Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-30
WANTED, e1.OO0.

like murder. must out. Itis-alasl nv
pen almost refuses 10 record it-Peri.
Wrinkle Dabchuck.
There, it is all over; have made
clean breast of ii, and trust you don't
think less of me for it.
Nv father was q we'll to do trades
man, and departed from this life peace.
fully. bequeathing to me little else than
the name, because, as he averred in his
will, he made the money by hard work
4 and intended that | should follow so
GOOD an example.
The most extraordinary provision of
nv late, but not deeply-lamented IA
theirs will was that as soon rs | could
present myself at his old bank and lay
4 down a thousand pounds in gold on
the counter, l was to be heir to what
propertv he had left-no amount being
stated.
was now the only representative of
the Dabchuck family, my poor mother
having slowly dropped and died under
the awful name she had assumed, as
did also many baby Dabchucks, who,
wiser than /, refused to live in n world
where such milestone of name woald
be sure TO drag them down.
The only person who seemed to
thrive under such an inilction was my
father, who had the dfges ton of an os-
trich; and no conscience TO speak of, or
he wouldn't have treated his offspring
so cruelty rs TO leave him-that is me-
mind you-with only five pounds to
face the world with, excepting two
suits OF clothes, not quite new. a silver
watch of the turnip style, warranted
to 90 only when carried.
His business, furniture, and every
thing was sold TO add to the fortune |
was 10 come into-when, was only too
, problematic.
had often heard that fortunes were
made out of twopcnce-halfpenny but
always in places other than where the
lucky individuals were born.
Having seen the elder Dabchuck
, placed where everybody must rest
sooner or later. whether prince or
. peasant, l made up my modest bundle,
and bidding good by to London, went
like Dick Wilmington on my travels;
but unlike him, with dreadful name
at my heels. ready to bring me into
scorn and derision at any moment.
sat on a milestone just as he had.
feeling very tired and hungry, and with
few promising blisters to remind me
that walking was not all pleasure, and
r listened for the sound of bells, as an
: augury of future grandeur and pros
perity; but alasi what chime of bells,
however prosaic would ring for the
name OF PeriwinHlc DabchuckP
] did hear II solitary linKIe, which
certainly was TOO feeble to stir the
heart and quicken the pulses, The sound
being followed Dy the well known mel
: ancholy cry. not of Il bird, but OF q
donker, behind which WAS tinker
cart.
Good morning, young gentleman. y
said the proprietor of the show, looking
critically Mt me in = way that made me
shift uneaslly on the milestone, you
don't happen TO have a little baccy
about you?"
Don't smoke | answered mildly.
Thought So mister; does your mo-
Their know you are out--ehP"
Haven't got Il mother" pro-
tested.
Thought not, mister. What's your
nameP' was the sarcastic rejoindcr, rs
if the fact of my having no tobacco had
reused the tinker's choler.
"Dabchuck, / replied innocently,
; taken off my guard by his bouncing
= manner.
Good lor', Eeddyl" he exclaimed,
addressing the donkey and dealing him
n blow from n short cudgei. ut which
it lifted up its voice in derision; that s
r q name to so to church with. il you
. likel Gee up!'
4 just my luck, | muttcred as
/ arose from my hard seat; 'even tink-
Y er derides me. | think I'll try and get
It my unfortunate name changed when
get back to London. "
Having lived Il vagaDond life for a
8 while, and nearly spent my little all,
+ fell in with travelling circus, the
friendship of whose proprietor | was
lucky enough TO make Mt roadside
! inn, by judicious treat of unsweetened
gin.
r Now if there was one thing more
g than another liked from babyhood al
i most it was horse-riding; and | flatter-
d ed myself / could do the equestrian
d trick with here and there a one.
r. Most of my pocket money for years
s. went on such treats-taken on the sly,
d though. for had my father known it he
g would have cut me out of his will en-.
y tirely, and not troubled me to 90 in
; search of thousand pounds
) On one occasion | narrowly escaped
detection ut his hands, and even at this
period, when my busy pen writes this
g | have n sensation as if cold water is
trickling down my back, at the mere
thought of it.
Ny hack was obtained from groom
whose master never knew how his
n horses were let out on hire. or the wor.
e thy Thomas Sly would not have re.
u tanned his place-a remunerative one
d for single hour after the discovery.
d Inflated with daring ambition, pur
% chased pair of spurs, just to appear /;
e real gentleman-rider and not n cockney
n doing the grand on superannuateC
"a bit of horsehesh that would soon b,
5. sent to the knacker's to provide delect
C. able food for animals that are fond o
l. nocturnal rambles on the states ant
tiles.