The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-07-20
THE GENTLEMAN BEGGAR,

One morning, many years ago, /
called by appointment on Mr.. John
Balance, the fashionable pawnbroker,
to accompany him to Liverpool, in pur-
suit for levanting customer, for Bal
ance, in addition to pawning, 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 cabman rang twice, and at length
Balance appeared, looming through the
mist and rain in the entry illuminated
10y his perpetual cigar, As L eyed him
rather impatiently, remembering that
trains wait for no man, something like
hairy dog or bundle of rags rose up
at his feet and barred his passage for a
moment. Then Balance cried out with
an exclamation, In answer apparently to
a something / could not hear: What,
man alive! slept in the passagel there,
take that and get some breakfast, for
heavens sake" SO saying, he jumped
into the "hansom," and we bowled
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 beg
gars that his generosity is usually dis
played; so, when comfortably en-
sconced in a coupe, / finished with:
you are liberal with your money
this morning; pray, how often do You
give silver to street cadgers? because /
shall know what walk to take when
fats and sharps leave off buying law"
Balance, who would have made an
excellent paIson if he had not been
bred to case-hardening trade, and has
still soft bit left in his heart that is
always fighting with his hard heart, did
not smile at all, but looked as grim as
if squeezing a lemon into his Saturday
nights punch. He answers slowly; a
cadger-yes, n beggar-a miserable
wretch, he is now but let me tell you,
Master David, that that miserable
bundle of rags was born and bred
gentleman the son of nobleman, the
husband of an heiress, and has sat and
dined at tables where you and /, Master
David, are only allowed to view the
plate 10y favor of the butler. have
lent him thousands, and been we'll paid.
The last thing / had from him was his
court suit, and hold now his bill for
Gl00, that will be paid, expect, when
he dies"
"Why, what nonsense you are talk
ing. You must be dreaming this morn
ing. However, we are alone; I'll light
q weed in defiance of railway law; you
shall spin that yarn; for, true or un-
true, it will fill mp the time to Liver
pool, !"
"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 the trouble. L thought
the poor wretch was dead and / own it
put me out meeting him this morning,
for had q curious dream last night"
ooh, hang your dreams. Tell MS
about this gentleman beggar that bleeds
you of half-crowns-that melts the
heart even of n pawn-broker.
well, then, that beggar is the illegi-
innate son of the late Marquis of Hoop
borough by Spanish lady Of rank.
He received q first-rate education and
was broughtUe in his fathers house.
AT a very early age he obtained an APP
pointment in public Office, was pre-
scented by the Marquis at court and re-
ceived into the first society, where his
handsome person and agreeable man.
ners made him q great favorite. Soon