National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-15

bht nov oelllluA CruCiiOrm.
Accordingly during tho next few days
she visited some. terrible slums. smelled
exceedingly bad smells, subscribed LARGELY
to the society of which the Rov. Septimus
Cruclorm was secretary, presented old
women with sundry half-crowns, talked
an immense amount of philanthropy, and
became filled with tho proud and happy
consciousness that she was doing vast
amount OF good in most aristocratic CON.
pany. She inquired Of some of her new
friends "a TO what manner Of man Mr..
Mountlord was, and received somewhat
unsatisfactory answers.
Mr.. Septimus Cruciform. in tho mean
time paid her assiduOus attention aud
lost no opportunity Of imprcssing hcr
with sense Of his profound admiration
for her goodness aud virtue. Nay, more,
he occasionally limited ut the duties which
attended the possession of great wealth,
and gave hor to understand that, under
proper direction, she might attain posi-
ton but little inferior TO that of the
Baroness Burdott. Coutts.
IL was at this iuncture that Mountford
returned to London. He had buried his
uncle, who had caused him great incon.
vonience by lingering nearly three weeks
after his seizure. The old gentleman had
left him the insignificant legacy of a
thousand pounds, ana rs tho whole OF his
creditors Immediately threatened strong
measures, MOuntlord was rather worse Of
than before. Hence Ito resolved to waste
no time, but to sottle his fate at once. lie
attired himself in iaultlesi mourning, and
drove of to Portman square the day after
his return.
you see I lose no timc in coming to
call on you" he began. The widow, how
ever was not TO DO taken by storm.
You have been out of town, think ?"
she answered somewhat coldly.
Mountford was not easily discouraged,
and so went on: Il have, | am sorry to
say. II seems ages since | saw you.
"Only II week or two, think" replied
the widow.
She was evidently indisposed to give
him an opening, and Mountford was
rapidly becoming desperate, when the
foOtman announced Mr.. CruCiCorm. There
was q sort of familiarity about the very
manner in which that reverend gentleman
entered the room which irritated Mount
ford profoundly. He looked, moreover,
moro prosperous than before, the hollows
in his cheeks were less marked, his smilo
was less sanity and moro complacent, and
he had evidently invested in new coat
and hat. MountiOrd greeted him with as
much civility as he could muster, and
writed patiently for his departure. But
the Rev. Septimus showed not the least
sign Of moving, and the widow evincod
such an obvious preference for his details
Of the proceedings of the Philanthropic
society that Mountford was NJ length con-
strained to take his leave first.
"May call again Tomorrow p he asked,
half aside.
Thursday is my usual day." sho ro-
joined blandly, without lowering her
voice.
Mountford felt utterly dumbfounded.
Something was clearly very much amiss;
and the news that he extracted from the
butler that Mr.. Crucform, or some other
eminent philanthrOpist, had called nearly
every day during his absence, by no
means tended to reHssure him.
He walked modify away, Illuminating
on this new and unpleasant feature in
his love making. His affairs wero really
desperate, and he was certain that moth
ing, in the absence of hard cash, would
quiet his more obstreperOus creditors
unless il wero tho news that he was on
the point Of making rich marriage. He
felt more than half inclined to entrust
the collection Of his legacy to some
faithful friend and make clean bolt to
the colonies. But ho thought he had
better have n nights rest before arriving
ut n definite decision.
The next morning found him very
much in tho same frame OF mind. To
distract his thoughts, therefore, he determ-
ined to take a sharp walk, in the course
of which he happened to pass certain
police court, where he had frequently
unnnt ~ "A iIln hnur N Eatnnip, m "a tn
logue of oifcnses not without a charm for
u student Of human nature. He went in,
and more than one Of the attendant con-
stables acknowledged his familiar nod.
Anything particular on, Jobson 2" he
inquired.
NO, sir" answered that officer. Same
as usual; drunk and disorderly, cruelty
TO 'osses, and so on. Rather IL heavy list
to-day. BY the way there's one rum
looking gent. Says he's a parson. HaW-
iul drunk he was last night"
Indeed, they do get into trouble now
and them" said MountfOrd, not much in-
tercsted. And no sat down and again
unused on his melancholy condition.
IL was clear enough that his unfOr-
tunate absence had gone far to ruin his
chances with Mrs. Binks. She must have
succumbed to the wics of the sanity CRU
ciform, aud as he thought of that exem.
plary clergyman, MOuntiord cursed him
with intense iervor. The prospect of be-
coming leading philanthropist in the
company of dukes and lords had turned
her head. MOuntford had discovered that
CruCiiorm g real name was Cross, and that
he was the son Of IA bankrupt tailor; but
he feared that it was useless to tell the
widow that. She would only think him
"a Iona Nd ,nt haft . bna
From Cruciform Mountford's thoughts
unconsoiously turned toward tho person
who was about to be charged with the
unseemly otiense of drunkenness.
by JOve," he muttered, l wish l
could make my friend Cross screwed, and
send him round to Portman Square!,
Somehow or another the drunken par
son interested him.
What did you say your clerical
friends name was, JobsOn ?" he asked tho
officer.
"Well, Pm blessed if I know, sir" said
the policeman. Hes got lot of names;
they generally call him tho Fleet Street
PaTson.'
Got lot of names, has he ?" said
Mountford, absently staring very hard at
the presiding magistrates; "the deuce he
has ] say, Jobson, do you think you
could manage to let me have five min
utUs' conversation with him--private
conversation, you knowP
And MOuntfOrd slipped coin into tho
officers willing fingers.
"Dessay could, sir. You'd like to say
a few words for him to the magistrate
perhaps " answered Jobson, with grin.
Aud no conducted Mountford to a select
apartment where tho Fleet Street Par
- Al
in misfortune, was waiting his turn to
appear
Mountford's interview with that worthy
seemed to be highly satisfactory, for after
IL was over, rs he walked along tho
Strand, no could scarcely refrain from
bursting into fits of laughter, and when
cabman nearly ran over him, splashed
him with mud, and then swore at him,
Mountford answered with q bland if some.
what unmeaning smile.
Mrs, Binks was by no means on carly