Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-29
Mr.. Bonf,r had never despised himself so

Faiain! scoundreli that's what he was: and,
what Is more, he had been trying to make viii
lalns OF others. What right had he to inter-
iere IN the love affairs of these two Young peo-
pie! what right had he to break the heart Of
the pretty. decently-s spoken girl crying hers eyes
out before him! Did he think because he had
been helping man on a bit in life
actnated more by foolish vanity than any real
honest m0tiye-that he had the right to he the
arbiter OF two existences. to settle imperiousiy
the fate OF strong and honorable attachment.
Wasn't marriage a natural thing? Hadn't he
Bonfg, been married and happy? He thanked
Heaven, however, thatthe girl had had the good
sense to come to him in good time He would
set matters right at once.
'DOnt CRY any more, there's good child he
said, tenderiy patting the girls shoulder. Il am
not in the least angry with Louis; never was,
and you shall marry him tomorrow If you like.
only don't cry any more. my dear, l can't bear
to see you crying" Extremely affected, the
old gentleman blew his nose vigorously. ..Dry
your eyes like a sensible girl" he continued; II
shall ask Louis tomorrow to forgive me. and
you shall both marry and go to Italy together.
alone am to blame in all this; Tn an old fool,
and know it. only don't CRY any more"
His persuasOns by degrees had their effect.
aud the young woman soon recovered her
spirits. and left with her heart full of gratitude
and veneration for her sweethear's benefactor
Luigi, whose whole being had been racked by
the torments of love, and the consciousness of
the next day, at this further proof of his pa
irons goodness, and swore loudly that there
was not q nObler man on the face of the earth.
The two married, and Ebenezer, who had come
down very handsomely and insisted upon Civ
ing the girl check representing four figures as
wedding gift, accompanied them to Italy, and
exerted himself actively on his pyotege's behalf.
In SIX months Luigi made his appearance in
Milan, as EdgdrdO: caused a real genuine ftsOre
and Mr. Bonfgs dream was realized.
Nv.
From that day fame andsuccess showered their
sweetest smiles upon the eX-waiter. He sang
at the principal Italian and French theaters. and
Mr.. BOnfg, who had returned to England, read
of these triumphs in the newspapers with ex-
which absorbed his whole thoughts and time
The City of Glasgow Bank failed, and Mr.
Bonf1g, who was one of the principal share
holders, found himself a beggar. Not beggar
in comparative sense, but beggar in the full
est and sternest acceptation of the term. He
was one of the zone thousand ruins" brought
about by that celebrated concern. He was the
soul of honesty, and surrendered every farthing;
he was the soul Of pride, and morbidly stunned
all his friends, hiding himself, and endeavoring
to earn daily bread. But what could this poor
old gentleman do, amidst the cruel press and
strife of the coarser millions, fighting for bare
existence? He had been accustomed to the
easy life Of man of means; he knew not one Of
the thousand practical forms of work nv which
money may be earned; be was timid and keenly
senstlve, ana ne was getting very old. His
spirit was broken. He became like man in a
dream.
Not even he himself could have told you how
he cOntrived, day by day, to prolong an exis-
tence which had become burden to him. It
was a bitter dream to him, and he lived in 1t:
in this Upas-scented dreamand, that he found
himself one sunny June day In Regent-st.
slowly walking, one of a chain Of men, by the
side of the cnrbstones, bearing strapped to his
shoulders flaming poster announcing per-
Torrance at the Opera House. and the appear-
ance of a new singer.
Admit that Dame Fortune can be brutally cyni-
cal when she likes. She had so willed it, that
by strange fatality the man who had been the
declared friend of host of past celebrities, and
the constant and liberal supporter of the opera,
should be turned. in his declining wears. into it's
sandwich" Yes, that is to what the poor old
gentleman had come Reduced to the very
verge of starvation, there soon came the mo-
ment when he did not know how to procure
even the hardest Of crusts without seeking the
cold charity of workhcuse. One day, whilst
imgerlng-taking good care. however, to avoid
observatOn-near the door of the Opera House,
he noticed a motley group Of addressed men
stumbling in and out of the dark and narrow
side entrance. They went in free from burden
and came out again loaded with huge placarded
one Of these men. and. such as the freemasonary
of sorrow, got to be in very brief time on the
confidential terms Of a fellow ''mate' with him.
" I'm sandwich man, that's wot am" said
his. newly-fOrmed acquaintance in a hoarse,
fOggy voice. ''And gets shillin' day for the
carrying of this yere board. It's ard life,
mate, but it's batter nor the workus and can
allus get my two penworth Of rum, aud blow
out O. taters.'
1t was, indeed. a hard life as Bonfg himself
avn NoA yInv hx-c ol,,&1
he placed himself under the tutelar guidance of
his not unkindly companion in misfortune. and
just kept body and soul mserably together day
after day, Bonfg with his white hair stream
Ing from under his battered hat; his shabby
clothes showing, in spite Oftheir decay feeble
attempt at tidiness and cleanliness, was still
recognizable, and he trudged along, one of a
crew OF broken-dOwn, lOafing. drunken abject-
looking men, with that stony expression on his
1ace which intense suffering and misery have
the power ofimparting to the bravest and best
resigned.
AS contrast, there came walking on the
same side of the way, big, stout, good look
ing, well-dressed, swarthy, bearded ieilOw-a
foreigner, you could tell by the cut of him
seemingly glad to ascertain, as a matter Of fact,
that England could boast of one day of SUM-
shine, at least; and pleased with the world at
large, and with himself in particular. Such a
happy, prosperous person, every fold Of whose
coat seemed to proclaim in large letters the
WOru success, COulO nave no possible reason
for starting at the sight of poor old ragged
sandwich man. and yet he did.
He not only started. but he went close up to
the man, and looked straight into his face.
"Ciclo" he exclaimed can it be? 1t isl"
Bonfg looked up in mute surprise "Luigi."
he said, calmly and gently, as though q few
hours instead Of years had separated them.
"Yes. Luigi, answered the other, tearing, in
frantic state of excitement, the poster from
Mr.. Bonf1gs back, and kicking it into the road
doubly meritoriOus act, since it was his own
name he was hurting in the dust. ''This is why
my letters have never been answered! This is
how my inquiries have all led to nothing! Maria
Madonna Santa! have lived to see this?'
He hailed passing cab, and lifted Bonfg
bodily into it.
"Poceso AMIGO! CTen,a dei gdlantuomini,'
Cuere d or0!" he exclaimed; unable to express
his feelings in anything save his native lang
uage, and all but weeping over his old patron.
''Have Luigi, una cosd du nie'ate! lived to see
my benefactOr in such state? Oh! you bad
man to do this!" He shook his fist at him in
downright good anger.
They drove to a misunderstanding house in
Bloomsbury, and Bonfig soon found himself on
sofa, in pleasant room. surrounded by the
loving glances and affectionate caresses of Luigi
and his wife. He listened to their story, his old
smile gradually finding its way back to his lips.
His protege had gone on progressing more and