Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-12-27
PRINCE CHARLIE.

"See here" says he He spoke as plain as
could be, though he hadn't much voice; the
doctors said his lungs were all gone, but for
all that anybody could tell that he'd always
had real pleasant way of speaking Some
how he did have a coaxing way with him,
different from any man ever took care Of
No matter what he said-and he had no pa
thence whatever-you couldn't get angry and
you couldn't help trying to please him.
''Tell me now just what they say" he went
on. II suppose can't last much longer?"
"Oh, we can't none of us tell what turn
you may take" says I, helping him to lie
down as easy as could and fixing the spread
over him. He never was suited if it wasn't
all Strengthened up as nice and smooth as
could be, though he wouldn't keep it SO for
five minutes.
lie looked at me with those big, dark eyes
of his. His face was SO thin that his eyes
did look out of all reason, but even then you
would have known him for handsome man.
Il want to tell you my story, says he.
They often begir = that way. 1t appears
Like when they're from all their own
folks, and feel that - T''-e got to go, they
can't rest till you know all about 'ein Lend
knows it don't do any good; but I always hui
NOR my patients, though some of the nurses
uO Cetll Llo d lOOl lOI MY pills. IL uOSS
'em any good, let 'em talk" says l. always
listen. But sometimes they get all mixed up
and can't tell you anything straight after all;
sometimes they drop off in the middle. But
this one was a real gentleman, and knew he
had story-coming to the hospital as he did,
straight from his office, and the young man
that came with him saying: s'He hasn't got
any friends to go to-"
st thOrpht Won was poin tn c1aan fo-y1ipht -
says I, sitting down by him comfortable like.
But he didn't take no notice of me; he just
stretched out his hand and looked at it. He
had the whitest little hands, as slender and
white as any lady's, and on his third finger
he wore handsome seal ring 1t was a
green seal, with kind of fgger on it. TT
belongs to my family coat Of arms" says he,
and he laughed kind o. scornful. And then
he looked up at me with that wishful look of
his, and, says he: 81 want you to send it to
somebody when it's all over with me. Pm
going to tell you who she is before I finish
my story"
Then he shifted himself little and went
right on without looking at me. I couldn't
have stopped him if 1 had tried to.
''To begin with" says he, II was born at
sea. I'm the man without country.
never had one. My mother had been anus
ing herself in Europe, and she went on anus
ing herself for good many years after. I
don't think she troubled herself much about
me, though have heard her say 1 looked
like All angel, in long curls and knickerbock-
ers. It isn't what should have supposed;
but women ought to know best about those
things
"We had plenty of money in those days.
My father was in business. I didn't know
very much about it, except that he furnished
the wherewithal. We had to ask him for it,
and sometimes he clustered little about our
spending so much, but it always came.
went to school and to college. 1 had plenty
of friends, plenty of fun, and didn't want
for anything in those days"
He stopped for minute and looked at me
real pitifuL.
"'Tisn't much of story when you come to
tell it," says he. ''Somehow it seems like
more than it is"
But pretty soon he looked at his ring again.
1t was too loose on his finger, and he began
turning it round with the other poor, thin
hand.
"They had all sorts of names for me" he
began. my own name is Charles Edward.
They say there has always been one in the
family since the time of King Charles But
else She would laugh and call me the Pre-
TENDER Heaven knows I didn't pretend with
her. 1t had got down to dead earnest by
that time. But haven't got to that yet.
81 came home from college. and there didn't
seem to be anything very pressing for me to
do. Father never spoke of my going into a
profession, and I hated business. Mother and
Anna-Anna was my eldest sister, then there
was another little one-they both liked to
have me to go about with them, for father
was sick enough of it by that time. We trav
eied, too. We spent one winter in the Ber
midas, and Anna and went over to England
for q year. We made regular dig of it,
seeing all the English eathedrals. That was
Mans idea. But we had no end of a good
time Then we came home, and father got
slower and slower about supplying the sinews
of gar To tell the truth, / got pretty deep
In debt, though had mistrusted something
for a good while.
cat last the crash came, and it was a bad
one. 1t was all up with Hurd and Enderby-
father was the Enderby. He came home and
shut himself up in his bedroom; he wouldn't
see even mother, and there was the very dick
ems to pay. What could I do? ! had no more
idea than a baby. Anna-that girl has ire
mendous pluck, and good-she's one Of the
best girls alive-Anna went to governessing.
Ned and Mortimer, the two younger boys
came home from school and went in stores
1t strikes me that's good way to be 8 cad
but 1 didn't blame them. Father-well,
father was found dead one morning. I sup
pose it was all right-apoplexy of the heart
br something of that kind they called it,
Mother went home to her eldest brother and
took .Alics with lsr. Everything went under
the hammer, and Tas fairly turned out of
doors.
'How little women know about lifel An
IA, poor girl, thought l could do anything.
with your talents she used to say-bless
you'll nay talents were all for or1Sament and
not for use. They wouldn't bring sixpepce
in the market. Some of fathers old friends
wanted to help me. I tried a government
cerkship, but that was worse than being
galley slave To come in at just such g min
ute, like barber or bootblack! couldn't
stand that. Then vent to Mexico with
party. 1t was big thing; there was min
ing scheme, and a piece of railroad 10 be
built, and long pay roll / was in the
office. was there nearly two years, but
got down with the fever and had pretty
bad time. SO one day started for New York.
When l got In sight Of land, had just one
dollar in my pocket.'
'Wbat did you doc" says I.
sob, gave that to the steward" says he,
trying to laugh. 81 had my trunks put on
hack and drove up to the Brunswick.
registered, and turned to go out See
herer called out to the clerk, give that
I'LL. &C.,.