New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-08-17
"A VAGABOND."
"Cnn1a I'M

"A VAGABOND."
'Come in"
The speaker. sallow-faced, not
very agreeable-looking young man of
about twenty, looked up as the door
burst open, and something like a smile
lit up his features as he nodded a well
come to his visitor, a bright, frank
faced youth about two years his Junior,
who came bounding in, flung himself
into chair, his hat one way, his cane
another, and then began to speak in
eager, excited tones, and with an air
of hoyish enthusiasm.
Congratulate me, Cloment" he
cried. s'My nomination as cadet ar
rived last night, and I start in two days
for Woolwich," and Horace Mervyn
looked exultingly at his particular
friend, Clement Hastings, who an
swered:>
':And I, too, have good news, Hor-
ace; for leave soon for London, my
uncle having written me to come on
and read law in his of!ice.''
mo dull law for me, Glenn" OK
claimed the other, ''for long for a life
of excitement. and intend TO rise rap
idly as a soldier, while you are brow
beating witnesses and endeavoring to
find out, by legal lore, the identity of
John Doe and Richard Roe.''
'tAh, shall divide my time between
law and literature, as have particu-
lar desire to become good writer, and
you know have already written some
very readable articles for our county
papers; but come, return home with
me, for this will be our last day to-
gether for many year."
The two had been companions from
their earliest boyhood, the one being
the son of widow in moderate cir
cumstances, and the other tho heir of
Sir Richard Mervyn, the .wealthiest
man in the county where the youths
lived.
Fond of life, yet free from dissipation,
and both of them handsome, daslling
youths, it was predicted that they would
make their mark in the world, and as
they:.bade each other farewell the one to
enter the academy at Woolwich, the
other to take chambers in the Temple
and read law, they mentally resolved
that they would not 60 through life like
dumb, driven cattle, but
"Would leave behind them
Footprints in the sands of Time."
From the day of his entrance at tho
Academy, Horace Mervyn set out to
stand at the head of his class, and this
determination held to him through tho
arduous years of study, and placed his
name at the top of the list the day he
babe Woolwich farewell.
In passing through London on his
leave. prior to joining the battery of
Horse Artillery, in India, to which he
had been gazetted, he called upon his
old-time friend, Clement Hastings,
with whom he had kept up a regular
correspondence.
'*Well, Glen, + graduated with first
honors." he said, after the two had
grasped hands in warm welcome.
II am glad to hear it, old fellow,
though you have surprised me, as you
know you never wero very fond of
books"
''Truc; gun, dog or horse had more
attraction for me in those days of lang
syne;' but I stuck to work with a will,
and now have my foot on the first
round of the ladder of promotion. But
how have you faredp9
me? Oh, very we'll. I read law,
and was admitted to practice; then
dabbled in medicine, and month ago
received my diploma to kill by science,
and-''
''What! lawyer and doctor, both,
Clement?''
"Oh, yes; for in my profession !
should know little of everything"
"And what is your professional
am an an; author.5 And there ru was sea con-
siderable egotism in the reply of the
young aspirant for literary honors.
''True; you sent me. some of your
writings, and I enjoyed them because
you wrote them, old fellow, though !
must confess they seemed little too
pedantic; but you know best, and /
hope you are making your pen pay you. -
''Ah, yes, Horace; but it is uphill
work at first, you know. Yet I have
set the ball of success rolling up hill,
and am engaged on sketches for some
magazines, stories for others, and
have in hand some dramas for our
theatres.'
"Why, you are busy; and wish you
every success" And after dinner to.
gether the two friends second time
parted.
Six months after that parting Horace
Mervyn was winning fame upon the
frontier in an Indian war, and had been
twice recommended for promotion, and
often mentioned in dispatches for gal.
lantry on the field.
And Clement Hastings was plodding
away in London, driving his pen hard,
and piling up MS, but finding its
marketable value just enough to keep
him comfortably, and not allow him ia
get much ahead; and his mother being
dead and having had only life inter.
terest in the property that had sup.
ported her comfortably, the young man
had to depend wholly upon himself.
One day he received letter from
Horace Mervyn, which particularly in.
terested him, for it asked him to call
upon Miss Davenant, the daughter of q
distinguished officer who had lately re.
turned to England from the East.
'.Miss Davenant," added Horace, sis
the one girl in the world for me, and
one of these days intend to ashI her
to be my wife, so I wish you to see her,
Clement, and tell me what you think
of her; and, by the way, don't forget
to throw in a good word for yours
truly"
OF course Clement Hastings called
on Kate Davenant, and, at sight, he
fell in love with the beautiful girl,
whose character was as lovely as were
her face and form.
And, at a glance almost, he discov-
cred that her opinion Of Horace was
such that, when she was asked to be-
come his wife she would not refuse, for,
when about to take his leave, she said,
earnestly:
''Oh, Mr.. Hastings, please write to
Lieutenant Mervyn and ask him to be
less rash. for you do not know how
very reckless he is, and the officers and
! - IN 1,s11ol.