Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-15
GaIes ano Sketttts.
fHE sEyrLsMAy BEGG.R.
An ATTORNEYS STORY.
Continued flor Yesterday

One evening, about three weeks after
the appearance of the advertisement. my
clerk announced another beggar. ,
There came in an old man leaning on a
staff. clad in soldiers gray coat all
patched and torn, with battered hat,
from under which a mass of tangled hair
| fell over his shoulders, and half concealed
his face The beggar in a weak. wheezy.
| hesitating tone said: ''You have adyer-
tised for Moiinos Fitz Roy. l hope you
don't mean him any harm; he is sunk,
think, too low for any enmity now; and
surely no one could sport with such misery
as his These last words were uttered N
sort OF a pteous whisper.
answered quickly: ''Heaven forbid
should sport with misery | mean ana
hope to do him good as well as myself. "
Then. sir, am Molipos Fitz Roy"
While we were conversing, candles had
been brought in. | have not very tender
nerves-my head would not agree with
them-but [ own | started and shuddered
when saw and knew that the wretched
creature before me was under thirty wears
of age and once a gentleman. Sharp.
acauiline features, reduced 10 literal skin
and bone. were begrimmed and covered
with dry, fair hair; the white teeth OF the
halfopene mouth chartered with eager
ness, and made more hideous the foul pal
lor of the rest of the countenance. AS he
stood leaning on staff half bent, his long,
yellow, bony fingers clasped over the
crutch head of his stick, he was indeed a
picture of misery, famine, squalor and
premature age too horrible TO dwell upon.
[ made him sit down, and then sent tor
some refreshment, which he devoured like
a phoul, and set to work to unravel his
story. 1t was difficult to keep to the
point but with pains learned what con-
WINGED me that he was entitled to some
property, whether great or small there
was no evidence. On parting, | said,
Now. Mr.. F., you must stay in town
while make proper inquiries. What al
lowance will be enough to keep you COM
fortably?"
He answered humbly, after much press
ing, "Would you think ten shillings too
much ?''
don't like, if | do these things at all,
to do them shabbily, so | said: Come
every Saturday and you shall have a
pound" He was profuse in his thanks,
as all men are as long distress lasts.
| | had previously learned that my
ragged clients wife was in England. lv
ing in splendid house in Hyde Park
gardens, under her maiden name. On
the following day the Earl of Owen called
upon me. wanting $4,000 BIZ five O'Clock
the same evening. 1t was a case OF life
or death with him, and so made my
terms. and took advantage of his pressure
to execute crop de main. proposed
that he should drive me home to receive
the money, calling at Mrs. Molinos', in
Hyde Park gardens. on our way. | knew
that the coronet and liveries of his father,
the marquis. would insure me an audience
with Mrs. Molinos Fitz-Roy.
| My scheme answered. | was introduced
into the lady's presence. She was, and
probably is. a very stately, handsome wO-
man, with pale complexion, high, solid
forehead. regular features, thin pinched,
self-satisfied mouth. My interview was
very short, plunged into the middle
of the affair. but had scarcely mentioned
the word husband, when she interrupted
me with, Il presume you have loaned
this protligate person money, and you
want me to pay you" She paused, and
then she said: "He shall not have a
| farthing." AS she spoke her white face
| became scarlet
"But, madam, the man is starving l
have strong reasons for believing he is
entitled to property. and if you refuse any
| assistance | must take other measures
She rang the bell, wrote something rapidly
on card, and as the footman appeared,
pushed it toward me across the table with
an air of touching a toad, saying: There,
sir. is the address of my solicitors; apply
| to them if you think you have any claim.
Robert. show the person out, and take
care he is not admitted again"
So far | had effected nothing, and to
tell the truth, felt rather crestfallen under
the influence of that grand manner pecu-
liar to certain great ladies and to all great
| actres SEES.
My next visit was to the attorneys.
Messrs. Leasem 4 Fashun, of Lincolns
Inn square, and there was at home.
had had dealings with the firm before.
They are agents tor half the aristocracy,
who always run in crowds like sheep
after the same wine merchant. the same
architects, the same horse dealers and
the same law agents. 1t may be doubted
whether the quality of law and land man
agement they get on principle is equal
to their wine and horses. At any rate,
my friends at Lincoln's Inn, like others
| Oh Iue Satlle CLASS, are distinguished DN
| their courteous manners, deliberate pro-
ceedings. innocence oflegal technicalities.
long credit and heavy charges. Leasem,
the older partner, wears powder and a
huge bunch of seals. lives in Queen square,
drives broughman. gives the dinners
and does the cordial department. He is
so strict in performing the latter duty
that he once addressed poacher who
had shot dukes keeper as my dear
creature" although he afterward hanged
him.
Fashun has chambers in St. James
street. drives cab. wears tip, and does
the grand ha-ha style.
Ny business lay with Leasem. The in-
terviews and letters passing were nu-
merous. However, it came at last to the
following dialogue:
well. my dear Mr.. Discount. began
MIR. Leasem. who hates ME like poison.
I'm really very sorry that poor, dear
Molnos-knew his father we'll a great
man perfect gentleman; but you know
what women are. Ell, Mr.. Discount. My
client won't advance shilling; she knows
il would only be wasted in low dssipa-