The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-04-05
II was Staining but he was reoElas,

Give tito me; want it; l must
have it instantly Instantly" wa;
the hoarse reply.
"What-what can he mean?"
"Whatl" he shrieked, in maniacal
frenzy. "My 920l"
| had quite forgotten about the bet
and the EGO; but the dream set me
thinking of what rumors l had heard
respecting Staining since l left Eng.
land-that his money had been
wasted, that he had fallen in position
and even into poverty.
"Poor fellowp l thought, s'there
may be something in that dream
If his pride will accept it, he shall
be TO restore it"
Back in England, settled down in
the old country. Main matters dis.
posed, ! began to think of minor
ones, and among the latter the dis.
covery of Staining. He was not in
the former haunts, and l failed SO
long to find him that 1 was begin.
ming to despair, when one night
met him in the street.
The brilliant light of the ballroom
may increase the lustre of q woman's
eyes, but if you want TO see u broken
down man in his worst aspect, sur.
vey him standing disconsolately un.
der a street lamp, drilling rain
descending upon him, and he with
folded arms presenting a picture Of
mute despair. So did | behold Stain.
ing. Iput my hand upon his shoul.
der. He sprang from me as though
| were a wild beast.
81 did not want to run away" he
said hoarsely; "they knew that
Why-what-can't it be-"
"Yes; it is Smith, your old compan.
ion. Cotne out of this and confde
in me. If you are in trouble and
money can help you, you shall not
want" And l took his arm and we
went together.
And then | heard poor Staining's
confession, and it amounted 10 this
When be had wasted all his money
he obtained situation in a mer.
chants office. The pay was suffi.
cient to keep him; but even now
'.nthino sGnnld restrain him from bet,
ting on horse-racing. AS a conse
quence he was soon penniless, ant
worse-dishonest. He. had paid. 4
betting debt out.of u e20 note which
had been entrusted to him. Discov.
cry had ensued, and though thelpck,
less man had explained that it was
only through failure of anothe,
member Of the virtuous fraternity he
could not replace the money at once
and had been discharged, and had
reason to suppose he would be pros
ecuted.n
"Many, many thanks" replied the
poor fellow to my offer. "You can
see the firm in the morning; but
doubt whether they will take the
money. | believe they are bent on
my ruin"
Early the next morning I was at
the office Of Baydon, Blehdon & Co.
and, having stated my errand,
profered my $40.
Mr. Baydon was sleek old gen.
tleman. There was In air of wealth
and ease all over him. He bowed
complacently, and said:
II can appreciate your kindness tc
this poor man, and myself would
pass the matter over at once, but my
partner takes a different view, and |
cannot interfere"
"Can | see MIR. Blendon?"
"Yes, ifyou will call again in two
hours"
In the cab kept muttering to
myself: "Blendon, and Robert Blen.
don, too. am sure of it. Still, il
it be SO, it ia very strange. think
| should know that face again. We
shall see who will be master"
Back to Messrs. Blendon, Baydon
q Co.'S office, and then in the pres.
ence of Mr. Blendon. All my anx.
iety for my poor friend faded away
| was master of the situation.
stated my desire to pay the amour,
of staining's dafalcation, and my
hope that under the extenuating cir.
cumstances no publicity would be
given to the miserable wrong doing
MIR. Blendon heard me with some