Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-25
THE GENTLEMAN BEGGAR.
AN ATTORNEYS STORY.

IN the sixty per cent. line II raineG in
torrents when the cab stopped at the
passage which leads past the pawning.
boxes to his private door. The cabman
rang twice, and at length Balance ap-
Pear-d. looming through the mist and
rain in the entry, Illuminated by his per-
petual cigar. As eyed him rather i'm
patiently, remembering that trains wait
for no man, something like q hairy dog
or bundle Of rags rose up at his feet
anil barred his passage for a moment.
Then Balance crel out with an exelam-
alton, in answer apparently to some
thing coull not hear, "What, man
alive = slept in the passsgr! there, take
that and get some breakfast. for heaven $
sake" ~ saying, be jumped into the
hansom. and We bowled away at ten
miles an hour. Just catching the express
a. the dours Of the station were closing.
! Ny curiosity was full set; for though
Balance can be free with his money. it
Is not exactly To begg.rs that his gen.
erosi,y is usually displayed; so, when
comfortably ensoonced in a coupe. | fin
ished with:
"lou are liberal with your money
this morning; pray, how often do you
give silver to street cadgers. Because
| shall know just what course to take
when fats and sharps leave off buying
law"
Balance. who would have made an
excellent parson il be had not been bred
TO case hardening trade, and has still a
soft bit left in his heart that is always
fighting with his hard heart, did not
smile a, all but looked as grim as If
squeezing lemon into his Saturday
nights punch He answers slowly "A
cadger yes, a beggI miserable
wretch, he i now; but let me tell you,
Master David, that that miserable bun
die Of rags was born and bred gentle
man; the son Of a nobleman, the hus-
band of an heiress, and has sat and dined
at tables where YOU and |, Master David,
are only allowed to view the plate by
favor Of the butler. | have lent him
thousands, and been well paid. The
last thing had from him was his court
suit, and hold now his bill for fl00,
which will be paid, ] expect, when he
dies"
why, what nonsense you are talk
ing. Yon must be dreaming this morn
ing. However, we are alone; | will
light weed in defiance Of railroad law;
and you shall spin that yarn, for true or
untrue, i, will fill up the time to Liver
pool"
AS for yarn" replied Balance, 1.-THE
whole story Is shor, enough; and as for
truth, that you may easily find out II you
like to take the trouble. thought the
poor wretch was dead. and own it put
me out meeting him this morning, for |
had curious dream last night"
"Qh. hang your dreams. Tell US
about this gentleman beggar that bleeds
you of half-crowns-that melts the heart
even of pawn-troker
well. then, that beggar is the ille-
gi,imate son of the late Marquis of Hoop
borough by Spanish lady Of rank. de
received first-rate education and was
brough, up in his fathers house. At a
very early age he obtained an appoint
ment in a public Office, and was present
ed by the Marquis a, COURT and received
into the first society, where his hand-
some person and agreeable manners made
him q great favorite. Soon after coming
of age he married the daughter Of Sir T.
Bumper, who brought him handsome
fortune, which was strictly settled on
herself They lived in splendid style.
kept several carriages. house in town,
and a place in the country. For some
reason or other, idleness, or to please his
lady's pride. he resigned his appoint
ment. His father died and left him
nothing; indeed, he seemed at that time
very handsomely provided for.
"Very soon Mr.. and Mrs. Molinos
Fiiz Roy began to disagree. She was
cold. correet-he was hot and random.
He was quite dependent on her. and she
made him feel it. When he began TO
ee, into debt he came to me. AT length
some shocking quarrel occurred; some
case of jealousy on the wife's side, not
without reason, believe, and the end OF
II WA. Mr.. Fi,z Roy was turned out Of
doors The house was his wife's, the
tnrn;,ure was his wife's, and the fortune
WAS his wife's-he was in fact her pen
sioner. He left. with few hundred
pounds ready money and some personal
jewelry, and went to hotel. On these
IA ,rad;, he lived Being illegitimate