Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-06-02
CHAPTER Ill.

lIltSb IdtLtI NtIhS INttliIGu VI illG n
week or two afterward, when the ru-
NOR was disseminated through the city
Of - that elegant Tom bearing had
become market gardener.
| attached ne credit whatever TO the
report, which seemed to me in the very
highest degree absurd but was very
soon compelled To acknowledge that
there was me- exaggeratiOn whatever in
IT, bearing had disappeared from his
lodgings, and the door was locked. If
| doubted the market gardener report,
| was told | could verify the facC Nv
going early in the morning, on any
day in the week, to the New Marker,
where | would find Tom Dearing, with
neat apron on, selling vegetables.
| went, aud, thr, aiding my way
through the crowd Of purchasers, came
i'll front of stall wherein were expos
ed every vegetable Of the season.
Over this stall presided the once ele-
CANT Tom Dearling-a parsonage no
longer recognizable. IAstead Of the
most artistic costume which the best
tailor of the city could devise, he wore
a plain, rather coarse coat, heavy and
serviceahle boots, Il straw hat, and
long white apron.
Watching him unperceive.i | saw
him dispose Of his vegetables to pur-
chasers with matter-of fact air, give
change from the pocket under his
apron, and there was absolutely no,h-
ing in his demeanor To Indicate that ne
had not followed the business Of
market gardner all his life.
went up behind him and saN
SO you are the young mao in re-
dueed circumstances, Tom 81
He turned round, and looking me
calmly in the face replied
Even so, my dear fellow. This is
the end, you zee, Of all my
matrimonial dreams sudden crash
in stocks. penury where wealth was
once, the alternative of sponging on
my friends or pursuing some honest
calling"
| looked at him attentively Was he
i'll earnest2
Il see YOU have aiken up the idea
that this is stupendous lark, my dear
fellow said Tom. quietly: but you
see that am neither better nor worse
than market gardener if you stay
here. But between living as burden
on you and my other friends and earn
ing an honest support, ] have chosen
the latter Was | wrong n
you were right if you are in
earnest. But surly you have not lost
your means"
Tom bearing shook his head in 4
Responding manner, and turned
-. 81, sN -,
customer.
Come back in an hour or two and |
will tell you all about it, he said,
mournfully Il shall have more leisure
then. A cabbage madam Why, it
is Mrs. -
Ii was in truth the mother OF Miss
Emma, who, followed By servant
carrying basket, had come after the
fashion of many ladies to do her own
marketing.
sMr. Dearingl' she exclaimed.
.Unhappily, madam" replied Tom.
turning away to hide \ blush, it
seemed.
"Youl"
Myself, madam reduced cireum-
stances-unforseen misfortune. see
you have recognized me"
The lady looked extremely shocked,
and after few words of common
place sympathy bowed slightly and
disappeared in the the crowd, her face
indicating, l thought, relief at thus
terminating the singular interview
For, confess that it IS embarrassing to
meet the guest with whom You have
spent the evening before behind a
market stall,''
You see" said Tom, mournfullv.
this excellent lady is terribly shocked,
But ought not To be surprised. Come
back in an hour or two, my old friend,
and shall be able to explain every
thing. You at least are not ashamed
OF your former comrade-"
/ went away IN mszs OF wonder
was the scene real or was there some
thing under il? / could not determine.
Either might be the truth. If Tom
bearing had experienced a sudden
loss of fortune, man Of his real pride
and horror of dependence might have
resorted to this honest occupation. 1t
was certain that there he was, with an
apron selling vegetables-and the
writer of this narrative assures the
reader that the incident is strictly true.