Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-12

"Heres the guinea opinion"
Moody, listening attentively, started and
changed color at these last words. Mr.. Troy
locked thoroughly disappointed, and made
no attempt to conceal it, SIS that all!'' be
asked.
sAus' retorted the cynical vagabond
"You're pretty lawyer! What more can
say when l don't know for certain whether
the witness who has given me my informa-
ton has misled me or nots Have spoken to
the girl and formed my own opinions No!
Have been introduced among the servants
las errand boy, or to clean the boots and
shoes, or what not, and have 1 formed my
own judgment of thenaa No! 1 take your
opinions for granted, and 1 tell you how /
should set to work myself if they were my
opinions too; and that's guineas worth-a
devilish good guinea's worth to rich man
like you'll"
Old Sharon's logic produced a certain effect
on Mr.. Troy in spite of himself. 1t was
smartly put from his point of view-there
was no denying that.
even if consented to your proposal" he
said, II should object to your annoying the
young lady with impairment questions, or to
your being introduced as aspy into a respect
able house."
Old Sharon doubled his dirty fists and
drummed with them on the rickety table in a
comical frenzy of impotence while Mr.. Troy
was speaking.
''What the devil do you know about my
way of doing my businessp he burst out,
when the lawyer had DONE Zone of us two
is talking like a born idiot, and mind this it
isn'tme. Look here! Your young lady goes
out for a walk, and she meets with dirty,
shabby old beggar-I look like shabby old
beggar already, don't II Very good. This dirty
old wretch whines and whimpers and tells a
long story, and gets sixpence out of the girl,
and knows her by that time, inside and out, as
well as if he had made her-and, mark!
hasn't asked her single question, and, in
stead Of annoying her, has made her happy
in the performance of a charitable action,
Stop bit 1 haven't done with you yet
Who blacks your boots and shoess Look
herel" He pushed bis pug dog off his lap,
dived under the table, appeared again
with an old boot and bottle of backing
and set to work with tigerish activity.
"pm going out for a walk, you know, and 1
may as well make myself smart" With that
announcement he began to sing over his
work-a song Of sentiment, popular in Eng
land in the early part of the present century
-" She's all my fancy painted her, she's
lovely, she's divine; but her heart it is
another's and it never can be mine Too
ralloo-ral-loo.' like love song Brush
away! brush away! till see my own pretty
harmless, jolly old man! sings and jokes over
hts work, and makes the kitchen quite cheer.
full What's that you say? He's stranger.
and don't talk to him too freely. You ought
to be ashamed of yourself to speak in that
49, \ R.lI-
grave Mrs. Cook will give him nice bit Of
dinner in the scullery, and John Footman
will look out an old coat for him And
when he's heard everything he wants to hear,
and doesn't come back again the next day to
his work, what do they think of it in the ser.
wants halle Do they say, We've had spy
among us? Yah! you know better than
That by this time The cheerful old man has
been run over in the street, or is down with
the fever, or has turned up his toes in the
parish dead house-thats what they say in
the servants hall. Try me in your own
kltchen, and sse if your servants take me for
spy. Come, come, Mr.. Lawyer! out with
your ten pounds, and don't waste any more
precious time about itr'
81 will consider, and let YOU know said
Mr.. Troy.
Old Sharon laughed more ferociously than
ever, and hobbled round the table in great
hurry to the place at which Moody was sit
ting. He laid one hand on the stewards
shoulder, and pointed derisively with the
other to Mr.. Troy.
II say, Mr.. Silent-man! Bet you e5
never hear Of that lawyer again!"
Silently attentive all through the interview
except when he was answering questions),
Moody only replied in the fewest possible
words. II don't bet," was all he said. He
showed no resentment at Sharon,s familiar
ity, and he appeared to find no amusement in
Sharon's extraordinary talk. The old vaga-
bond seemed actually to produce serious
impression on him When Mr.. Troy set the
example of rising to go, he still kept his seat
and looked at the lawyer as if he regretted
leaving the atmosphere of tobacco smoke
reeking in the dirty room.
Have you anything to say before we go?"
Mr.. Troy asked
Moody rose slowly and looked at Old Shar-
on. mot just now, SIR" he replied. looking
away again, after moments reflection.
Old Sharon interpreted Moody's look and
Moody's reply from his own peculiar noint
OF view. He suddenly drew the steward
away into corner of the room
say!' he began, in whisper. .supon
YOUR solemn word of honor, Won knov-ana