The Portland daily press., 1880-07-26
Some One Pays.
By Charles Lever.
CIIAPER |.

CHAPER I.
BRINDIsI August -.
DEAR HARRY:-Our plans are all formed
We start from this place on Tuesday for Corfu
where we have secured small cutter of some
thirty tons, by which we mean to drop
down the Albanian coast, making woodcocks
our object on all the days pigs do not offer
We are four-Gerard, Hope, Lascelles and
myself-of whom you know all but Lascelles,
but are sure to like when you meet him. We
want you and will take no refusal. Hope de-
clares on his honor that he will never pay you
the hundred you lent him if you fail us; and
he will, which is more remarkable still, book
up the day you join u.s. Seriously, however, 1
entreat you to be one of us. Take no trouble
about guns, ETC., We are amply provided.
We only ask yourself.
Yours ever, GEORGE OGLE
Ii you cannot join at Corfu, we shall rendez-
vous at Prevesa, a little town ON the Turkish
sde where you can address us to the care of
the Vice Consul, Lydyard.
This note reached me one day in the late
autumn, while was sojourning at Lamm,
at Innspruck. 1t had followed me from
Paris to Munich, to Baden, the Ammergau.
and at last overlook me at Innspruck, some
four weeks after it had been written. i'll
was annoyed at the delay which lost me
such companionship, for three of the four
were old friends, glance at the postscript
reconciled me at once to the disappoint-
ment-Prevessa, and the name Lydyard
awoke very sad memories; and l do not
know what would have induced me to re-
fresh them by seeing either again. 1t is not
story, nor is it scene, that am about to
relate. 1t is one of those little incidents
which are ever occurring through life, and
which serve to remind us how our moral
health, like our physical, is the sport of acct
dent; and that just Us the passing breeze
may carry on its breast pleurisy, the
chance meetings in the world may be
carcely less fatal.
have been an idler and wanderer for
eears. left the army after a short expert
ence OF military life, imagining that could
not endure the restraints of discipline, and
slowly discovered afterward that there is no
such slavery as an untrammeled will, and
that the most irksome bondage is nothing in
comparison with the vacillations and uncer-
talnties OF purposeless existence.
was left early my own master, with no
relatives except distant ones, and with
means, not exactly ample, but quite suffi-
cient for the ordinary needs of gentleman
was free to 60 anywhere or do ANYTHING,
which, in my case, at least, meant to be
everlastingy projecting or abandoning
now determining on some pursuit that
should give me an object or a goal in life.
and now assuring myself that all such de-
bOi NClC SldbGIlGS, anu UndU 10
conform to the usages by which men sought
success in public or professional life was an
ignoble drudgery and unworthy of him who
could live without it.
In this unsettled frame of mind tray-
elled about the world for years-at first over
the cognate parts of the continent, with
which became thoroughly familiar, know
ing Rome, Paris, Vienna and Naples. as I
knew London. | then ran all over the
States, crossing the Rocky Mountains and
spending above a year ON the Pacific coast.
not say home, for have none-by Constan-
tinople, and thence to Belgrade, where l
made the acquaintance of Turkish Pasha,
then Governor of Scutari in Albania, and
returned with him to his seat of govern
ment. A Vice Governor of Prevesa induced
me to go back with him to that unpromising
spot, assuring me how easy should always
find means of reaching Corfu or Italy; and
that, meanwhile, the quail shooting, which
was then beginning, would amply reward
me for my stay.
Prevesa was about as wretched village
as poverty, sloth, and Turkish indifference
could accomplish. The inhabitants, who
combined trade and fishing ostensibly, re-
ally lived by smuggling, and only needed the
opportunity to be brgands on shore. Their
wretched ''bazaar" displayed only the COM
monest wares of Manchester or Glasgow.
with Belgian cutlery and cheap imitation
jewelry. But even these had no buyers, and
the little stir and life of the place was in the
cafes, where the brawny natives, armed to
the teeth, smoked and lounged the livelong
day, and, to all seeming, fulfilled no other
duty in existence.
| suspect l have all actual liking for
dreary and tiresome places. 1 believe they
somehow accommodate themselves to a
something in my temperament which is not
misanthopy, nor mental depression. lor vet
romance, but is compounded of all three |
feel, beside, that my imagination scars the
more freely, the fewer the distractions that
surround ME, but that require just that
small amounted stimulant human life and
its daily cares suggest to prevent stagna-
ton.
was at least Six days at Prevesa before I
was aware that her Britannia Majesty had a
representative there. 1t was in chance
rambfe down little alley that led to the bav
| came upon the British arms over low
doorway. 1t was very poor looking, tum-
ble-down house, with very frail wooden
balcony over the door, distinguished by a
flagstaff to be doubtless decorated ION occa-
sion by the proud flag of England.
Framing | forget what imaginary reason
for inquiry, [ entered and knocked at door
inscribed Consular hours from - and
then smudge of paint obliterating the
rest and leaving the import in doubt. Not |
receiving any answer to my summons | |
pushed open the door and entered. A man
in his shirt sleeves and slippers was asleep |
on very dirty sofa, and so soundly that my |
entrance did not disturb him. A desk with |
some much worn books and scattered pa |
pers, massive leaden inkstand and large |
official seal were in front of him, but paper |
of Turkish tobacco and a glass of what smelt |
to be gin, were also present, and from the |
flushed cheek and heavy breathing of the |
sleeper, appeared to have been among his |
latest occupations.
1t is not necessary should record our |
conversation. In his haif-waking and not |
all sober state he had mistaken me for |
British soldier who had been left behind |
and was importuning to be sent
on to England, but whose case evidently |
had inspired scant sympathy.
"Pll not do it, grumbled out the consul. |
with his eyes more than half closed. You |
were drunk or a deserter-I don't care
which. My instructions are positive, and |
you may go to the d for me. There,
that's your answer, and You'll not get any |
other if you stayed there till dusk"
Il suspect you mistake me, SIR" said l,
mildly. II am traveller and an English
gentleman"
= 81 hate gentlemen, and | don't love trav-