The Osceola times., 1885-01-17

fruit and cool green leaves. The tea
tray was still ON the little round table,
and on ii was plate that had not been
used. With dainty fingers, Miss Dcene
picked out some of the finest of the
fruit, arranged them on the plate, and
then handed the plate to Frank.
"Have you been a long time i'll Mr..
Drummondpn she asked. in a tone that
thrilled Frank from head to foot.
"Nearly a month. But 1 am greatly
better, and hope TO get out of doors tor
the first time tomorrow.
$50 tedious, is il not, to be shut up
indoors for more than day at time?
L recollect once, when | had been very
i'll and was getting better, how longed
TO get out of doors. and how the more
they refused to let me, the more l
wanted to 20. Well, was not TO be
baked, so bribed Jem, the gardeners $
boy, to put ladder under my window
after dark. Then, about ten O'Clock,
after l had been left for the night, l
dressed myself, got through the window,
down the ladder-it was bright moon
highland ran by way of the shrubbery
to the five-acre field. There | caught
Dapple, my pony, had bare-backed
scamper round the meadows for half
AN hour-got back unseen by way of the
ladder, and next day was nearly well. !"
Frank laughed. "A sort of recipe.
Miss Deene, that am afraid would not
answer in every case"
Mr.. Pebworth was prosing away on
the opposite side of the room to Dick
and Mr.. Gimp.
"Yes, my dear Frank, yours is one of
the most extraordinary instances of good
fortune that ever came under my no.
tice. | could not sleep for nearly a
week after l first heard of it. pre-
sumo that you will take up your resi-
dence at Waylands? A most charming
spot, ! have every reason to believe"
Why-ah-you see it's too soon yet
for me to make up my mind about any
thing. at present can hardly believe
that my good fortune is anything more
substantial than dream"
"When Mr. Gimp puts into your
hand blank check-book and tells you
for what sum you can draw upon your
bankers, you will begin to believe in it
as a golden reality
81 think" said Dick, 81 should like
to run round the corner to my friend
the pawnbroker' s-for the last time,
you know-and raise couple of shil-
lings on coat o. a waistcoat, or some-
thing, till tomorrow
Mr.. Pebworth held up his hands in
horror. Mr. Gimp looked as If he could
not believe the evidence of his ears.
my dear Frank! | entreat that you
will look upon my purse as your own"
"And mine, too, Mr.. Frobisher.
4" You misunderstood me, both of
you," answered Dick, while a broad
smile overspread his freckled face.
my last visit to my Lombardan rela-
tive was to have been sentimental
rather than necessary sort of regret
full lcave-taking Of one who had not
been unkind to me when my fortunes
were very much down-at-heel. But it
matters not. Tomorrow will look up
certain sibylline leaves which bear the
impress of his establishment. They
are somewhat numerous; but you, Mr..
Gimp, will have no objection to redeem
for me the various articles specified in
themp"
The little lawyers eyeglasses fell
from bis nose. "I-John Gimp-in a
pawnshop"
Incorrigible Dick only lay back in his
chair and laughed.
Meanwhile, our two young people at
the other end of the room went on
chatting to themselves
I" And now | supposed am in Bohe-
miapn said Miss Deene.
"And now you are in Bohemia" said
Frank.
"How do the denizens of this strange
country live?"
"Thcy exist; they don't live in the
ordinary sense of the word. They
paint pictures that seldom find buyers.
They write plays that no manager will
look at There are great actors and
great musicians among them, only the
public is too pig-headed to recognize
their genius. They are always more or
less hard up; generally more. They
smoke great deal. They also drink
whisky, when they can get it -four
penny ale when they can't. They are
never down-hearted, though they don't
always know where tomorrow dinner
is to come from. They help one anoth-
er, as good fellows ought to do. When
Jack is lucky enough TO pick up ten
pound note, Tom and Harry come in
for share of it: and when Harry
picture finds a customer. be sure his
friends are not forgotten"
"Wcre man. should like to be a
Bohemian" said Miss Deene with a
sparkle in her dark eyes.
"liow much nicer to earn five hun
dred year in the city, and not be Bo-
hemianI"
BY this time, Dick was beginning to
feel a trine bored. He cast one or two
longing glances at his meerschaum, but
Mr.. Pebworth held him as the Ancient
Mariner held the Wedding Guest.
"You will probably, my dear Frank, !"
he said, "be desirous of investing some
portion of your surplus income in one
or other of these gigantic commercial
enterprises which form such promi-
nent feature of the wonderful era in
which we live
"That sounds exactly like bit out
of one of his own prospectuses," mur-
INJURED Mr.. Gimp to himself.
"Of one such enterprise" continued
Mr.. Pebworth, 81 have the honor to be
chairman. | allude to The Patent Bot
tied Ozone Company; Chief Offices, 40
Threadneedle Court, City"
THE Patent what Company, uncle?"
asked Dick.
"The Patent Bottled Ozone Com
pany. Hem! The association in ques-
ton may be briefly described as one of
those happy combinations of philan-
thropy with hard cash which are, alas!
too seldom met with in this sublunary