Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-24

is no depression but is given to show how
deeply my uncle was interested in Shake
epeare.
The most valuable, or at least the most
highly priced, book in his collection was
q First Folio" for which, if I remember
rightly, he had given e750, though he
would not have parted with it for
ten times that sum. This rare book was
kept not merely as curiosity by its
owner, as he was able to put it to crit
ical use; its state of preservation was so
perfect as to render it unique copy. l
was considerably surprised one day when
he told me that he had promised to lend
1t for short time to a distinguished
member Of parliament, whom be had al
most won over to his own views regard
ing the authorship of the plays. was
commissioned to convey the precious book
to its destination, and my uncle
gratifed me by saying that he could
trust it for that purpose into the hands
Of no one else. He was going out to dine
that night, and as | saw him into the car
riage the last thing he said to me was
that, as the distance which | should have
to go was not great. he would prefer that
l should walk instead of taking q cab,
being, suppose, Of the opinion that the
book would run greater risk Of being
injured or lost if | used conveyance. /
promised, therefore, to carry it. An hour
later, when left the house with the val
liable book in my hand, | found myself in
the midst Of the densest London fog had
ever experienced. Not only was it suffo-
eating and binding, but as it drifted
along and met my face the heavy vapor
seemed almost tangible. To add to the
discomfort caused by the fog the night
was bitterly cold and the pavement was
slippery. | had not gone many steps
when l began to deliberate whether I
ought not to return, but, as | knew that
my uncle's friend was staying at homo
this evening in order to receive the book,
thought it better that he should not be-
disappointed. I had proceeded on my
way not more than a few hundred yards
when, on turning a corner, l ran
against some one who was coming
in the opposite direction. The COLI
sion was sharp one, and wo both
slipped and fell With mutual apologies
we scram bled to our feet, and the stranger
politely lifted the copy Of Shakespeare"
which had fallen from my hand and re-
turned it to me. We were standing right
under a lamp, and l could see, though in
distinctly, the manner of man he was
with whom had como in contact; he was
middle aged short. spare and dressed
shabby genteelly in black, apparently a
second rate solicitors or barrister's clerk,
or perhaps copyist for law stationer.
After expressing hope that was not
hurt he moved away. and | remained
standing, somewhat dazed by my tumble.
AS | had still about half mile to go l
resolved to run the risk of no more acct
dents. SO l turned and began to retrace
my steps. In few minutes | was again
within nv uncle's house. l went at once
to the library in order to restore the
First Folio" to its place.
How warm and comfortable the room
seemed after the miserable weather to
which had just been exposed. The fire was
blazing brightly, and | warmed my cold
hands. AS soon as lamp was brought
in | approached table, where l had laid
tho Shakespeare" as l was anxious to
know if it had received any slight damage
through falling. l lifted the book, aud
suddenly felt faint, while the room
seemed to spin round me. Tho book
held in my hand was not the First
Folio" but law book of the same size
and appearance Ere l opened it l saw
by the printing on the back of the binding
that it was Robbins on Contracts p
The truth flashed apon me instantaneous
ly. That miserable lawyers clerk in the
darkness and fog had Inadvertently hand
ed me this wretche0 book he was carrying
and had taken away the " Shakespeare
in it's stead. | was convinced that never
again would l behold the First Folio"
1t is true that my uncle's name and
address were written on a slip of paper
which was gummed TO the cover, but
from the momentary glimpse / had of this
man / felt sure he would not return it.
The temptation by which he found him
self assailed would be too great for him
to resist, when he learnt that he had in
his possession book which, if sold, would
procure him comfortable annuity for
the remainder Of his life. He would know
that the book must be the property of
some wealthy collector, who, he would
imagine, could afford to purchase an
other Though his conduct would be
morally as culpable as theft, knew that
many man, who was incapable of DELHI
erately stealing, would be unable TO with
stand the temptation of appropriatirg
that which came into his possession I'M
Willingly, and, in a manner, might seem
to have been thrust upon him, especidlyif
he were in needy circumstances, as this
man whom ! had encountered in the fog
was. There would be no use
in advertising the loss, as my uncle's
name would be seen, and the book restor-
ed if it had fallen into the hands of al
honest person. | had 4 strong conviction,
however, that the book would never be
brought back. | did not doubt for mo-
ment the consequences which my care
lessness would entail upon myself. Not
only would lose my fortune. but | would
be banished from my uncies house, and
be thrown upon the world without means
and without the ability to earn my living
knew that he had disinherited my
cousins for reasons which would seem
only trivial to him when compared to the
of my offense. This would be
more Ineligible to the reader if could
explain the inordinate value which be
placed upon the book, and the vencration
IN which he held it, or could describe his
rascible, crotchetv temperament, or the
contempt in which he held such re-
missness at that of which | had
been guilty I knew 1t would be use
ess to urge that. as be had made me
'SSiSA KY Profession, nc OuSI0 III JuStlCe
10 give me an allowance, as lie would
think was only being justly punished in
being consigned to perjury.
When he returned that night I was
thankful that he made no reference TO the
book. did not dare to lock him IN the
lace. | ala aware that, if / had acted
lightly, should have made q confession .
o him OF my faults, and that my behav-
or viii be pronounced by some to have .
been oowa,dly. But "cowardioe" is O .
Tery ugly word to use in reference to one
had inst ,naSad To ba n 6olGie-. end I &