Litchfield enquirer., 1881-05-19
From Blackwood's Magazine.l MIR. COX'S PROTEGE.
IN TWO PARTS.

,
 In these busting times the paths of the closest friends ofteng treat widely apart, and for months had seen nothing of Abraham, though had read his articles in the Metro politan' with interest. Then there came a letter from him. He was getting impatient to be married out of hand, and requested me to act as one of h is trustees. To that had no objection, the less so as feared that my friend could have very little to settle. When met him, he explained. He had not a shll ling of capital, and for that very reason felt bound in prudence to make provision for his wife and for possible family. Fortunately the liberality of the creditors gave him the means of doing so He proposed to engage under his marriage contract to insure his life for certain sum. by annual payment, amounting to considerably more than third of his annuity. 1 approved his forethought, but suggested that perhaps he overdld 1t. Mr. and Mrs Cox must live in the meantime; if he decided to marry under present circum- stances, they might as well trust something more to Providence He could always lay by something after insuring moderately. He assured me that he had weighed the matter deliberately, and gave me to understand that he thought it right to abide by his resolution. His literary efforts had scarcely been so re- munerative latterly. though he still had good
 
 cast in her lot with him, and they were pre- pared to face certain privations; but life was uncertain, and it was incumbent on him to take care that she was never actually reduced to penury. If he did not insure as he propos- ed he dare not marry, and that was the long and the short of it. So there seemed no more to be said, and agreed to assist him in his arrangements.
 But there are always slips between the cup and the lip. Miss Molyneux had an illness, and the wedding was put off. Even after she was slow, and could read in Abraham's notes to me how much he suffered, Nothing could have so strongly proved the intensity of his passion, as the way in which it upset bis constitutional composure. A turn of fortunes wheel had reduced him from wealth to pov- erty. 1 do not believe that it touched hls ap- petite or cost him single night of sleep; but, as it came out afterwards, suspense and anx iety shook hun altogether. For once he lost flesh, and, what was more of trouble to him, the literary ground he had been gradually gaining. In place of compliments and cheques, editors sent him back his contribu tions. Then his eccentrlcitles became more marked in the eyes of his neighbours. He would work hard against the collar all day, and go to bed to find his night broken. Ex- ercise had become indispensable to him so he would take his walks about after night-fal, coming back to the cottage at most unseasOn able hours. And all the time his modest bankers balance was going to the bad; and probably it might have been better in the end had they been less ready to let him overt1raw. For he would persist in the unselfsh luxury of keeping that man Friday of his; and Lurcher could only be charmed into suitability by be- ing surrounded with the little comforts his snd P,o1 subscriptions that could not be knocked off, and, as need hardly say, it was difficult for Mir. Cox to refuse any direct appeal to his charity. He wrote me in low spirits, unsatisfactory symptom with man like him, more especially as his Cecilia was to make him happy in a few weeks. But in the mean time he said that he was going on little walking walking expedition in the west, and he fully expected it would set him on his legs agaln.
 heard of hls rum, but that was nothing to the shock l was to experience now. Glancing carelessly over the evening paper, Hazel hurst Prevalent Society" caught my eye as heading to a paragraph, and the paragraph ran thus :s-
 "CHARGE OF FORGERY AND ENTERTAINMENT. Profound sensation has been created ID East Surrey by rumors of forgery and embez element of funds, in connection with the man agement of the HaZlehurst' Prevalent Society. What makes the scandal more painful is the fact that suspicion has attached to we'll known philanthropist who founded the So- cety in question, freely contributing to the funds, and who has since had entire control of it's finances Until recently a man of princely means, he was. ruined by the stop page of the wellknown private banking firm of which he was member. It would appear that, from confidential communications made to the police and to his co-trustee during temporary absence, investigations were made into the books and banking account of the So ciety, which led to the disclosure of serious defalcations. Warrants were most reluctant ly issued for the arrest of the gentleman in question, and we understand that he is al- ready in custody. We need hardly add that the news has caused intense excitement in neighbourhood where he has always been held in esteem approaching to veneration. There is general desire that he may be in a posi- tion to explain the circumstances which have forced those summary proceedings on the magistrates. We must add at the same time, that great indignation is expressed, among the numerous depositors in the Society, who are, for the rlost part, in the humblest ranks of society,""
 read the paragraph over again. rubbed my eyes, and asked if were dreaming. What could it all mean, and could it possibly be mGucaise p1aisanterie? That could hardly be; the details were too circumstantial there was no mistaking the identity of it's subject nor would any editor, with actions of libel before his eyes, lightly give currency to anything so compromising. Absurd, incredible as was the charge. Abraham must have got himself into a hobble with that consounded philan. thropical simplicity of his. Of course, he could clear himself, and all would be explain ed; but, in the meantime. the humiliation would sting him deeply. To think of him often visited with such single minded mo- tives knew not where my friend might be probably he was already at liberty again. on bail or otherwise. dashed into hansom, drove to the Waterloo station, and took ticket for Hazlehurst.
 It was James who opened the door to me at the cottage, James looking haggard, anxious and careworn with profound depression on his countenance, which became hIm well enough in the circumstances. At first, In- deed, his sorrow seemed to impede hls utter ance but as he warmed to the topic, he be- came voluble enough. An yes, it was all too true. It was had to tell how the police had come to their knowledge. Anyway, some blackguard who had got at his poor masters secret had gone and given them the office Mir. Abraham, as ill luck would have it, was not only from home, but knocked over. He had sprained his ankle down in Devonshire, and was confined to the sofa in the inn at Clovelly. James believed the officers were off and after him. and had heard that they weIe taking him to jail at Guilford.
 heard him to an end, and then burst out, Ut, sir, as it appears to me, you really believe Vour master prilty 1"
 MT. Lurcher shrunk back, put in bodily terror by my yehemence He rallied, and shook his head sadly, with that jerky, depre- eating manner of his
 ''Surely. sir, you should know best. and hope from my heart it nav he so." He was rather ungrammatical and redundant, but that was only natural.s ''All know is, that them as should know, ,--that is to say, the superin- tendant of the police, and the Rev. Mir. Prior, do say tl'at the circumstances of his guilt