Litchfield enquirer., 1881-05-12
WHOLE NO. 2866

on my mind and my mind will be the easier if open 1t to somebody" Then he told the story of his acquaintance with Miss MoIyneux. II daresay you must have thought me rather kn' idiot about Lurcher: knew he bored you on that pleasant trip of ours; but the truth is, that fell in love with him vicarious- ly. And though begin to fear he is inclined to mischievous company, feel bound to pull him through if can. If l appear to doubt him, he may lose self-respect; and then, as likely as not, he may go straight to the bad"
 Some maxims of worldly wisdom rose to my lips, but I did not care to express them. Abraham's motives and his circumstances commanded my respect and moreover, I was agreeably surprised to see him so wide-awake to the probable character of his slippery protege. So he went on
 ae.sBut that by the wsy. The fact is, that 1 did not ask Miss Molyneux to be my wife when was rich Heaven knows, it was not because I was rich that I held back. She would have helped me to turn my wealth to account, and would have done honour to any station. But l fancied she did not care for me, and feared to court refusal. Now have every reason to believe that it was that miserable Doney of mine which came in the way. At least, since she knew was ruined. she has seemed so different She has been so gentle, so sympathising. She has appeared 10 make SO much-y0u won't misunderstood me-of the coolness with which have taken this facer-not that there is really any credit in that-that l cannot help believing now, she would have willingly said'yes' had asked her before. And am downhearted when 1 remember the chance have missed. How can l ask her to share anxiety and poverty, when l was silent while still in possession of my wealth?" ---..... ....- ..... .....
 hardly knew how to answer the question. Abrahan's scruples were undoubtedly fine spun; and his inalnOrata must have been ac customed to narrow circumstances But doubtful as 1 was of his personal prospects, could hardly in conscience advise him to ham, per himself with wife and the contingent reversion ofa rising family. So did my best to console him with vague generaities, and that if he and the lady understood each other, he might wait and trust her till his circumstances were more assured,
 He showed unwonted and rather uncharao- teristlc energy. He did not lose day in cutting his coat according to the shrunken cloth. The property of Druids' Wood had of course passed from him in the meantime; although, having been strictly entailed by his careful grandfather the creditors could only lay an embargo on the rents. The mansion was let on lease, and the chambers in the Albany were given up. For himself, Abraham would have preferred to seek cheap CT quarters somewhere in town. But in his paternal anxiety for Lurcher's welfare, he thought town life might lead the youth into temptation. So it was that everlasting James of his who decided his destiny at what proved an exceedingly critical moment. Had he done the best for himself instead of for his protege, there might possibly have been less of story to tell.
 There was a neat little cottage in the Druids' Wood, which his father had built for an old servant. That superanuated pensioner had just died so Abraham arranged tO rent his cottage from the liquidators. It was not every man who would have consented to put his pride in his pocket for the sake of rather un. grateful dependant, but to Abraham it scarcely seemed sacrifice. And perhaps in meas ure it brought hlm an immediate reward Ger tain it is, that the spirit in which he faced his misfortunes. the ready sacrifice he made of everything, the heartiness with which he helped forward the liquidation, wrought SO powerfully on the feelings of the creditors, that general sympathy was excited in his fa- vonr. Fol the most part, they were men of ample means, and many of them had had long standing connections with his firm. So resolution was moved, and carried unani- mously, that MT. Cox should be requested to accept an annuity of E300, secured as first
 
 considering the sums which he had handed over in consols and sound available securities, the proposal, although liberal, was not by any means extravagantly s0
 Abraham readily accepted it in the spirit in which 1t was made If affairs prospered with him, they should be no losers, he said and he knew that the consciousness of immediate re- lief would brace him for the battle he intended to fight. Whether an GrrSere. .persSee of Miss Molyneux entered into his decision, have DO means of knowing.
 Then we heard of him as active and happy. He asked me to come and see him in his cot tage, and I went accordingly. "Its not the pride that apes humffity," he said, "which makes me hold on in my bit of cottage here though, on the strength of the creditors gene- rosity, might have moved to better house. But the fact is, it's far less easy than I thought, buckling myself in the belt of com- parative poverty; and find it impossible at a moments notice to shut all the floodgates of ones charity. Besides, have another and more selfish reason ;" whereupon his cheery face became so radiant that I understod that other reason at once
 Il could have offered you tolerable skake- down." he went on, ''only thought you would be more comfortable at the inn" But though l had my bed at the inn, Abraham
 
 it was. Perfectly plain and transformations, with excellent ale and sound sherry. Then in the evening he took up the talk very much where he had dropped it in the smoking-room of my cluE. He went straight to the subject that lay nearest his heart. and told me all about the progress of his love affair.
 ''When everything was settled as to that eS00 a-year, hurried down to speak to Cecilia. frankly owned had been fool, but told her, at the same time, she was very much to blame for it. My best apology was my evident agitation ; for, if she had made me understand that had mistaken the nature of her sympathy, believe she would have knocked me out of time altogether But, to use the poetical language appropriate to the occasion, she saw that my soul was hanging on her lips, and was out-spoken as any honest man could desire. After all, 'Alls well that ends well, and 1 do hope and believe we are nearly come to the end of our troubles. If I had acted on impulse, 1 should have married her outsof hand but was bound to think for her as well as myself. That e300 is only an annuity, and an annuity that it is my earnest desire to give up. h any case, can't ask widow; and so in common consideration for her, 1 must see ny way little tuore clearly"
 ''And the literary work ?"
 sOh, the writing has been answering ex- cellently successfully than my most sanguine expectations. You will see the second article on prison administration in the next Metropolitan : and, what is better. have shown some versatility in securing other strings to my bow" @ se
 So Abraham, to my delight, was as hopeful as possible, and apparently with satisfactory reason. Surely there never was man who held more lightly to riches except as a means of helping the happiness of his fellow creatures. MT. Lurcher, as might have been expected, took less rosy view Of the situ ation. From the interest his master expressed in him, had asked, with more heartiness than usual, how he found himself in his new quarters. He would have answered pleasant ly if he could, but clearly the effort was too muchfor him. burcher, with all his cunning, had never learned to control himself.
 "1ts all very well for Mr. Cox" he said "hes satisfied with anything,-the best gen. tleman, "he added as an afterthought; "but all this comes nncnm,nnnlv hard m A r,oor