The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-16

lal behoof. Your pipe has been idle too
long, old fellow. ltem--one bottle of
prime old crusted port, to be taken me-
dicinally as often as need be-"
"Bnt how on earth did you raise the
money to buy all these luXuries?'
asked Frank, a little anxiously.
"Old Smoker stood me fiyer for my
'Andromeda Tra-la-lala. He had
turned to the cupboard by this time,
and was emptying the packet OF tea in
to the little caddy. Eea}l.
"Dick, the truth is not in thee, " an
swered frobisher, after pause.
There's postcard from Smoker on
the chimney-piece. He declines to
give 'Andromeda' house-room at any
price"
"More idiot he" answered the un-
abashed Dick. HE doesn't know a
work OF genius when he sees it. Those
wretched dealers never do. Mark my
words, that picture will sell for thou
sand guineas before I've been a dozen
years under the daisies" "
Dick went on with his preparations
for tea, bringing out the tray and ar
ranging the cups and saucers; stirring
up the fire--for the May evening was
chilly to the invalid.-and putting the
little kettle on 10 boil. For economy's
sake, the two young men waited upon
themselves as much as possible.
Richard, mon aDli, you have been
visiting your relative the pawnbroker, "
said Frobisher, after a minutes silence.
"Not for the first time in my life,
nor for the last, l hope. But what
does it matter to you where I've beenP
One must live."
"But one can live without prime old
crusted port, especially in the present
state of our finances"
"And | say we can't, at least you
can't The medico has ordered you
wine, and wine you shall have"
"Dick, you have been pawning your
mothers ring" .' '.t
what if havep There was nothing
else left that could get a decent ad.
vance on. 1 had no more pot-boilers
ready; and I'm afraid they wouldn't
have advanced much on the manuscript
Of your comedy"
"Ah, Dick, / shall never know how
to repay you. But you ought not tC
have pawned the ring"
''But l say that / ought. II my
mother were alive. she would be the
first to applaud me for doing so-undel
the circumstance"
Frank could only shake his head. He
had no strength to argue the point.
Besides" went on Dick, ''there'i
poor Tom Ellis only just out of the hos
pital, and that pretty little wife Of hi
without a shilling to bless herself with
The poor thing quite broke down wher
l began to talk to her, and then sh,
confessed that neither she nor Tom haC
tasted food since yesterday"
"Dick, perhaps you did right afteI
all to pawn the ring. But what a use
less log am IP'
"Tra-la-la-lala!" sang Dick. "An
other week or two will set you on you
pins as right as trivet, old boy. Con
found this kettle! 1t doesn't even SIM
yet. Won't you try one of these Var
mouth fellows?"
mo, thank you. Nothing but cuI
Of tea"
"With thin slice of toast nicely but
tered. Many's the slice of toast | useC
to make for the pater in the old days a
home"
Frank lay back languidly on hi
cushions while Dick went on with hi
preparations for tea, whistling unde
his breath as he did so.
Supposing it's a bright warm day to
morrow" said Dick presently, "hov
jolly ii would be TO take holidayp
~ should like it above all things,
answered Frank. 81 feel AS IL l ha,
lived among bricks and mortar 70
years"
ave might take the train as far q
Richmond, hire boat at the bridge
and paddle upstream for five or 81
miles, then land, and dine at some old
fashioned riverside inn."
" That would be capital"
"After dinner, we would lounge il
the shade of some big old chestnut
they are all in bloom just now. Ant
then, while did bit Of sketching, yol
should think out the plot Of your mex
story; and in the cool of evening. w
would take boat again and drop quietl,
down the stream, and finish up the da,
with few natives and some bottle,
stout"
"Quite an idyllic sketch, Dick, espe
cially the oysters and stout. But
"But me no butts. I've got the read
here, my boy-here, answered Richart
the impulsive as he tapped his waist
coat pocket with joyous air.
"But think Of our debts. Four weeks
rent owing
Together with one or two othe
trilles not worth mentioning. Frank
the more deeply / am in debt, the NOR
/ enjoy holiday. Seems as II m
creditors we're standing treat, yol
know. So kind on their partP'
"Suppose we defer our holiday, an,
pay fortnight's rent with the money!
'Not n bit of IL. Old Dabchick is il
no want of money. He's rich, my boy
rich, and can afford to wait. | only wisl
dear old Leyland were here to go will
us"
"And so do I, with all my heart" re
sponded the invalid.
"But he's in'Tregathlin Bay by thi
time" went on Dick, "trying to pain
those wonderful cliffs, that seem to hav,
put on different shade every time yol
look at them"