Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-24
A pR0DIGAL SON.
tAn N. Year Round,
CHAPTER !.

vacation the Temple does NOS loon sns
cbeer,c,t place in the world. It's win
dows are dark and sombre. its gardens
hesk and IealiesS. TIE wind rnshes
shriskin1 through iss deserted courts
AMI up its gloomy staircases There is
no sign Of l,fc e., I've seen save the form
OF an occasional policeman who stands
sbiyeripo in some sheltered doorway, OF
Of comfort save the little fire over which
mods the drowsy old night porter.
Iut the tcmrec, like everything else.
should not be- spdged by appearances.
Even on the toughest OF nights and dn-
ring the deadest OF vacations there are
rlenfy OF snug httle spots in il. The
s,affcases leading to them may be cold
and gloomy, but there IL no want OF
warmth and LIGHT within. Their windows
NAV be dark and sombre-looklng, but
that is because the shutters are close and
the curtains thick. The wind may shrek
AZ fiercely as il likes about their walls
II may hurl itself as often as 1t pleases
aoain.t their doors and windows IT may,
like the sturdy and unmannered tramp
il is try it's strength and ingenuity by
tnrns 10 force an entrance and steal
svav n part of their comfort but, Sc
cnre bebird closed oaks and drawn cur
tains. their owners csn laugh at its fruit
less Efforts and enjoy untroubled the
cheerfulness il cannot disturb.
Old Sergeant StrOnge was the iortu-
nate possessor Of one OF the snuggest OF
these snug SETS Ii was high up IN hlng 8
Reach Walk. On one side its windows
opened out toward the gardens. on the
other tley overlooked the river. In
simmer the situation was pleasant and
pictures1ue. bat in winter when the
frees, like huge, fantastic skeletons, rat
tied their loahess branches In the wind,
and when one heard away In the distance
the surge and splash OF the black, cold
river as it rolled on in darkness toward
the sea. IL was weird and solitary enough.
But old Sergeant Stronge, as be cared
little for the beauty OF his chamber s
situation in the summer, cared little Tor
its weirdness IN the winter. when the
north wind rattled against his windows
he onlv drew his curtains closer when
The river moaned gloomily between its
banks he only stirred up the blazing fire.
He was hard, matter-of-fact man, who
Maid small attention to anything but
his creature comforts, his pleadings, aud
his Textbook.
On this December evening, though
Tho wind screamed aud the snow flew
without. he enjoyed untroubled the COM
fort abont him. lie sat in his easy
chair in the old wainscotted room before
roaring fire. On the table stood a
reading. lamp, which threw soft light
over the floor, and by it Was decanter
of rare port, from which from time to
time he helped himself. The curtains
were warm. the fire WAS bright, the wine
was good-why should he care what the
weather was like?
Indeed. Sergeant Stronge was III q
particu arly satisfied frame OF mind that
night. and he had two very good reasons
for his satisfaction. The first was with
regard TO Michaelmas Term, which that
day had ended. He had Just totted up
his receipts for the term, and the result
was all that he could desire. Never be-
fore had his Textbook for the autumn SIT
tings made so fair a show.
The second reason for his satisfaction
was that that night his son Charlie was
10 come TO HIM. The Sergeant was q
widowcr, and Charlie WAS his only child
The lad was at Oxford, and as the
Christmas vacation had commenced has
father was expecting him at chambers to
spend his holidays with him.
AS he closed his Textbook the old law
yer smiled to himself with satisfaction.
Eyes" he muttered, "thats excel
lent Fifteen hundred guineas in about
seven weeks-that's capital My income
this year is close upon seven thousand -
not bad for man who thirty years ago
was worth exactly nothing at all. I'm
getting rich now. Pm more successful
than even had ever hoped to be-.
Hello what's that }"
This exc amation was due to the noise
produced by a tremendous burst OF
wind. Sergeant Strong went 10 the
window, drew aside the curtains, and
looked ont.
"Hum !" he said, as he turned back
to the fire. "Thst's bad night for
Charles homecoming. Well, well, he q
young, strong, and well cared tor ; 1t
shouldn't do him harm. When was
his age. though my coat was thin enough,
Heaven knows, / wouldn't have cared a
rush for it," Then he paused and re-
Elected in silence for a moment. Mrs.
Aldrldge " he then cried out.
The launiress came IN.
"Have YOU Master Charles room
ready ?" he asked her.
"Yes. sir replied the laundress.
"a blazing fire, sheets well aired, and
all that?"
"Yes, sir
"Ah, cry well. 1 think you can go
home now.
"Thank you, sir. Good night"
when the laundress had withdrawn
the old lawyer once more gave himself
up TO reflection.
YES" he said to himself, after little
pause, d" it's Just as we'll things are going
well with me, or Charles demands would
come rather heavy. Last year he spent
plenty, in all conscience, but 1t was no.
thing TO this year. Well. well | sup
pose i. can't be helped. When l sent
him to Oxford told him to get into the
best set there, and he has done it and,
living among them, suppose he must
live like them"
Again the old lawyer relspsed into 81
lence and reflection.
"Yes," he said again. after long
pause. eyes, his intimacy with some
of those young fellows should be OF
much service to him hereafter. Such
friends as Lord Eustace Eustace and the
Hon. Fred. Terrington must be useful
10 lad beginning life. Belonging to n
good set al oxford will bring him into a
good set in London. What start i'll
life the boy has Brought up at the
best school and college in England,
mixing as an equal with the
sons OF miliionaires and noble
men, and backed by an income
OF thousands year, what may
he not aspire to What might | not
have been if had had sach start |
began life without shilling and without
friend. aud here am. at sixty, at the
top OF my profession, with q fortune
-. D..l...raDt What