Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-23

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&c. reflected. There had been, earlier in the DAY
a COST ersatIon with his professor, in which the latter
promised to take him out Of the country in a week
at %rurthest, as soon, In fact, as he had concluded th9
sale of his proprietary club, with all Its rights, al
vantages, good will and clientele. The purchaser
we may explain, in parenthesis, was a gentleman
connected with the turf, and entirely fitted Tor kne
post OF proprietor. That Is to say, he was perfectly
unscrupulous, without morals, honesty, prejudice or
pity. And yet, for want Of the good manners Whleh
served the count in lieu Of these things, he speedily
ruined the club and Dispersed the gamblers, who
now gamble elsewhere. A week at furthest. lie
could not shove the old gentlemandown the stairs, az
ne wished to do. 1t was necessary either 10 chahgs
his lodging or to conctIiate him.
He cOncillated him. He assured Uncle joseph tna6
1t would give him the greatest satisfaction to contdo
in his honor, and to receive him in this apartment
Then" said the old man, with an involuntary
smacking Of his lips, "as you've got, no doubt some
OF the money left. my dear young friend, and Is
very pleasant to sit and talk, let us have-ah.-let us
have -oh'' he drew a long, deep sigh, "a bottle OF
champagne"
Isuppose his long professional career had accus.
toned him To associate champagne with secrecy, Just
as other peoples experience leads them to associate
champagne with love, or with race courses, or with
dancing.
They hal a glorious bottle Of champagne. Uncle
Joseph drank 1t nearly all, and on parting shook
Dick effusively by the hand, promised to come again
next day, and swOre tina. his secret was as sacred as
that OF the Thirty third degree.
He kept his word, and returned faithfully the next
evening, wien he had another bottle of champagne.
How valuable a thing Is a secret properly handled
Uncle Joseph rubbed his hands over his own clever.
ness. Why, 1t was almost like a return to the good
old times, except that the bottle of champagne was
not preceded by a banquet. This caused unsteadt-
ness Of gait on the way home, and a disposition to
laugh and sit on d~oorsteps, to become playful, and
to find ones speech strangely thick. Dicks secret,
however, was safe.
"0h, my dear young friend" said Uncle Joseph,
"what a happiness for you that it vas I who discov-
cred you; suppose 1t had been your father or Norahf
What would have happened3 Twas in a police court
this morning he certainly was a delightful com
panion-"I was in a police court, and there was a
poor young man brought up for ENLIGHTENMENT, He
had run away, and they found him, and he was com
nitted for trial. | thought Of you, Dick, and my
heart bled. Ill come again tomorrow"
He did return next day, but meantime Dick had
heard something which made him less careful to
c%onciliate the man who had his secret. Ii fact, the
word had come to be in readiness.
The count had settled everything, and they were
to so away the very next day. Therefore, when
Unc.e Joseph rubbed his hands, and said that 1t was
thirsty weather, sent by Providence in order to
bring out the full flavor of a dry, sparkling wine,
Dick coolly said that he wasn't going to stanl any
more, but II Uncle Joseph chose to drink soda and
whisky, Instead, he could.
The old man was wounded in his tenderest and
most sacred depths. But he dissembled, and drank
the substitute, which, as compared with the greaC
original, is little better than mere zoedone. He
drank II, and went away early, with treachery In his
heart, but a smile upon his lips.
Come to morrow night, Uncle Joseph" said Dick,
"and you shall have as much champag ne a. you can
drink. You shall battle in champagne If you like"
There was a something, this injured old man
felt, which meant mischief. He would not get
the promised champagne. Dick wouldn't look like
that ii he meant fair and honest. Yet how mean,
How paltry. To grudge a single bottle OF champagne,
just one u day, for the safeguarding of so valuable u
secret
In the morning Uncle Joseph made quite a long
journey. He took the train from King 8 Cross to
Bishopsgate, whence he walked to Whttechapel road.
Here he took the train which runs along the Com.
merclal road. He got out half way down, and made
his way through certain ~by-streets to CLAIMS road,
S%hadwell, where stands the Children's Hospital,
by this time he had learned everything. partly Inv
pretending to know already, and partly by cunning
questions, and partly because Dick, with a brutal
cynlctsm, made no secret Of his W infamy. Among
other things, therefore, he knew that Norlh's nrp.
tended holiday was n blind to conceal from the doc.
tor for a while the fact that she had left her post as
private secretary to Mr.. Murridge, under an accuse.
tion of completely, at least, in a crime.
He went first to Hugh, who presently called Cal.
ista.
al thought" he said, in conclusion, "that the young
mans friends ought to know. He may be snatched
from worse evils, even If he is punished for what he
has done. His father Is a hard man, but heis / dare
say, just. And Dick Is, fear, in very bad company
very bad company, indeed. There were cards on
the table, and l fear there has been drinking"
He fingered, as II there was something more he
would Ike to say. Presently he desired a word In
private with Hugh.
He went away with a sovereign In his pocket. He
had sold his secret for a sovereign. 1t was unworthy
the possessor of so many degrees.
He spent the evening at a restaurant in the Strand
over a large bottle Of champagne, taken with and
after a colorado imitation OF a banquet. There were.
however, no speeches, because 1t might have ap.
peared strange for an elderly gentleman to rise &C
his little table and propose his own health, and re-.
spond for the craft. But the wine was Perricr Jouet.
and he drank it slowly and blissfully.
lin these days OF forced abstinence the tempter
were to approach Uncle Joseph, holding Il bottle Of
champagne in his hand in exchange for the sublime
secrets Of tn Thirty third degree, would his virtue
sustain him liz that hour?