The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-20
Now FIRST PUBLISHED
Nv fathers name was William Smith.

Nv fathers name was William Smith.
7 have reason to believe that he was
proud Of the name, for when | was borp he
insisted, it seems, upon perpetuating it, and
accordingly it was settled that was to be
chrstened William.
Ny mother--she told me the story herself
years afterward-strongly objected. She
declared that she had great faith in me
from the first. The doctor said l had a
good head, and my dear mother, who was
very romantic, made up her mind that
was going to be great man. Now, William
Smith is not an easy name to render
famous. There are 80 many William
Smiths that the celebrated one would want
to 90 about labeled in order to distinguish
him from the others.
After deal of argument and not few
/ tears, she succeeded in 80 far turning my
father from his original purpose as to allow
me to have a second name, and that second
name she finally decided should be Hengist.
William Hengist Smith might be some
body, and so William Hengist Smith was
duly christened.
10 that age l had enjoyed all the ad-
yantages Of being the son of a prosperous
city merchant. l was about to go to Oxford
when the death OF my father altered all my
mothers plans for my future
We had been living in FOOLS paradise.
Nv father had specula ted rashly and was
on the verge Of ruin. 1t was a knowledge
Of this terrible positio which caused his
fatal illness.
After the estate had been wound up it was
discovered that we were almost penniess.
NY mothers friends came to her assist
a1ce but they were not rich, and it was
necessary that l should at once begin TO
earn my own living.
was what is known as 80 smart fellow"
and | wrote capital hand-in fact, my
3 penmanship was my strong point. | could
s Do almost anything with pen in my school
boy DAYS, used frequently to amuse my
4 self by initiating the handwriting of my
schoolfellows and of the masters. L did this
50 successfully that it was often very dill
cult 30 detect the forgery.
The masters who were made aware of my
ACCOMPLISHMENT, and to whom specimens OF
q my skill we're occasionally shown. would
shake their heads and say IL was q DANGER
Gus gift.
OF course laughed. AS if it was likely
that | should ever do anything wrong.
Alas. those who called my gift fatal one
were right after all. | owe to it the great
"A misfortune Of my life.
To pass from prosperity to comparative
poverty is to most of US a great trial. The
men and women who can shrug their shout
ders and taEe reverse Of fortune with
smile are very few in number.
| accepted the position my poverty forced
upon me- but | loathed it. longed for the
old days Of comfort and luxury, when
almost everything fancied was within my
reach. But did very we'll as a clerk and
being quick at figures, as we'll as splendid
penman, soon began to rise in the office.
When | was % | had e200 a year.
But what was that to young man
s Of extravagant habits, who had quite as
much allowed him when he was II, and had
looked forward to splendid income and q
life Of pleasure.
My mothers health about this time began
to decline, and she was ordered to live in
the country. could not accompany her as
should have had to sacrifice my position
In the city, so had to look about for new
home and at last decided to 60 to board
ing-houSe. 1t would be cheaper for me as a
bachelor than lodgings, and l should have
some society and a certain amount of COM
fort.
selected a boarding house in Blooms
bury, and | soon began to be quite at home
IN 1t. My fellow boarders were two German
clerks French gentleman who described
himself as an agent, q middle-aged scientific
author who spent most of his time at the
British museum, two old ladies-one the
widow of colonel $50 she said and the
other an old maid who had been governess
to German princess and was never tired of
taking Of the distinguished socieryin which
she had moved--and a young lady, very
charming, very pretty and very self
possessed, who was supposed to be staying
l0arHI TO- hnna1Icn a r~al
ives lived abroad, and she had law bust
ness in London.
This young lady was Miss Ellis, and as
we We're the youngest members of the happy
family we soon became friendly.
After dinner in the drawing-r room we
generally found ourselves together, and
when Miss Ellis obliged the company with
little music, usually went to the piano
her.
From being friendly we became conf
GENITAL impaired to Miss Ellis the story
OF my reverse of fortune, and she confided
# N me the fact that her business in London
was connected with a disputed will.
"a, "A relative OF hers, an old gentleman, had
eled and left her the sum of ESQ., The
family disputed the will Oh the ground that
"nle nursing him during his last illness she
tau exercised undue influence. They
.urtner commended that he was not Of sound
~l f at the time be made the bequest.
:. enc Id me long story to explain how
!. was her relatives we're so bitter against
est and |, believing her, gave her my full.
esG sympathy.
Eli; ue law Is proverbially slow, and Miss
ms ms, who had to collect evidence, found it
SeS33ary to remain long time in town.
,,oS.N came about that we were for six
. sasiaLs at the Bloomsbury boarding house
Is e'ch other daily.
81 eel, ~ Nv were to say that during this time I
inc ~ leve with Miss Ellis, should be say
~, 'eaL which is not strictly true.
.,,d sne had certain fascination for me
nrob wnen l remembered that she would
e tb,.Iy be worth 450. 900, l at last began
81 cois Lux mat II l ever intended to marry
ment A' HAeons d pau invest
Fl Inc young lady was not slow to see that
VI haoa LOU made an impression on me. She
6,,a more confidential than ever.
,, cue sunday afternoon, when we were
advice. OOiAii sne asAeu my
A. seems that she had found a letter
+. .n ,en Yer papers from her dead relative
- as s ssrong evidence in her case, and &c
noFIor she discovered that he had
h. e. 70 sign It. 1t had been written &c
rsI..sy an amanuensis employed by her
. AEAhtiNea and aha ~