The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-01-27
miscellaneous.
Twenty Pounds Sterling.

Twenty Pounds Sterling.
There never was such man to bet al
Staining He was always so sure he was
right Our mutual friend Maxwell ought &c
have sailed for Brazil, but felt confident
had seen him in the street, but Staining said
it was nonsense, and he bet me EGO to Is
was wrong. He had hardly finished speak
ing when Maxwell came in. Staining pull
ed out of his pocket eco note and handed
| it to me-
"There you are, old fellow "A fool and
his money etc Another illustration of that
| wise adage."
mot exactly; for you don't expect shall
take your money?
Eyes do; and shall be extremely annoyed
| if you refuse"
protested but presently he said, in consi
derable irritation:
Then be my almoner, and give the money
away in charity
He left presently, and as there are obiec-
| tons to standing in the public highways with
bank note in your hand and puzzled ex-
preston in your face the note was transferred
to my pocket, and went my way wonder
ing, when was met full tilt by a clergyman
| whom | knew.
"Huloa ~ he cried "AIr. Smith, you and !
seem TO have our minds so much occupied
that we cannot take care of our bodies
mo grave matter of mine" | said; "but
you look sad. Nothing wrong with you and
yours?"
mo, thank you; but | have just left a de-
pressing scene. A young couple, married in
haste, have come to grief The wife and
child are ill., Relatives and friends have re-
coded into remote background. And worse
than all, the husband"
Has become incorporate or has gone mad"
Neither one nor the other
Something worse?"
"Ies; for to be dishonest is worse than go.
ing mad. And it is such mere trifle that is
needed, apparently to put all straight, that
groan at my inability to find it
Whats wanted?'
"Well, it's only goo"
There's the money you require Haste
away, and do all the good you can whit"
My friend looked astonishcd. He even
hestated q moment.
ut is very good of you" he said, nervous
", "but really"
Il have the power to give this away. Good
by" And hurried off Then | fastened
back to him.
MAY request that you will on no &C,
count mention my name?'
GAS you wish it, won't; but you should
know the objects Of your bounty" And he
told me. Then he parted. had only gone
dozen yards when there passed me
young man with flushed face and frightened
anxious look in his eyes, He caught up to
my friend and spoke to him.
THAT is the man." said to myself, "whose
proceedings have been dubious, and who will,
| trust, be rescued by Stainings ECO Well,
if the wheel should turn, and this poor man
should be ever be in a position to deliver
fellow creature from such trouble as he him.
self is now in, by the surrender of SEQ, |
wonder whether he'll do it? Smith, YOU
surely know human nature well enough TO
answer your own foolish question. Not he
not bit oft"
This incident was soon swept from my
mind by n sudden call to go abroad, even to
the place where Maxwell did not Cobra
I'll. Nothing hampered me then; | was
young bachelor, and could start for the anti
podes at two days notice. When | take my
wife and children--I forget the number-for
our autumnal trip, in these later years ofmy
life, | require weeks preparation.
Away, then, TO Brazil away to new life new
companions, new hopes and fears; away to for.
tune and the yellow fever! Here occurs in
my tale an interval oftwenty years tiny story
deals in twenties.) doubt whether should
have come back had not n young English
lady one night sung in my hearing an old
home ballad, so well remembered in connec.
ton with some loved ones who in this world
will sing no more that craving for my ma
tive land mastered me at once, and in very
short time was on my return home.
On the way had one night n frightful
dream. fancied terrible enemy had me
down and clutched my throat. Tighter grew
his grasp and fainter my breath. My staring
eyes scanned every feature of my murderer
Slowly and painfully did | call to mind the
face aboveme. 1t was Staining-but he was
reckless, desperate. | gasped an entreaty
for mercy.
"Give it TO me; want it Il must have il
nstantly-instantly y was the hoarse reply.
"What-what can he mean?"
"What?" he shreked in maniacal frenzy.
"My E20?"
l had quite forgotten about the bet and the
Ego; but the dream set me thinking, for what
rumors had heard respecting Staining since
left England-that his money had wasted
that he had fallen in position and even into
poverty.
"Poor fellow" thought, "there may be
something in that dream. If his pride will
accept it he shall have the money back, and
very glad | shall be to restore it,"
Back Ill England, settled d0WI in the old
country. Main matters disposed of, | began
to think of minor ones, and among the latter
the discovery OF Staining. He was not in
the former haunts, and l failed so long to find
him that was beginning to despair, when
one night met him in the street
The brilliant light of the ballroom NAV in
crease the lustre of a woman's eye, but if you
want to see broken.dow man in his worst
aspect, survey him standing disconsolately
under street lamp drizzling rain descend
ing upon him, and he with folded arms pre-
senting picture of mute despair. So did |
behold Staining put my hand upon his
shoulder He sprang from me us though
were wild beast.
II did not want to run away" he said
hoarsely "they knew that. Go on; I'll walk
quietly enough Why-what-ca it be-"
"Yes, il is Smith, your old companion
Come out of this and confide 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 comics.
sion, and it amounted to this: When he had
wasted his money, he obtained situation in