Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-13
TIE GENTLEMAN BEGGAR.
An Attorney story.

TIE GENTLEMAN BEGGAR
An AttOrneys story.
One morning many years ago, called by
appointment on Mr.. John Balance, the fash
ionable pawDbroker, TO accompany him to
Liverpool in pursuit for levsnting custo-
mer, for Balance, in addition to pawuing,
does little business in the 60 per cent line.
1t rained in torrents when the cab stopped at
the passage which leads past the pawning
boxes to his private door The cabmau rang
twice. and at length Balance appeared, loom
ing through the mist and rain 10 the entry. il.
Illuminated by his perpetual cigar. As l eyed
him rather impauenuy, remembering that
trains wait for no man, something like a hairy
dog or bundle Of rags rose up at his feet
and barred his passage for moment. Then
Balance cried out with an exclamation, in an
swer apparently to a something ] could not
hear What, man alive slept in the pas
sage there, take that and get some break
fast, for heavens sake So saying be jump
ed into the hanson, and we bowed away
at ten miles an hour, just catching the express
as the doors Of the station were closing. My
curiosity was full set for although Balance
can be free with his money it is not exactly
to beggars that his generosity is usually dis
played so, when comfortably ensconced in a
coupe, finished with
You are liberal with your money this
morning pray how often do you give silver
to street cadgers because l shall know what
walk to take when fats and shRrps leave OF
buying law.
Balance, who would have made an excel.
lent parson If be had not been bred to d case
hardening trade, and has still a soft bit left in
his heart that is always fighting with his hard
heart, did not smile at all, but looked o. grim
as Il squeezing a lemon into his Saturday
nights punch he answers slowly "A
cadger-yes, a beggar-a miserable wretch,
be is now but let NE tell you. Master David
that that miserable bundle Of rags was born
and bred a gentleman the SOL Of a noble
man, the husband Of an heiress, and has sat
aud dined at tables where you and l. Master
David, are only allowed 10 view the plate by
favor Of the butler / have lent him thou.
sands, and been well paid. The last thing !
lad from him was his court suit. and hold
now his bill for 400, that will be paid, eH-
pect, when be dies. D."
Why, what nonsense you are talking.
You must be dreaming this morning. How
ever We are alone I'll light a weed in def
ance Of railway law you shall spin that yarn
for, true or untrue, 1t will fill up the time to
Liverpool
AS for yarn, replied Balance, the whole
story is short enough and as for truth that
you may easily find out If you like to take
trouble. l thought the poor wretch was
dead, and l own 1t put me out meeting him
this morning, for I had curious dream last
night"
oh, hang your dreams. Tell US about
this gentleman beggar that bleeds you of half
crowns.-thAt rnelts the heart even Of pawn.
broker"
well, then, that beggar Is the iIlegtimate
sou Of the late Marquis Of Hoopborough by a
Spanish lady Of rank. He received FIRST
rate education and was brought up in his fa.
Tiers house. At very early age be obtain.
ed an appointment in public Office was pre-
sented by the Marquis at court and received
into the first society where his handsome
per.On and agreeable manners made him a
great fAyorite. Soon after coming Of age be
married the daughter Of Sir Z. Bumper, who
brought him very handsome fortune, which
was strictly settled on herself They lived in
splendid style kept several carriages, house
in town and place in the country. For some
reason or other idleuess or to please his
lAdy's pride, he resigned his appointment
His father died and left him nothing indeed,
he seemed at that time very handsomely pro
vided for.
Very soon Mr. and Mrs. Molinos Fitz
Roy began to disagree. She was cold, cor
rect-he was hot and random. He was quite
dependent on her, and she made him feel it
When be began to get into debt be came to
me. At length some shocking quarrel occur
red some case of jealously on the wife's
side, not without reason, believe, and the
furniture vas his vifes, and the fortune was
his wife's he was, in fact her pensioner. He
left with few hundred pounds ready money
and some personal jewelry, aud went to a
hotel. On these and credit he lived. Being
illegitimate, he had no relations being fool,
when he spent his money he lost his friends.
The world took his wife's part when they
found she had q fortune, and the only par
ties who intertered were her relatives, who
did the best to make the quarrel incurabe
To crown all, one night he was run over by a
cab, was carried to hospital and lay there
for months, and WAS, during several weeks OF
the time, unconscious A message 70 the
wife, by the hands of one of his debGuched
companions, sent by humane surgeon, oh
tanned intimation that if he died, Mr. CroAk
the undertaken to the family, had orders tc
see to the funeral and that Mrs. Melinos wAi
on the point Of starting for the continent, not
to return for some years. When Fitz Roy
| was discharged he came to me, limping OF
| two sticks, TO pawn his court suit and tolc
! me his story. / was really sorry for the fel
! low, such q handsome, thorough looking
man. He was going then into the Wes
somewhere to try to hunt out a friend
What to do, Balance, be said, / don't know
| l can't dig, and unless somebody will max,
me their gamekeeper l must starye or beg
as my Jezebel bsde me when we parted.
II lost sight Of Milinos for long time
and when l next came upon him it was in tn,
| Rookery of Westminster, in a low lodging
| hOuga where I Waa gearChinu With an nffiNa
/ for stolen goods. He was pointed out to me
as the gentleman cadger because he was 81
| free with his money when in luck. He rec
! oguized me, but turned away then. / hav,
seen him and relieved him more than once
although he never asks for anything. How
he lives, heaven knows. Without money
without friends, without useful education o
any kind, he tramps the country, as you saw
him, perhaps doing little hop-picking or hay
making, only happy when he obtains tn,
means to get drunk. l have heard through
the kitchen whispers that you know come t
me, that he is entitled to some property, RnG
l expect if he were to die his wife would pay
the El0O bill l hold at any rate, what
have told you l know to be true and the bun
die Of rags l relieved just now is known il
every thieves lodging as the gentleman cad
ger.
This story produced an impression on me
l am fond of speculation and like the excite
mcnt of a legal hunt as much as some do
fox chase. A gentleman, heggar, wifi
rolling in wealth, Fumors of an unknown
property due to the husband it seemed as
there we're pickings for me amidst this oarrio
of psuperism. Before returning from Liver
pool had purchased the gentleman beggar'
acceptance from Balance. l then inserted !
the Times the following advertisement
Horace Molinos Fitz Roy. If this gentle
man will apply to David Discount, Esq, sc
licitor, St, James, he will hear Of somethin
to his advantage, ANY person furnishin
Mr.. F.'s address, shall receive fl Is reward
He was last seen, &c. Within twenty -fou
hours had ample proof of the wide circuli
ton of the Times. My Office was besiege
by beggars of every degree-men and VI
men, lame aud blind Irish, Scotch, aud Enl
lish, some on orutches, some in bowls, som
in go-oarts They all knew him as the ''geI
tlemRn, and 1 must do the regular fratern
ty of tramps the justice to say that not OF
I Il l.