The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-07-08

+ am fairly dashed ruined --done for
had better order my cofin whiis car
pay for IL This vas tho sAd soliioquy ol
Mr.. James Bolden. solicitor and notary
public. - be sst alone in biz oliicc ia
High street. Westborough. one October
morning.
And truly Mr.. James Bolden's positiou
was not = happy one. He was youns
man, lately admitted - : solicitor. and
be had spent Ill bis little capital 70 no
purpose in trying to make practice for
himself 10 the tovn Of Westborough.
He wss almost stranger in the town.
and although be hsd been there nearly .
rear. be had hardly succeeded in making
an acquaintance, much less 10 gaining
clients. Tho report that there was "a
opening in the place. on The strength o.
which be had como there. proved 70 BE-
entirely fAllacious The town wAs just
large enough to hide him. Il was in
vain that be went regularly 70 81, Angus
tines mission Chapel, In the hope Of hsv-
ing bis name put on the building COM
mittee Of the new church; in vain that
he irequsnted (st proper hours the bill
hard room Of the new Royal Hotel; in
vain that be sedulously attended the
county court and the police court with :
glazed black bag which held nothing but
one or two law books. Business would
not come to him. Nobody knew him, and
nobody cared 10 know him.
There WAS, indeed. one man who knew
him one who might, II he had had any
business whatever. have proved useful
friend Mr.. Lionel Winn, editor Of the
Westborough Independent. The young
man had made the acquaintance Ct Mr..
VIM over the billiard table. But Of
what use was il to have the means Of
getting ilattering notice in the newspa-
per, when there was absolutely nothing to
notice?
1t was nearly 10 o'clock. Mr.. James
Bolden had been looking over his ledger,
and even his disposition failed him. as he
marked the stats Of things there disclos-
cd. He rose from the table with groan,
put on his hat. and telling his solitary
ofice-boy (who was improving his time
by boring holes in the lids Of his desk
that he would not be In till after lunch,
ho sailed forth into the street.
Not having any particular, object in
view. he thought he might y well go to
the railway station and get London pa
per. and thither lie directed his steps.
After buying his paper, Bolden OBJ
served on the platform the station master.
engaged in an angry alteration with an
elderly man, who looked like farm la
borer. A little crowd surrounded the
disputants, and Boldon sauntered up TO
see what was the matter.
A tell 'se ave COON from Lamborne, an
all pay no more, said the man.
You must pay the fare from London
all the same, returned the station.mss-
ter, angrily. Here's the bylaw. You
can read it yourself-that is, il you can
read.
Nav, can't.
Well. II says that anyone travelling
without sticket must pay the fare from
the station At which the train started.
How am to know you only got in at
Lamborne?
The dispute went on, the station mas
ter. who had been sergeant in the
Guards and had great idea Of the i'm
portance Of his Office and the necessity o.
enforcing the law. having evidently She
best side Of it. The young solicitor ven
tured to say something for the man, but
was roughly advised to mind his own
business This rather nettled him; and
~ the poor man protested that he could
not pay bis own fare from London-seven
and tenpence land there was
every prospect that he would be taken be
fore the magistrate. Boldon goodnatured-
y paid the money for him, and the mat.
ter was at an end.
Our hero walked sbstractedly back to
bis Office. pondering over the hard case
Of the poor man whom be had succored;
and his deliberations lasted for some
time
On the following Saturday morning.
Bcldon omitted to shave, aud stayed in
doors all day. After substantial early
dinner be proceeded to make some chan
ges in his raiment. He put on an old
weed suit considerably the worse Tor
wear, aud pair Of boots that bad seen
better days. His hat he took from :
veil merited oblivion. and finally be
adorned bis neck with red and blue
woolen comforter. Thus equipped he
vet out for walk to Lamborne. small
town about ten miles off,
He reachsd his destination about 7Il
,'ciock 10 the evening, and his first pro-
,eediug was to 60 to 20 inn and order
'ome tea. Having refreshed himself be
sft the inn. after exchanging few words
rilh the lsndlsdy. and visited two or
hree shops In each shop be made one
" two small purchases, directing that the
FOODS be sent to him at Westborough;
md In each case be was careful to take
'eceipt for the money be paid. Then be
vent 70 the railway station. at which be
snew the London train Tor Westborough 4
nd the vest would stop 10 . few minutes, /
made one or two trsing purchases It the
and managed 10 engage the /
nan who kept the stall in conversation i
os come time The train came 10 - he /
vas still talking 10 the man At the book ,
tall, and Boldon quietly took seat 10 IL. I