the iron is hot.
It's splendid chance, Philip-splendd Use 1t
well. and your fortune is made
SO thought, applied for leave, and set Of for
the Paddington station soon after. with my ears
ringing with n region OF instructions for pleas
ing old men given me by my fellow clerks. The
only one could clearly remember was, to rise
whenever he came into the ROOM and then
eschew every comfortable armchair for fear he
should want II. l felt bursting with import
ance and actually treated myself to a glass Of
hot whisky and water at the refreshment ROOM
:" Hello, Nilliam!' suddenly cried voice.
"Why, Jack. what brings you here?" Ireplled,
recognizing friend, John Evans.
81 am going down to Gloucester" said he.
"Oh, to such luckl" i cried. 81 am off be-
yond Hereford to honor an old gentleman."
'What?" said Jack.
",Come along, and I'll tell you all about it,"
said 1. Second class? Yes all right. Here
we are"
After we were settled In our places an old man
got In. He was poorly dressed, and wore green
shade over one eye while the other looked weak
and dropping. We grunted our disapproval at
his entrance, and made mutual grmaces, but as
his blind eye was toward US they were lost to
him. AS the train moved off told Jack nv
story, which you know already.
swell done, Fhilipl Your bread Is buttered
for you, he exclaimed when he had heard me
alive wish were in your shoes, that's all
Yes yes, my boy. All right" 1 exclaimed.
swell, it's a shame If 1 don't secure a good
smoke now, before my pipe goes out in obscurl-
ty. Did you object to smoke, Sir?"
This latter question was addressed to the old
gentleman in the corner who appeared curious
mass OF old coats railway rugs and newspapers.
q do object very much,' was the grufny
spoken reply.
very sorry, sir" said !. 'I1l keep my head
out OF the window then"
Shame seized me when recall this incident
In lieu OF attending to the old mans wishes, |
coolly Lit my pipe and though knew the wind
Would DIoW the smoke right into his eyes
though l heard him growing with rage-I
pulled on heedleSSy. l should be sorry TO be
so rude now, but you see was young and ex-
cited.
The short January afternoon was drawing to
close, and very soon after we were dependent
for light on the lamp that hung from the center
Whether it wass the old mans example who
had gone TO sleep, or the monotonous noise OF
the train as 1t sped along, or that our powers of
chatting were exhausted / know not but any,
how, we too began to feel inclined for nap
But we found the lamp an intolerable nuisance
with its necessarily tiickering light.
claimed.
mot if we cracked our cheeks. But I've
notion ~ cried ever ready witted Jack. Hand
"Whatever for?" as l handed him the article
In question. 1t was worn and rusty, but well
brushed and well shaped.
ITO make an eXtinguisher off, replied Jack;
and so saying, he fitted 1t on the lamp, making
the globe act like the bald head Of the owner OF
the hat 1t fitted to nicely, and so tightly as
TO keep it well in its place. The arrangement
answered splendidly, and not glimmer Of light
was to be seen.
When the train stopped at swlndon we awoke
and rushed out OF the carriage to get refresh
ments, quite forgetting our fellow-paSsenger
and his hat. On returning we found they had
both flown, The train started, and when we
arrived at Gloucester, Jack left me. l had
cool, lonely journey to my destination, a little
station Just below Hereford. When arrived, it
was O'Clock; a dark, raw night; was very
sleepy and tired. For some moments could net
find my portmanteau then my hat-boX was
missing; and while was searching, the guard
last 1t was all found, the guard whistled the train
moved of, and l was standing on little coun-
try platform in strange place.
Amy cabs or fiys to be got here?" asked the
station master.
..Dear me, no, SIR" was the reply. "But we
can get you something down town. Where is
1t TO Sir?"
81 want to get to Mr. Fosberry's of Castle
hall" replied.
paced the wretched little station till the con-
veyance came, with my mind full of the coming
meeting. l asked the driver how far we had to
.:How far, sire" said he. "oh, about four
miles"
got in, and we bowled along the dark narrow
lanes. After half an hours drive we entered
some handsome iron gates, and drove into what
seemed to Inc now, in the dim light, a very eX-
ensiye park. The whole aspect impressed upon
me was the idea Of grand estate, and queS-
toned the driver on the subject.
Indeed, II is big place, sir, he replied "'TiS
about 10 miles around the estate. En-, Mr.. Fos-
berry's very rich. People do say he has e2OO,-
WO 10 leave, IL he'S penny, besides this prop
erty."
My driver jumped down and pulled the bell
The peal reSounded through the house like the
clang OF a trumpet footman in livery flung
open the door, and was admitted into hall
glowing with light and warmth, and then showed
into brilliaptly-lighted drawing-room A mo-
ment later and the tall footman reappeared He
apologtZed for his masters non-appearance and
requested Inc TO obey the Instructions OF
note which he handed me nom massive silver
Salver.
tore it open and read:
Mr.. Phil FOsteTT-y Williams: The next time
you travel by rail, do not smoke nor annoy old
gentlemen; do not make the infirnties OF age
and seeming poverty your laughing stock; do not
tell your friends OF your great expectations; do
not speak OF your cracked Drained relatives: do
not make eXtfngushers OF Old gentlemens hats;
90 not be slangy, vulgar, and insulting TO
strangers do not nouriSh vain hopes of inherit
ing me- and, finally do not lose any time in
IedVmg forever the house OF your old fire
Works OF q fellow traveller.
PHILIP FOsBERRY.
penses. p'' '''''
~, HOW got out the house-how got back to
tne station, ana spent the night In a wretched
mn-hoW returned to town and told INV en-
ragged relatives my wOful tale, wherein / piayed
such sorry part-how my abject letter Of
apology was returned unread-I cannot tell
only know old Fosberry died worth s2OO 900