Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-02-18

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Half way down the court, on the sun.
ny side, | found Padiham's house. II
was quietly, not obtrusively, neater and
fresher than its neighbors. Its bricks
had a less wormeaten look, and its win
dow panes were all Of glass and none 81
newspaper. The pot roses in an upper
1 story window were in bloom, and had
| life enough to welcome the June sun
shine, while sister plants in other gar.
rets all about the court were too fan
blighted ever to dream Of gayer product
than some poor jaundiced bud. These
roses up in Padiham's window cheered
the whole neighborhood greatly with
their lively coloring. 1t was as if some
pretty maiden with rosy cheeks and ripel
rosy lips were looking down into thai
1 forlorn retreat and warming every old
faded soul within every shabby tenement
with bright reminiscence of days wher
life was in its perfume and its flower.
Such was the aspect of Padihaln's
abode. His shop 1urked in the basement.
1t was with much curiosity and inter
est in Padiham that stepped down into
the basement. Padihaln was in his shor
at work. No mistaking him. A stunted,
iron gray man, not misshapen, but only
shut together, like one barreled opera
glass.
He took no notice Of me and continued
his work.
held my station near the door. did
not wish to spoil his job by the jar Of an
interruption. Besides, l thought it as
well to let him speak first. | was pre-
pared for an odd man; he might make
the advances, if he pleased.
Padiham went on fling in a grim, in
telligent way. Iglanced about the shop.
There were models all about Of ma
chimes, some known, some strange to
me; disconnected portions Of inventions
lying side by side, and wanting only a
bolt or a screw to be organized and ready
to rush at pumping, or lifting, or drag
ging, or busy duty Of some useful kind.
There was store, too, of interesting rub
bish-members of futile models that
could not do busy duty Of their kind for
some slight error, and worth careful
study as warnings, for failure with me
chanics is the schoolmaster Of success.
Drawings of engines hung all about the
walls. AS the guardian genius Of the
spot, there was portrait of that wise,
benignant face Of my friend Of this morn
ing, that great engineer who had direct
ed me hither
Apart in a dusky corner, by the chin
ney and forge, hung two water color
drawings in neat gilt frames. They were
perhaps a little incongruous with the
scenery Of the gnome's cavern. did not,
Of course, expect to find here portrait
of truculent bruiser or leering bar
maid. Beery journeymen keep suchlow
art hanging before them to seduce them
from any ambition to become master
hands and beguile them back Of beer.
Padiham would Of course need drawings
of models and machines, and enjoy them;
but did not look for art proper in this
chop There, however, in the dim back
ground, hung the two cheerful draw
ings, in their neat frames. They re-
newed and repeated the feeling which
the gay roses in the upper windows had
given me. My fancy supplied link
between the drawings and the flowers
They iflfused a pleasant element of re-
fneinent into the workaday atmosphere
of tho shop.
One cf these drawings could just
family distinguish their subject, and
DuU none or tnem nave qulre neac
enough Now tell me precisely wha-
you want made, for can't spend timt
with yoa."
Il want six sets Of these models Al
once"
I'm order the castings this evening
have materials here for the fine parts
Can you handle tools?-I mean usefu
tools; files and saws and wrenches-no
pens and sandboxes."
.'I'ln fair workman with your tools.
s'You can help me then. Come over
tomorrow morning at seven. No; you're
an idler, and I'll give you till eight. Il
you're not here by that time you'll find
me busy for the day."
So saying, Padiham turned off to hi.
work.
took cab aud drove to my hotel
and so to Biddulph's. The dinner at the
baronet's shall not figure in these pages
1t was my first appearance as hero.
and my horse were historic characters il
this new circle. was lionized by Lady
Biddulph, q stately parsonage, inheritress
Of family rustle-a rustic as old as the
Plantagenets, and grander now by the
accumulations Of ages. A lovely young
lady with dark hair, who blushed when
| took my cue and praised Biddulph, she
also lionized me. a thoroughbred Ameri-
can finds English life charming, especial
ly if he is agreeably lionne; q scrubby
American considers England a region Of
cold shoulder. too effete to appreciate
inpertinence.
Lady Biddulph gave me further facts
Of the history of the Clitheroes.
''Our dear Ellen!' she concluded. sIf
she had known how much l loved her she
would have disregarded her natural scru-
pies and she glanced at her son-.'and
let me befriend and protect her. 1t goes
to my heart to see Mr.. Brent SO worn and
sad. He, too. has become very dear tc
us all have adopted him as my son AZ
long as lie pleases, and try to give him q
mothers sympathy"
Brent walked back with me to Smor.
ley's
"How different we arer' he said as we
parted. u am all impulse; you are all
steadiness."
Suffering might throw me off my bal
ance. Remember that | have had trial
and experience, but no torture"
sTorture-that is the word, and it has
unnamed me like wearing disease.
Your coming makes man of me again. =
ssGive me a day or two for Shorts
Cutoff and the mechanical Nineteenth
century, and we will take our knight
errantry upon us again. We are dis
mounted cavaliers now, to be sure-no
Pumps or Fulano to help us-but we
shall find, will not doubt, some other
trusty aid against the demon forces"
Brent bade me good night with re-
vival of his old self We were to meet
again tomorrow
sat down to gladden. Short with the
story of my success today, and wrote hard
and fast to catch tomorrow's steamer.
The dwarf, l knew, would be a man
after Shorts own heart-these men of
iron and steel are full Of magnetism for
each other | gave Short minute de-
scription of Padiham's shop.
AS described found that my obser-
vation had been much keener than
supposed.
A il A., ~. ss.y.3., =, D.,