River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-01-23
FASHIONABLE CHARITY.
How Mrs. Truccle Was Duped by
Ter Caretakers.


ed sam rruccle had Icrt her she con-
trived 20 spare good deal for what She
considered deserving objects. Unfort-
una-ely. however, the direction OF her
charity was largely influenced 10y feel
iugs other than those Of pure benevO-
lence, and consequently. what she con-
sidercd deserving objects were often
hardly those that excited the sympa-
thy Of the unbiased philanthropist.
The feelings which had most influence
In directing or n sIirccting her charity
were those she WIS pleased To entertain
on politics. go be sure. she knew moth
ing in the y aid about politics. That,
however, did not preyent-perhaps. in
deed. it rather assisted her. being a
Tremendous Tory. She was Primrose
dame Of high degree. a liberal suhscrib
e to every anti-LibcTal undertaking, a
bitter despiser Of all parties and persons
whom smart people considered low"
and p-ofouud and ecstatic admiror Of
that FASH ua Bile society about tine pug
lieus Of which she was delighted 10
move.
Her political ideas acted on her char
liable feelings in this way. They made
miseri Of the real poor. and very at
tentiye 10 every cry of distress raised by
the unhappy wealthy classes Reports
q restitution in the east of London, or
OF famine among the cOttiers Of the west
of ireland, moved her very little; but
when she heard Lord This or Lady That
dilatju- on the woes of the moDey-leud-
ers and exploitcrs OF E-ypr- or of the
TaC E-renters and eXtortiOnIsts of Ire
land. she was quite overcome with SYM
pathy and sorrow FOR their TROUBLES. AMI
ready 10 subscribe any amount % assist
them in their cause.
IL was the morning following the final
meeting for the season of one of these
eommittees-One 10 he protection of
Irish landowner Mrs. Truccle
was seated at her breakfast reading the
annual report. In 10 her name was sew
eral times mentioned and mentioned.
tDO. IN connection with those of two
Duchesses.One Narchioness. three Count
esses and various other ladies OF lesser
title. As the widow read she could not
help feeling. with benevolent glow on
her face, that, after all, virtue is its own
reward.
s1nE ANAl NN~t AAA~AAAA AAlt At-NttLAr anu
was sitting rejecting how she could
further show her devotion 70 so deserv-
ing q cause, when her meditations were
interrupted by the advent of the butler.
He brought her a gentleman's card.
As.onished az such a very early visit,
Mrs Truccle hastily took the card, and,
putting on her spectacles, read the name
on it.
'.Mr. Eustace Burke, she said. who
is this person, Soker2 1 never heard of
him before
Don't know. ma'am." replied Solzer.
"IIC SAYS he wants 10 see you On very
important business.
indeed said Mrs Truccle. That's
very strange. What does he look like?1
"Oh. very geuteel, ma'am. Looks
like a gentleman a little bit down IN
the world"
The amiable Soker was a shrewd
Judge Of character, and his mistress
Put great reliance upon the estimate he
formed OF strangers and acquaintances-
We'll, III see him. Hes in the Ii
brary. I suppose2-
Yes. ma'am."
When Mrs. Truccle entered the
library she found that Mr. Eustace
answered very well 20 her buffers
description Of him. lie was a tall, rather
handsome man. wi;h. in spite of a
threadbare coat and an appearance of
poverty, a certain air Of distinction
about him. His manners. too. were re-
fined and high-brCd The bow he gave
Mrs. Truccle as she entered tie room
was 50 dignified. and at the same time
50 pathetic, that the good lady's heart
quite melted toward him. She saw ~
once that he was just the sort Of person
she always pitied-the person. who after
having lived FOR years ON other peoples
labor. Is now reduced % the sad neces-
sity OF trying 20 live lbs his own.
After formal greeting, the stranger
spoke.
Il trust Mrs Truccle." he said that
YOU viii forgive the liberty that I.
complete stranger to you. have taken in
daring 10 cali on You. l assure You that
nothing but your reputation for kind
ness to the unfortunate is 10 blame. IL
You will be benevolent and generous to
those who have had disasters in the
worlds struggle. you must expect, Mrs.
TrucrIe. occasionally u have "A miser-
able being like myself appealing TO You
for assistance
Mr. Justice Burke said this in such
nice. fattering way that Mrs Truccle's
already good opinion Of him was con-
siderably enhanced.
I am always ready. sir" she said, TO
assist. a. far rs my means allow, per-
suns deserving my sympathy"
n know it. madam. replied Mr.
Burke; but the assistance / wart from
you Is not pecuuiary assistance: I mere
IN want your help "a put me- into posi-
tion where l can earn my bread
Indeed. said Mrs. Truccle. still
more favorabiy impressed May ] ask
for little information as 70 your an
tecejents and Cl8ims3
Certainly. madam" answered Mr.
Burke with sigh. although the sub
iect Is % me most painful one. be-
long 10 that most unfortunate class of
men. Irish landlords I still nominally
possess a considerable estate near Ball
vinulwaeliua. and am cousin 10 Lord
Grabmorc 81 that ueighbOrhood. of
whom. perhaps, you have heard,
.-Uh. yes. put in Mrs. Truccle,
quickly. Il met him once At q Primrose
League meeting
.-Ah. said Mr.. Burke with salts
faction. -.thcn we arc not quite such
strangers after an. When ! called at
Your door / little knew that you and my
distinguished relative were friends
Well said Mrs. Truccle. blushing a
little a. tie idea Of being thought a
friend of the great Lord Grabmore.
well we're hardly friends "
AT least, acqUaintances." said Mr..
Burke. But 20 r,sume. madam. Some
wears ago my income from thaf estate
was counted in thousands; . lay,
don't receive from II a penny My wife,
who once had her carriage and her foot
man. is now actually in want OF bread
Dreadful, dreadful" exclaimed Mrs
Truccle.
You may well say so. madam We
have neither bread o eat no roof 70
cover Us II is in this fearful state that
IS last resort, l nave Icrne 70 -ou 20
ask yOU 70 assist ne ~ chain a place