The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-03-13
MY FOREIGN ANTAGONIST.
And you are going home?:"-

mally from the bro~wn-bearded face oppo-
site me. But then Quincy was down on
his luck, and that was hardly to be Won
dercd at when a young ne 'er-do-well like
me could realize in two brief years the
wealth that he had toiled for patiently dur
ing half a score in vain.
''And you'll settle down in the old
try and be a steady. practical man for the
future ?" he said, looking at me wistfully.
Eyes. and I'll marry jamie, and make
her happy and proud of me and you'll
visit us, Quincy, won't you, to see how |
have taken all your good counsel and my
own good luck to heart?'
Maybe, maybe; | don't PROMISE
smiling thoughtfully and stroking his silk
en- beard as he spoke but you have had
rare fortune, young one, and you do well
to sit down now, and consider now to do
the very best with yourself. 1t is not
every one who finds himself at twenty-five
with a University education and a realized
fortune, and a sweet, faithful girl waiting
for him at home. But that is the way of
things chance gives you that because you
were a bad boy to begin with, while |. who
was as steady always as Rhadamanthus and
the remaining judges, have a handful of
nuggets for my whole capital and a grave
under the wattletrees to mark the end of
my love story. Hardly fair, is it young
one?!'
''Horribly unfair" | answered warmly,
but your turn will come it always does
to the deserving and patient. And as to
me, why my end is not seen yet Call no
MAJ happy till he is dead, you kno W.
A faint smile broke over his face.
''Do You think envy you to grudge you
anything? Oh, no, I'm not such a fellow
CLEAN of your %contentment if I could. |
am satisfied both for you and myself.
Prosperity is the pabulum you will thrive
on, while | should be the same under any
fortune"
We were on our way together down the
main street of Tarrangower, he coming
from the store where he had been disposing
ofsome gold-dust to al agent who paid three
pence an ounce more for it than the bank
price. | from the New South Wales Bank,
whence | had been drawing my fortune in
the form of a bulky roll of one hundred
pound British notes.
1T is scarcely safe to carry all that
around here an acquaintance ventured
warningly, as | was buttoning the money
into the pocket of my moleskin trousers.
Il shall take the number of the notes by
and-by," | answered carelessly. You
know | sail for England next week"
and why not have the money transfer
red to the bank there for safety, and your
own comfort in travelling, and a hundred
reasons ?" the man asked in surprise.
Il like this way | like the feel of it
about me, and convenience is altogether a
matter of opinion
Then | went out whistling, not through
dearth, but through abundance of thought.
That bulky roll represented love. and tri-
umph, and reconciliation with the family
at home, who had feigned to despair of me
once.
''Oh, jamie. jamie, how fond and faithful
you have been !" thought unanimously.
Heaven helping me, my future will be
worthier of you than my past has BEEN"
And then | had encountered Quincy,
and, linking my arm in his, we had walked
down the street together while | dilated to
him on my prospects.
You 90 to Europe next week, and ]
start up the country tomorrow, and it may
be we shall never meet again" he said re-
gretfully.
'Then let us drink a stirrup-cup at part
n.y." I said, drawing him toward the open
door of the Kangaroo.
"A stirrup-cup of water, if you will"
preaching again - | said pettishly.
"No, not preaching only urging you
by our friendship, to make me happy
what is it to you?'
Il like you; | want to know you safe
before you leave me-
twisted myself away from him impa-
tiently.
mo man has ever called me a drunk
ard" I said.
mo, certainly not, and | want to make
sure no man ever will"
] hesitated, looking at him d%oubttully.
''Surely it is in the hour Of our greatest
triumph that we should most readily bring
our sacrifice to the altar.
".All right, " I said, flushing. Il prom
ise."
'.Promise what?N
''To abstain from Intoxicating drinks as
beverages for ever laughing uncomfort-
ably.
lie stretched out his big hand and grasp
ed mine.
Il am satisfied about you now, young
one | never was before. Heaven bless
you - And then we sauntered into the
saloon together, and drank a glass of GIN
ger beer, amicably chatting in a desultory
way.
Groups of two and three were scattered
here and there about the bar, chatting nois-
lily for the most part, though a few drank
deeply in sullen silence but, except the
lounger by the door, who stood with his
hands plunged deeply in his pockets, and