Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-30

My brother Dick! be good, be honest"
Was 1t by chance or was it by design that the sign
or's hands should be in his pockets at that moment
and that there should be the clink of coirp
Nothing elseg' said Dick. There is money"
He turned his face away without taking her hands
or being softened by the tears in her beautiful eyes.
The signOr stepped to the door and held it open
while Calista passed out. Will there ever, in that
unknown future which lies before this Young man,
fall upon him the memory Of this last chance and the
tears OF the girl who was with him more patient
than a sister with a brother, more ready 10 hear his
sorrow, more sure to forgive and more careful to
excuse? viii he ever discover, in the years to come
that a life Of obscurity with honor is better than the
life marked out for him OF trlckery and cheating?
Exactly an hour afterwards another cab drew VI
at the hotel entrance OF the tavern. There stepped
out of 1t an old gentleman-none other than Uncle
Joseph-and an elderly gentleman, who vas MI.
M1rrldge.
"On the second foorT" you said.
Second floOr-frst door on the left when you get
to the landing. I'll wait for you down here. You
can't miss him, and he's afraid to go out because OF
you"
Nh. Murridge went slowly up the stairs. Any man
bound on such an erTand would go slowly. He was
resolved what TO do. There should not be the
least appearance of anger. But he should demand a
full confession. Otherwise He reached the first
floor and looked about him. Through an open door
he saw a large room filled with little tables, the at
mosphere thick with stale tobacco smoke and the
reek OF spirits.
II kdllblllk GluU' NE Stlu, anu ulOulLtu 10 the
second floor.
He went to the door indicated, and opened it with.
out knocking. The room bore signs Of recent occu-
patton; the bed had not been made since the night
and the bedclothes were tumbled about; there were
cards on the table and a pipe and a Jug which had
contained beer. He thought he must have mistaken
the room and tried the next, and the next. There
were some more rooms on the landing. They all pre-
sented the appearance Of being family bedrooms
Mr.. Murridge slowly came down stairs again.
HNnIr told rnn tho fret dnOF IN tho Loft - ho cold 70
Uncle Joseph.
First door on the left it is"
Mr.. Murridge this time sought the landlord In the
bar.
The functionaryw who was in the bar explained that
a young gentleman had been staying there some lit
tie time. but that he was gone-gone of in a cab that
very day. Being asked II he kept o gambling club
In the house. he said that he did not; he let his first
floor to a social club, which met every night for con-
versation and tobacco. There might be cards. He
his business. The young gentleman who had just
gone away paid his bill regular, and was quiet and
well hammered. He kept indoors because he was re-
covering from an illness. He did not know where
he had gone.
Nothing more could be got out Of the landlord.
Mr.. Murrldge came away.
well, sir-well2" asked Uncle Joseph. "You have
seen him, and made short work with him., no doubt
All, he was penitent, l trust And you fOrgave him,
on conditions-Of course, on conditions. 1t %retOices
me to have been the humble means, under Provi-
dence, of bringing together father and son, under
these most interesting and peculiar circumstances.
Sixty pounds, think you said2 And five pounds for
the humble instrument. More Providence! Sixty
five pounds. 1t is a sad, sad loss"
81 promised you five pounds for putting the boy
into my hands. Well, ne is not there"
Not there? Nj. Murridge, l give you the word Of
Of an officer in l don't know how many lodges, that
he was there yesterday"
Very likely. He / MT there to-day. However, as
you did your best, here's half a sovereign for you"
He gave the old man this paltry coin, which will do
little more than purchase one bottle of really good
champagne, and left him standing sOrrowfully on
the curbgtOne.
Half a sovereign. And Uncle Joseph thought he
had secured, at one stroke, a whole dozen Of cham
payne!