River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-01-23


place would you Iike?"
MADAM. your kindness overpowers
me. said Mr. Burke. in a broken voice,
''and yet II is what | should have ex-
Pected. Madam. I was brought up a
gentleman. and SO know none Of the
vulgar ways OF earning a livelihood.
The places | am capable of filling are
only humble ones. I can think of one
only Many people of fashion-your-
self. probably, among the number-will
soon be leaving town. Caretakers will
be wanted 10 look after the houses. Do
you think you could get any of the
nobility or gentry OF your acquaintance
TO accept the service Of myself and wife
in this direction?'
Certainly, Mr.. Burke, most GER
tainly." SAID Mrs. Truccle. AS you
guess, Ina leaving town myself for my
house al Ia stings-and taking my serv-
ants with me. | usually get a police
man 10 live here when I'm away, but |
shall only be too happy 10 have you and
your wife instead"
Mr. Eustace Burke overpowered the
good lady with fervent thanks. lie as
sured her over and over again that she
Lad saved him and his POOR wife from
absolute starvation, and that he never
could, should OF would forget her kind
ness 10 him. Then at last he rose TO go.
Il was only now that he was about to
leave that il occurred to Mrs. Truccle
that she was acting with hardly her
usual prudence. In her charitable haste
20 help the distinguished pauper she
had quite forgotten to ask him for refer
cnccs to show that he was as distin-
guished as he said. Now. however, that
she and he had, as it were, become ac-
quainted. she felt rather embarrassed
about asking him for references of char
acter; il seemed like throwing doubt on
his truthfulness and honor. Still she
felt that 1t must be done As, therefore,
be moved toward the door, she said, in
a hesitating way:
But, Mr.. Burke. perhaps you would
be SO kind -." And with this she came
TO j full stop.
Mr.. Burke. in a moment, perceived
what She meant and came TO her relief
'Oh, ! understand. madam" he said,
with a smile. GLOW stupid of me. To be
sure. not To have thought of it before!
OF course. you want references to prove
to you that / am who [ represent myself
TO be. and that my sad story's true. l
think have letters with me that will
satisfy you ON both points"
lie took a number Of letters from his
pocket, and, selecting two from among
them. handed them TO Mrs. Truccle.
One was from Rev. Mr.. Mortmain, vicar
OF Snobton, and knight almoner of the
Primrose League. It ran as follows:
CURSOR AID swAREN HABIrATION. +. L.,
SNOBToN. (
Rev. Mr.. Mortmain. Vicar of Snobton, and
knight alruoner of the Primrose League, il
deeply grieved to learn how the perfidious
policy of tile murder league in Ireland has
reduced Mr.. Eustace Burke from afiinence to
poverty, and strongly recommends the case
of this unfortunate scion of noble house,
ruined b. the dishonesty and cove tousness
Of the lower orders. to the benevolent con
sideratiOn OF the happier members of his own
class
The other was from the great Marquis
of GoOseberry himself-or rather from
his private secretary. 1t ran as follows:
SIs-Th, Marquis of Goosberry directs me
IL return you the inciosed letter of recon-
rlendation, and 70 forward YOU a check for
two guineas- Yours Obediently,
:. SPANIEL.
Il can produce many others, said Mr.
Burke. when Mrs. Truccle had finished
reading these.
These are quite sufficient" replied
Mrs Truccle. Where the Marquis of
Gooseberry sees good to assist, 1t does
not become humble person like myself
Ia raise diiicuItieS"
Mr.. Eustace Burke bowed.
Now. madam" he said, that you
are satisfied with my bona fides, may
ask one slight concession from you"
''Nost certainly, Mr.. Burke"
Madam" said Mr.. Burke, with digni-
fed humility. Il have fallen low, but
my pride is still as high as ever. May
! implOre you, then, to spare it by keep
ing secret the fact that | am forced to
earn a livelihood in this mental way?"
Decidedly replied Mrs. Truccle,
with a gracious air. 1T is not my
nature 10 trample on the fallen. No
Mr. Burke; ] regret deeply that you are
forced TO earn your living, and / will
not add To your humiliation by any act,
or behavior. or word of mine"
The next day Mr.. Eustace Burke
brought round mis- wife-a most lady
like person. Mrs. Truccle could not but
confess TO herself-and introduced her
20 Mrs Truccle. and then the three of
them settled the terms on which Mr..
Burke and his wife were to become care
takers. A week or so later Mrs.
TruccIe, after sending all her super
fiuous jewels 10 her banker for safe
keeping. left for Hastings. and the
Burkes were duly installed in charge of
her town house.
Mrs. Truccle had been absent about a
fortnight or SO in Hastings when she
received telegram from her solicitor
that startled her. 1t said: Come to
town at once. Want to see you on most
important business"
What can il mean?" Mrs. Truccle
asked herself. Can any Of my invest
ments have gone wrong? | hope not.
Mr.. Guiles is such careful man that
that isn't at all likely. But what can ii
be. wonder2 At any rate, ] must go.
Soker, when is the next train to Lon
don? want to run mp there for an hour
or two.
The moment Mrs. Truccle reached
town she drove over to her solicitor.
Mr.. Guiles was engaged in court, but
he had left orders that he was 10 be
sent for when Mrs. Truccle arrived. But
She was so eager to know at once why
she had been telegraphed for that she
asked the managing clerk what was the
matter.
..WelI. madam, don't know that any
thing is wrong. replied that gentleman.
with legal caution. But may ] ask
who the caretakers are that you have
in your house?'
MIR and Mrs. Eustace Burke. replied
Mrs. Truccle, with a start. They are
cousins Of Lord Grabmore's. Why do
you want To knOw2n
..Oh. cousins of Lord GrabmOre, are
they said the clerk, rehectively. Per
hans there is nothing wrong, then, after
all. It only seemed to Us that they were
behaving very queerly for caretakers. ="
.'What are they doing?" asked Mrs.
Truccle.
well. in few words, happening to
pass your house yesterday, l observed
with surprise that it seemed TO be oc-
cupied as usual. All the blinds and
curtains were up and the windows
cleaned. knocked at the door, and it
was opened by fOotman.
"A footman!' exclaimed Mrs Truccle
in amazement. What was he like?"