The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-07-13

IOliON lulS llue vi IGdSUHluS
Micklereed had promised that when re-
leased he would come to his friends lodg-
ings, but greatly to that good mans disap-
pointment he did not put in an appearance.
Warder Smith, who saw him leave the
prison, said that "lawyer-looking gentle
man had met him and taken him off in a
hanson. Also that No. 119, noticing him
outside the gate, had borrowed a 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.
Three months passed away, but Mr..
Bamlett heard no more of his unfortunate
friend. He hoped his relations might have
come to his help The readiness of the
"lawyer-ike gentleman to lend the sover-
eign looked as if he had friends, but the
curate was rather vexed at his silence, and
he murmured to himself hard sayings about
the ingratitude of man.
On Friday night, however, Mr.. Bamlett
was reading the Guardian, aud he came TO
paragraph which considerably astouished
him. 1t ran as follows:
1--WE understand that the valuable living
of Pla;ton Magma, Southshire, vacant by
the death of the Rev Samuel Sloman, has
been offered by the patron, c. NJ. Master
ton, Esq, to the Rev. Joshua Bamlett, Gu
rate of ST. Swithins, w. C. This living
enjoys an enviable distinction at the present
time Most of its income is derived from
property in the city Of London, so that its
nominal value Of 1900 year is some in-
dication of its actual one. The population
of the parish is 2G0, and there is good
vicarage. We congratulate Mr. Bamlett
on his good fortune
Nonsense, was the curate's mental
comment, "the Guardian must have made
mistake There must be another man Of
the same pane. These papers are always
wrong in details.
( He took down the Clergy List, and
ran through the Bamletts, but there were
not many of them, and not one. save him
self rejoiced in the name OF Joshua.
Surely, said he to himself, lit cant
be true. | know no one called Masterton
Besides. should have heard of it direct.
Jus; then his landlady entered the room
with letter
This came for you, sir, this morning
said she, aud m sorry it has been mis-
laid.
The letter proved 10 be from Twibell &
Twiss. the solicitors Of C. NJ Masterton
II contained formal offer OF the living Of
Patton and mentioned the solicitors re
greet that their client was at present abroad.
They requested Mr.. Bamle,t TO call upon
them as soon as possible.
He called, accepted the living. and had
Rad himself IN aud taken possession be-
fore Mr. MssieTtan returned.
onc morning he was walking in the gar
den Of his yirarage, wishing that his patron
would come back that be might make his
acquaini1nce and discover what manner Of
man it was who, having good thing to
give away, sought out an obscure cura,e as
the recipient of IL, when be saw Charley
Micklcreed open the gate.
Could It b., thought he, that Charley
had no, deemed him worth visiting before
his promotion Did be mean 10 levy
blackmail upon him Il would not be
uice 10 have the story of she tobacco spread
abroad No he would not believe his
friend could be 50 base--espec:ally as his
friend. TO Judge By his clothes and the
srorna Of his cigar. had also pr,spered in
worldly Affairs since he left the prison
well, Josh. my boy began MIR, Mick
lereed. how do you Ike il? House al
right, isn't IL | told them to pat every
thing square for you before | went away.
"You told them, said Mr. Bamlett,
but what on earth had you to do with
iit?"
Everything replied his friend, TN
not Charlie Micklereed now. you know
but Charles Micklereed Masterton, lord OF
this manor and patron Of this living Pos
sibly J p some day Wouldn't that be
a joke, Ell. Josh? -
I Il don't understand said the vicar
feebly.
"Ah | suppose you never heard OF
I nv great-uncle MastertOu. Well, hardly
ever did before | came out of-you
know what, Il seems be qaarrelled with
nv mothers mother for marrying my
{ grandfather She was his only near rela-
ton, aud until the newspapers brought me
10 his notice he was actually without any
one to leave his money to. He was pleased
to say | was man OF spirit, and made me
ds facfo what already was de jlTe his
heir. Poor old chap we were only to-
gethcr a month before he died The only
thing he asked me TO do was to take his
name.
Then you were the patron Of this liv-
ing when Mr.. Sloman died - said Mr..
Banlett in a disappointed tone 1T is
not pleasant to find that favor and not
merit, after all, has led to our advauce-
ment
Certainly was, old fellow, and knew
no one who deserved it better than you.
Shouldn't have cared if had, either
owe you more than this for that tobacco"
replied his friend
Don't, pray don't, put it on that ground
Charley, demonstrated the other you
cannot imagine the trouble my conscience
has given me over that matter. If | had
known the offer came from you | should
not have accepted the living
Just what / was afraid of, retorted
his friend; that's why sent it through
my solicitors"
Then Mr. Bamlett talked of resigning,
but his friend, though with some difficulty,
persuaded him to abandon the idea.
"Well, you know your way up to the
hall, /" said Charles, at parting. Blythe
by. You'll find some more old friends of
yours at the lodge I've made that war
der chap gate-keep,r He and his family
came down yesterday, Wonder if he ever
smelt that tobacco Sometimes | fancied
he did
The clergyman sincerely hoped Mr..
Smiths olfactory nerves were not keen.
Whether they were or not, that judicious
individual never breathed a word on the
, subject. No one in the parish ever knew
, that the man who, with a military salute
threw open the park-gate as the vicar went
, up to see his friend the Squire had done
the same sort of thing before when the
, clergyman visited the layman under very
, different circumstances.
The Squire was popular and made good
! landlord, but the vicar never could per
/, suade him to take life as seriously as he
would have liked. Occasionally the pair
talked over the lamp-breaking exploit
II