Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-07-24

him leave the prison, said that Flaw
overlooking gentleman" had met him
and taken him off in a hanson. Also,
that No. 119, noticing him outside the
gate, had borrowed sovereign from the
lawyer looking gentleman" and given
it to him, saying, "Tell Mr.. Bamlett he
shall hear from me, and thank you,
warder, for your kindness"
r < r
Three months passed away, but Mr..
Bamlett heard no more of his unfortun-
ate friend. He hoped his relations
might have come to his help. The
readiness Of the "lawver-like gentle
man" to lend the sovereign looked as if
he had friends, but the curate was
somewhat vexed at his silence, and
murmured to himself hard sayings
about the ingratitude of man.
On Friday night, however, Mr.. Bam-
lett was reading the Guardian, and he
ably astonished him. 1t ran as follows:
I'VE understand that the valuable
living of Patton Magma, Southshile,
vacant by the death of Rev. Samuel
Sloman, has been offered by the patron,
c. M. Masterton, Esq, to the Rev.
Joshua Bamlett curate Of st. Swithin's,
w. Z. This living ENJOYS an enviable
distinction at the present time. Most
of it's income is derived from property
in the city of London, SO that its nomi-
nal value of 600 a year is some indica-
ton Of it actual one. The population of
the parish is 260, and there is good
vlcarage. We congratulate Mr.. Bamlett
on his good fortune"
Nonsense" was the curate's mental
comment; 'the Guardian must have
made mistake. There must be anoth-
er man of the same name. Those papers
are always wrong in detail"
He took down the "Clergy List" and
ran through the Bamletts, but there was
not many of them, and not one, save
himself, rejoiced in the name of Joshua.
Surely" said he to himself. sit can't
be true. know Of no one called Mas
terton. Besides, should have heard
of it direct.'
Just then his landlady entered the
room with letter."
This came for you, sir, this morn
ing" said she, "and Pm sorry it has
been 'mislaid."
This letter proved to be from Twibell
u Twiss, the solicitors of c. NJ. Master
ton. 1t contained a formal offer of the
living OF Platton, and mentioned the
solicitors regret that their client was at
L.
Bamlett to call upon them as soon as
possible.
He called, accepted the living, and
had read himself in and taken possess
sion before Mr. Masterton returned.
One morning he was walking IN the
garden of his vicarage, wishing his pat
ron might come back that he might
make his acquaintance and discover
what manner of man 1t was who, having
good thing 10 give away, sought out
an obscure curate as the recipient of it,
when he saw Charley Micklereed over
the gate.
Could it be, thought he, that Charley
had not deemed him worth visiting be-
fore his promotion? Did he mean to
levy blackmail upon him? 1t would
not be very nice to have the story of
the tobacco spread abroad. No ! he
would not believe his friend could be
SO base-especially as his friend, to
Judge by his clothes and the aroma of
his cigar, had also prospered in worldly
affairs since he left the prison.
"Well, Josh, my boy" began Mr..
Micklereed, chow do you like it?
House ali right, isn't 1t? I told them to
put everything square for you before |
went away"
''You told them,'' said Mr.. Bamlett;
"but what on earth have you to do with
it?"
Everything" replied his friend;
II ID not Charley Micklereed now, you
know, but Charles Micklereed Master
ton, lord OF this manor and patron of
this living. Possibly J. P. some day.
Wouldn't that be joke eh Josh ?"
81 don't understand" said the vicar
feebly.
"Ah suppose you never heard of
my great uncle Masterton. Well, |
hardly ever did before l came out of
you know what. 1t seems that
he quarreled with my mothers moth
er for marrying my grandfather. She
was MS only near relation, and until
the newspapers brought me to his not
ice he was actually without anyone to
leave his money to. He was pleased to
see | was q man OF spirit, and he made
me de facto what / already was de lure
his heir. Poor old chap we were
only together month before he died.
The only thing he asked me to do was
to take his name"
Then you were the patron of this
living when Mr.. S.oman died ~ said
Mr.. Bamlett in a disappointed tone.
1t was not pleasant to find that favor
and not merit, after all has led to cur
Certainly, [ was, old fellow, and I
knew no one who deserved it better
than you. Shouldn't have cared if I
had either. owe you more than this
for that tobacco" replied his friend.
Don't, pray, put it on that ground,
Oh riley, demonstrated the other, "you
cannot imagine the trouble my con-
science has given me over that matter.
If | had known the offer came from
you, [ should not have accepted the liv-
ing"
''Just what 1 was afraid Of" retorted
his friend, ''that was why I sent it
through my solicitors
Tten Mr.. Bamlett talked Of resigning,
but his friend, though with some diff
fcuity, persuaded him to abandon the
idea.
"Well, you know the way up to the
hall" said Charles, at parting. "By the
by, you'll find some more old friends of
yours at the lodge. l have made that
warder chap gatekeeper. He and his
family came down yesterday. Wonder
if ne ever smelt that tobacco? Some
times [ fancied he did"