Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-21

nspg. Not little curious" hs went
on musipgly, "not little curions |
should have been doing business With
his firm for moro than thirty years aod
this il the first time I've met one OF
them face to face" Presently no added:
"There's pretty general belief in the
craft and guile Of these Ofientals now,
I've always found them keen traders,
but thoroughly honest and trust
worthy"
He appeared anxious to impress this
view upon me, or perhsps upon him
self, for some minutes later he repeated
the observation as though it dselt in
his mind Thoroughly honest and
trustworthy. Id rather deal with
Malay than with either Greek, Jew,
OF Yankee any day" But he gave
me no information concerning Mr.. Ia
mat Driss, or of the purport Of that
individuals visit, either then or at any
other time.
As the months went by after this ]
began to notice change coming over
old Bayidge be was fidgety and rest
less, contrary to his ordinary charac-
ter; he betrayed great anxiety on the
arrival Of each mail from the Straits
settlements he had the air Of q man
who had some great weigh. upon his
mind. lie lost interest in horticulture.
| II had not known him to be an ultra
cautious trader, always averse to rash
speculation, | should have supposed
that he had risked his all upon some
great transaction.
One night had been dining at Clap
ham, as was frequent, and the old mer-
chant and | were sitting alone together
over some choice port, which he had
recently added to his cellar. | think
be must have drunk little moro than
usual, perhaps in consequence OF those
thoughts which secretly weighed upon
bis mind. At any rate be became mel
lower than | had ever seen him, and
Let me into his mind perhaps more tho
roughly than he intended. II began by
his saying, in answer to some remarks
Of mine:
"Well, no; don't feel the same
interest in the garden just now. The
truth is I've other things to think
about" Then he rambled on, talking
more TO himself than to me
"Besides, what's the use? | don't
think we shall be here another year.
III buy nice place Of my own, for
Emmeljne I'll settle it on her; some
uhere-a little further out Of town,
perhaps. | shall be in a very different
position after-hum " And here he
ruminated a moment, {" don't see
why | shouldn't be elected alderman.
Greenway says l might, even now.
After all, it's only question of money,
like yerything else, and then"
Again be resumed " Yes, few weeks
more, and-and-by and by possibly
the chair. Why not ? Emmeline would
be Lady Mayoress then, Of course.
la, ha Bless her heart We'd have
TO gether Observation-Disclosures
knows?"
But here sOmc uneasy movement OF
mine disturbed the current of his
thoughts. lie looked at me and awoke
from his reyerie.
There, get along to the drawing
room, lad. | think | must have a lit
tie nap after that wine. Yes, yes, aud
you shan't suffer for sticking to me
there'll be rise for you in my Office
yet, perhaps. We shall see before
long"
My halfformed suspicious that be
had embarked, or was about to EN-.
bark, in some larger enterprise than
heretofore received confirmation from
what he had just let drop; and know
ing how he had always and consistently
pushed himself into public notice in
the city, was hardly surprised to dis
cover that this ambition leaned toward
civic dignities. But alas for human
hopes.
About a month after the converse
ton recorded above there was a great
banquet at the Guildhsll, given by the
Lord Mayor and corporation to some
illustrious personages from abroad.
don't know how he managed it, but
old Bavidge, in his usual pushing way,
contrived to get himself numbered
among the guests. Business was con-
cluded at the office in the usual way on
the appointed evening. After that old
Bavidge dressed there and went oil to
the Guildhall rather earlier than was
needful, but be casually mentioned to
me that he thought he might meet one
or two business acquaintances, and
would have a quiet chat with them in
the library before the festivities began.
He locked up the safes in his private
room before going, put the keys in hi
pocket as he was accustomed to do, and
babe me 90 out TO Chaplain for the eve.
ming if | liked, to amuse his sister and
his niece in his absence. OF course, |
jumped at the opportunity, and SO we
parted.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock that eve
ming l was sitting in the Chaplain
dr&wing-room playing, or making be-
lieve to play, most delicious game OF
bazidue with sweet Emmeline, while
her mother TRANQUILITY dozed in her
armchair by the fire. From this bliss
ful condition of peace and quiet we
were suddenly aroused by the sound OF
carrisge- wheels grinding on the gra-
vellai approach outside, and then by a
commotion at the front door. We
rushed out to see what was the matter,
ard then all became confusion, dismsy,
wailipg Of women, and helpless wiring
ing Of hands. Poor old Bavidgs was
borne in, speechless, inert, scarcely
conscious amid the loud lamentations
of terrified women he was taken up
stairs and laid on his bed, while some.
body ran for the nearest doctor. |
also took it upon myself to send off,
post-haste, for a physician Of emf
nence.
when the local practitioner came he
first talked of apoplexy, then D. shook
his head gravely over the patient, and
then set about such restorative mea-
sures as suggested themselves to his
experience. From city friend, who
had kindly accompanied my employer
from the Guildhall, | cleaned all that
could then be ascertsined Of the. cir
cumstances attending this sad affair.
While the guests were assembling at