New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
You better here: SIR. shink, at any rate III

ana shifting the settle little hung 1t over the end
10 dry. With his handkerchief he rubbed some Of
the wet out Of his hair then perfectly exhausted s?s
He I,' was awakened nearly an hour afterward by
mevDS Guey about the Starting into
ting posture, he lookedaround him. bewldered tor
moment and then, recognizing his humble friend,
II had lost Myself; could not imagine where
was
but this is better than being out of doors. IL has
come On a nasty night. brought rug round with
me that perhaps. you would wrap yourself in
something to eat, said the young ran laughing.
Are you hungry, sir, then y asked William, in
tone OF concern.
Yes have had nothing to eat since breakfast
The governor aud commenced rowing the minute
we sat down to luncheon. and rose ana left the
table But hunger does not signify; am dry and
warm and can forget the other matter in Sleep,
And it's too late now to buy anything solilo-
quized the man; the shops are all shut long ago;
Do you think SIR ne added you could
DO think l should call it perfect feast ? an
swered Graham Co1lton. But never mind about
food tonight, William; you have had trouble
enough, and to spare, already
williams only answer was to dart to the door and
run downstairs Presently he reappeared carrying
in one hand bread and cheese wrapped up in paper,
and in the other pewter measure full Of beer
Z. It's the best could do, SIR he said apologetc-
ally: ,! had to beg this from the landlady.'
fellow gayly, taking long pull Mt the tankard.
That tastes better than champagne partaken OF in
my fathers house.. $500,
Wont he be uneasy about you p ventured Will
lam, who, having by this time emptied the Goals,
was now seated on the inverted basket. looking
wistfully at the relish with which the son OF his
former master was eating his bread and cheese
no. was the decided answer. When he hears 1t
pouring cats and dogs he will only hope am OUT IN
the deluge, and say good drenching Will cool my
PRIDE -,
i do not think you are right there remarked the
but am sure am. My father always hated
me, as he hated my mother
Begging your pardon, sir; he was over-fond of
II You had heard what-he said about her to-day.
you might have reason to alter your OPINION. nc
told me l resembled her in mind as well as body;
that l was o coward, and a simpleton, and hypo-
crite'
He did not mean it, SIR
'he did, every word. Tie does think am
coward because H. And the young fellow
broke into passion of hysteIical tears.
| don't halt like leaving you here alone sain
William, glancing round the room with quicik
trouble in his eyes but have no place nc to ask
you to STOP and am forced to go myself, because
t Se an the on
mustn't talk any more of my father Tell ME
about yourself, William; How did you manage to
get such big house, and why are You leaving itr
The landlord put me in charge, sir; and IL was
my wi!e's fancy rSyy not t., to IKE < i it,
'She felt desolate alone with the children at
night answered William, turning away his head
then added, next minutes: Now sir, II you think
can do no more for you. l had best be of. Times
getting on. I'll look ronnd Tomorrow morning!
Good night, said the young fellow, stretching
out his hand, which the otheI took rs iIeely ana
done this evening if had not CHANGED to meet yon
. don't think there IS much chance In the world,
Master Graham was the quiet answer. 40 nope
you will rest well. and not be the worse for vour
no fear of that was the rejonder, and next
minute the young man found himself all alone Ill
the Old House NauXhaI Walk.
CHAPTER II.
Living on the settle with the fire burnt ont and
the room in total darkness, Graham Coalition
dreamed a curious dream. He thought no awoke
from deep slumber to find log smouldering away
upon the HEARTH and the mirror at the end oil the
| apartment refechDg fitful CLEANS of light. lie
could not understand how 1t came to pass that. far
away az he from the glass. he was able TO see
everything in it bur he resigned himself TO the
difficulty without astOnshment, as people generally
Neither did he feel surprised when he beheld the
outline of female figure seated beside the ite en-
gagged in picking something out OF her lap and
dropping it with despairIng gesture
He heard the mellow sound OF gold, and knew she
was lifting and dropping soveregns He turned
little so as the person engaged in snch SIN
onIar and meaningless manner, and iound that.
where there had been char on the previous night,
there "a chair now, on which was seated an Oh,
wrinkled hag her clothes poor and ragged mob
can barely covering her scant white HAIR her checks
sunkeu her nose hooked, her fingers more ike
talons than aught else as they dived down into tho
heap of gold portions of which they lifted but to
Ton, NV lost life she moaned in voice Of the
bitterest anguish. 'Oh my lost hfe-for one day,
for one hour OF IT again! :,
room where the shadows lay deepcst-ont IRON the
gloom abiding near the door-out from the aleary
night with their sOddcn feet and the set dripping
from their heads came tho old men and the young
children, the worn women and the weary hearts
whose misery that gold might have IecVed' but
Round that m,ser, who once safe GloatlnB az Sio
now safe Iamenting, they cIowded-all th0se pare
sad shapes-the aged OF days. the infant Oh nouns:
the sobuing outcast, honest poverty, .Iepentant
vice, but one low cry proceeded from tnOso pare
lips-a cry, for help she might have gwen but
They closed about her. all together, as they had
done sngly in life they prayed. they sobbcd. they
entreated; with haggard eyes the figure regarded
the poor she had repulsed, the chidren, against
whose cry she had closed her ears the old people
abe had suffered to starvc and die for want OF what
would have been the merest tr1ite 10 her; then,
with a terrible scream, she raised her lean arms
above her head and sank d0wn-down--the gold
scattering as it fell out of her lap and rolling along
the floor, till its CLEAN was lost in the outer DARK
Then Graham Coulton awoke in good earnest,
with the perspiration oozng from every pore. with
fear and an agony on him such as he had never
before felt in all his existence and with the sound
of the heart rending cry: On! my lost life still
ringing in his ears.
some lesson for him which he had forgotten, that.
| try he would eluded his memory. and which, IN
| the very act OF waking, gllded away. . go
He lay for n little thinking about all this
and them still heavy with sleep, retraced his way
| into dreamand once more.
! 1t was natural. perhaps that mngling with the
strange fantasies which follow in the train of night
| and darkness, the former vision should recur, and
| the young man ere long found himself toilng
through scene after wherein the figure OF the
| woman he had seen seated beside fire held prin-
| cipal place.
He saw her walking slowly across the floor munich:
| ing dry crust-she who could have purchased all
| the luxuries wealth command; on the hearth.
| contemplating her. stood man of commanding
| presence dressed in the fashion OF q far gone%Dy
| time. In his eyes there dark look OF anger,
on his Ips curling smile OF disgust and somehow.