Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-21

I
greater risk of being injured OF lost it
used conveyance. promised, there
fore, to carry It. An hour later, when
left the house with the valuable book in
my hand, found myself in the midst OF
the densest London fog had ever sxpe
| rienced. Not only was it suffocating and
binding, but as it jrifted 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 | began
TO deliberate whether ] ought not 10 re
| turn, bat, as / knew that my unole's
friend was staying at home this evening
IN order to receive the book, | thought Ii
better that he should not be disappoint-
ed. | had proceeded on my way not
more than few hundred yards when, on
tOrning corner, ! ran against some one
who was coming in the opposite direc-
lion. The collision was sharp one, and
we both slipped and fell With nntual
apologies we scrambled TO our feet, aud
the stranger politely lifted the copy of
Shakespeare which had fallen from my
hand and returned il 10 me. We were
standing right under lamp, and | could
see, though indistjnotly, the manner Of
man it was with whom had come in con
tact. He WIS middle aged, short, spare
and dressed shabby genteelly in black,
apparently second rate solicitors or
barrister's clerk, or perhaps oopyist for
q law stationer. After expires ing hope
that was not hurt he moved away, aud
remained standing, somewhat dazed by
my tumble. As l still had about half a
mile to go l resolved to run the risk OF
no more accidents, so | turned and began
to retraoe my steps. In few minutes |
was again within my unole's house.
vent at once to the library in order to re-
store the First Folio" 70 its place.
How warm and comfortable the room
seemed after the miserable weather to
which had been exposed. The ire was
blazing brightly, and warmed my cold
hands. As soon a lamp was brough in
approached a table, where | had laid
the shakespeare as was anxious 10
know If it had received any slight damage
through falling. lifted the book, and
suddenly felt faint, while the room seemed
to spin round me. The book / held in
my hand was not the "First Folio" but a
law book of the same size and appear
ancel Ere l opened it | saw by the print
ing on the back of the binding that it was
"Robbins on Contractsw The truth
flashed upon me Instantaneously. That
miserable lawyers clerk in the darkness
aud fog had inadvertently handed me
this wretohed book he was carrying and
had taken away the shakespeare" IN its
stead. was convinced that never again
would behold the "First Folio.n IL is
true that my unole's name and address
were written on slip of paper which
was gummed TO the cover, but from the
momentary glimpse | had of this man
felt sure he would not return IL. The
temptation by which no found himself
assailed would be too great Tor him TO o.
sist, when he learnt that he had in his
possession a book which, if sold, would
procure him comfortable annuity for
the remainder of his life. He would
know some wealthy collector, who, he
would imagine, could afford TO purchase
another. Though his conduct would be
morally rs culpable as theft, | knew that
many a man, who was incapable of DELHI
erately stealing, would be unable to With
stand the temptation of appropriatibg
that which came into his possession un.
Willingly, and, in manner, might seem
TO have been thrust upon him, especially
If he we're in needy circumstances, as the
man whom had encountered in the fog
undoubtedly was. There would be no use
in advertising the ioss as my unole's
name would be seen, aud the book re-
stored If it had fallen into the hands of
an honest person. | had a strong CON
viction, however, that the book would
never be brought back ! did not doubt
for moment the consequences which
my carelessness would entail upon my
self Not only would | lose my fortune
but would be banished from my uncle'a
house, and be thrown upon the world
without means and without the ability TO
earn my living. knew that he had dis
inherited my cousins for reasons which
would seem only trivial to him when Gem
pared 20 the euOrmity of my oGense.
This woald be more ineligible TO the
reader If could explain the inordinate
value which he placed upon the book
and the veneration in which he held il, or
could describe his irascible, crochety
tenn permanent or the contempt in which
he held such remlssneds as that OF which
| had been guilty. | knew it would be
useless TO urge that, as be had made noe
resign my profession he ought in justice
to give me au allowance, as he would
think | was only being justly punished IN
being consigned TO penury.
When he returned that night ] was
thankful that be made no reference 70 the
book. Ibid not dare 10 LOOK him in the
face. / am aware that If bad acted
rightly / should have made a confession
to him OF my faults, and that my be
havior will be pronounced by some u
have been cowardly. But "cowardiee" il
a very ugly word to use in reference C
one who mad Just ceased TO be a soldier
and / wish, therefore, il 20 be kuowI
that il was in action that / had lost tn,
two charges of which have made men
ton, and that on that occasion my nam'
appeared in the dispatches. But | woult
rather have faced a battery, and hove tel
charges shot under me, with the loss OF {
limb TO boot, than | would have told IA
uncle that / had in the fog exchanged hi
"First Folio" for "Robbins on Contracts.'
Discovery could not loEg be delayed, a
the book was only to have been lent 70
three days. / was in constant dread les
my uncle should receive some eommuni
cation from his friend and thus Learn
that the "Shakespere" had never reached