Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-07-25
TWO NOTED AUTHORS.


A little over year ago poor old
Capt. Mayne Reid moved up from his
country place near Ross, in Hereford
shire, to London, where he died IL ives
his custom to come to London during
what is called the season." and he gen.
orally occupied rooms In the Langham
hotel or lodgings in Bloomsbury. But
she move speak of was caused by in
rreasing infirmity, and he came up to
London to get the benefit of the expert
medical attendance which the metrop.
oils afforded him, and it was the last
move he ever made. In scrap.book /
have Just turned up the letter which he
wrote to me. After speaking of some
personal matters he said:
Il am helpless as child; con pletely
crippled and cannot move from my
chair. Come up and see me. for | can
now g,;mly say my friends will always
lind me at home. have taken fur-
nished house at II Bloomfield road,
with a pleasant bit of garden at the
back. Things are all in confusion SO
far, but If You come Ill not make you
set out our supper as when the bell
rope broke at Bedford street. II The
Free Press with that Chepultepec
article is not out Of print would be
very much obliged for few more
copies. My stock is exhausted.
"Your friend.
"MAyyE REID.
"P. S.-Come up tonight; II Bloom
field road, right hand of canal. Bus
from Charing Cross passes end OF
street. M. r."
The writing is in heavy hand, big,
upright letters, six words to page
as the printers used to say. The bell.
rope incident he spoke of referred to a
visit paid him at his lodgings at Bed.
ford street, when with semi-military
impotence that was characteristic of
him he gave q jerk to the bell-rope
which hung with It's big tassel by the
side of the fireplace, and the wire
snapped at the ceiling The captain.
who was sitting in big a armchair with
his right foot heavily swathed on
common chair before him, and glass
of favorite hot tipple at his elbow,
saidy.
All communications with the enemy
are now cut of. The garrison will be
stormed if you do not form Yourself
into q forl5rn hope and gAdown into
the kitchen and get help. You see, the
rest of the army is in the hospital"
just as l had volunteered to 90 for
help the captain remembered that the
supplies were in the huge mahogany
sideboard at the end of the room, and
so he sat there and dire tel the ex-
ploring party while / followed his iii.
rections. and soon had most excellent
cold lunch spread out on the table, UNI
corked o couple Of bottles of Bass, and
thus was starvation once more STAYED of.
On getting the letter have quoted
above, / made up parcel Of The Free
Presses that Capt. Reid wanted and
walked up the ever busy Strand to
Charing Cross.
$40 Won know where Bloomfield
road isy" I asked the first bus con.
ductor.
Pass the end of it, sir, lie replied,
and without more ado climbed to the
top.
Bloomfield road proved to be long
way out to the west. We went past the
National gallery, NJ Regent street
along Oxford street, past the Marble
Arch. that might be ebony for all the
smoke of London has left OF its white
ness: along the north side of Hyde park
and Kensington gardens: through Bays
water; over one railway and under an.
other: past the triangular green spot
near Shepherds. Then into the Tx.
bridge road, when the bus man hauled
up and said:
Bloomfield road, SIR"
got of and speedily found No. IL
ss one of q row OF terrace houses with
very little indications Of . pleasant
garden at the back or canal at either
hand. rang, and frowsy girl ap.
peared at the door.
Capt. Reid, sir? No. sir, don't live
ere. sir. No. never heard Of i'm,
ado you mean Mr.. Reade. the au-
thor" said voice from the parlor, and
the next moment the lady Of the house
appeared at the parlor door.
"Yes," / answered.
We'll, he lives in that large square
brick house at the corner of Bloomfield
road, facing the Uxbridge road
thanked the lady and left.
The corner house stood in large
garden that was completely surroundel
by a high brick wall. A ring at the
bell brought a middle aged servant to
tine door, who looked rather sour and
,uspiciously at me, and kept my card
kind Of at arms length. as it were, as
Il | were not at all the sort OF person
that she approved Of, and that really
they had no old clothes or broken
victuals TO give away. Ny bundle OF
papers seemed to add to my unpromis.
ing appearance. She said, sullenly:
"Mr, Reade is not feeling well to-
day. He is not seeing any one to.
day."
II know that" said, rather shortly.
"But Mr.. Reid sent for me, and IL YOU
take that card to him guess you'll find
he'll see me-"
She shut the door in my face and |
was ct o loss whether to go or stay
Just as I turned to go away the door
opened again and she asked Inc TO come
in, but / could see that her good
opinion Of me had not increased in the
interval. was shown into room that
was half parlor and half reception
room. The next moment heard I
slippered step come shutting along thu
unexpected hall, and middle-sized olt
man, with short and thick gray beard
a black silk skull-cap, o long dressing