Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-01
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF,

marked Captain Dairymple, half seriously,
half banteringly, to his friend and COM
rade, Godfrey Spencer, as the two young
men strolied along the promenade of the
important naval station and garrison town
OF Mudport. You're always losing some
thing, or forgetting something, or getting
taken in by somebody, Or
Don't row at me. Dalrymple, just be-
cause don't happen to be as orderly and
precise as you are, returned the other, a
handsome young fellow, with a pair of
mischievous brown eyes. L can't help
being naturally untidy and lazy. 1 would
If l could. And after all, what does it
signify losing trumpery card case? The
old thing wasn't worth five shillings
Though | grant it was annoying to have
no card to leave on the new people on the
Dockyard, after hunting ali my pockets
through twice for my case, until looked
like fool. But it's just my luck"
And he began softly 10 hum tune. as
though he wished TO change the subject
Just your carelessness, you mean"
ruthlessly retorted the other, whose Scotch
method and thrift were often being out
ragged by his friends slipshod ways. II
wonder how many cigar cases and purses
and sticks and umbrellas you have con-
tr1ved 10 lose since | came to Mudport?-to
say nothing OF your being always ready to
empty your pockets at the request of any
plausible vagabond who comes 10 You with
whining tale. You'll get yours elf into
some unpleasant mess one of these DAYS,
you mark my words
His friend, whose happy temperament
was not easily ruffied, merely laughed in
. l.
case, which had mysteriously disappeared
from his pocket in the course of a stroll
The description given by his friend Dali
rymple was so accurate, that | need offer
no further delineation of Captain Godfrey
Spencer, except 10 say that. though highly
popular in his regiment, his careless habits
were always placing him in some dilemma
or other. Perhaps unfortunately Tor him
self he was possessed of sufficiently ample
means to enable him to bear losses with
equanimity, for he was entirely his own
master, having lost both parents when
child.
There's gentleman in your room, sir
waiting to see you, the Captains servant
informed his master, upon the latter's re-
turn to barracks an hour later.
"'Mr. Algernon Lascelles Mortimer"
read Godfrey from the card which was
handed to him. Don't know the name.
y
''Oh, yes sir. He came about half an
hour ago, and when l told him you were
out, he said he'd wait until you came
back"
Easy-going Godfrey asked no further
particulars but plunging up stairs, entered
the small, untidy sittingroom, which was
so thoroughly characteristic of its owner,
and there found himself confronted by
dark, resolute-lookiDg and gentlemanly
m n ahont his hr bald
out his hand, with a smile.
need not ask II you are Captain Spen-
Ger, for | should have known you anywhere
from your likeness TO your brother George.
Your name is very familiar to me- and it is
possible that my friend George may have
mentioned mine to you in return. Has
hep"
well, no. l can't call to mind just now
that ne ever spoke of friend named Mort
inner" returned Godfrey, whose younger
brother, George, was Lieutenant in an in
fantry regiment stationed at Dublin. do
you come from Ireland?"
well, not just lately. 1t is about
month since l left Dublin, replied Mr.
Mortimer. And your brother has so
many friends-you know how popular he
ls-that it is not surprising that my name
should escape his memory, although l
spent many pleasant evening in the mess
room of the dear old Twenty l
always call il so, because SO many of my
people have been at one time or another in
the regiment. But it was quite by accident
that l came to call upon you to-day" He
paused and drew something from his
pocket. +" believe this card case belongs
to you. l picked it up this afternoon in
the High Street, and looking at the cards
to find out to whom it belonged, l saw the
name of Spencer, and it occurred to me
that you must be the brother at Mudport
of whom | have so often heard George
speak"
Thanks said Godfrey cordially,
pleased 10 have his property restored. " 1t
was awfully good of you to take the trouble
to bring ii back. / dropped il this after
noon. And so George has talked to you
about me? | haven't seen him for more
than year, poor old boy. No, you must
not think of going yet. Sit down and tell
me how you liked Dublin"
He Hospitality brought out spirits and
cigars, and the two young men had a long
talk Godfrey was delighted with his COM
panion, who seemed to have seen good
deal of the world. 1t appeared that be was
stranger at Mudport where he was mere
ly staying at hotel for day or two. Al
though not in the army, he seemed to be
acquainted with the officers OF most of the
garrisons in England, and had an extern
sive knowledge of military affairs. 1t
ended in his host giving him cordial in
vitation to dine at the mess that evening,
as it was guest night. But Mr.. Mortimer
declined, on the plea Of previous engage
ment
"Then I'm afraid I'll hardly see you
again, il you're not going 10 stay long"
Godfrey said, in tone of deep regret. II
have an engagement for tomorrow, and on
Thursday am going up to town to meet
an old uncle of NINE Sir Horace Trevor,
of whom you may have heard. He is
coming from India to settle in England.
after an absence of twenty years. A long
time isn't il?n
Il know Sir Horace well by reputation"
said Mr.. Mortimer, cordially. Such
distinguished soldier is a relative TO be
proud of, Captain Spencer. He has no
family of his own, ! believer"
No he never married. George and |
are his two nearest relatives. and be looks
upon US quite in the light of sons"
He is wealthy presumed"
81 believe so. He was always very lucky
in the way of appointments and now that
he is leaving India for good, he is bringing
all his property with him-plate and jew
els and so forth--and he wants me TO meet
him as soon as he lands, TO see about tax
ing care of them. It's rather nervous work,
you see, TO carry valuable property about
nowadays. He has presentation service
of plate, and in addition some very valua-
BILE Jewels which came to him in rather an
odd way. He was able to render important
services to an Indian Rance who ruled a
small territory, which was in danger of be-
ing snapped up by her more powerful
neighbors. She was widow, with only
one baby son, and but for my uncle, who
pleaded her cause before the Viceroy in
person. she would have been robbed of her
land. She was very grateful TO him, but he
would take nothing for his services but
when she died it was found that on her
deathbed she had bequeathed 10 him a
casket OF valuable jewels. with such an ur-
gent request that he would not refuse that
testimony of her gratitude that he could