The record-union., 1892-12-31
THE FATE OF GUY DARRELL.


museum at the dried up OLD FOSSIL Oh d
man who, with high white neckcloth and
bloodless, parchment-colored face, and
few wisps of pale hay-coIored hair float
ing around his head, stood eagerly eye
ing him over the open book he carried IN
his hand.
might almost have strayed in from
one OF the other departments. One would
hardly be surprised 10 see his ticket
pinned to the edge of that curious gar
ment, half dressing-gown, half-overcoat,
he wears" thought Guy as he bowed a
courteous assent to the others inquiry.
''Yes, thought you did, for 1 noticed
but is it asking too great mean,
would it take you long toto translate
this?" And the stranger pointed to
footman on the open page of what proved
to be an ancient treatise on astrology.
"H'ml l should have thought Tillot-
sons Sermons or Early Fathers more
in his line; but one never knows" And
thus rejecting Guy jotted down the trans
Iation desired, the older man regarding
him half enviously the while.
How quickly you seem to make it
out, "he sand wistfully; 81 wish-but there,
it is too late-now, l suppose" And he
sighed.
ITO learn Latin?" interposed Guy,
glancing at him again. mot bit of it!
Why, some old fellow started to learn
Greek-or was it the fiddle, by the way?-
after he was so; while you are
BARELY 90. But / had not your adj
vantages when l was young, and it is a
misfortune l feel more and more every
day" And he sighed again. but am
taking up far too much of your time
when"
Not at alp replied Guy easily. 81
had almost finished for the day"
"Ahl [ envy you, must say. When
ever fancy l am finding out what |
want one of these passages in Latin
comes to block my way as with great
high wall"
Must be awkward, very. And you
can't well buy a translation"
mo, / suppose not" assented the
strange figure. Then more ditfidently he
began:
ting me pay you for yonr time and
trouble?"
Guy stared, slightly inclined to laugh,
and even more to feel sorry for the old
man, who was plainly half crazy to pro-
pose any such thing, but whose manner
was SO naive and attractive that he hesi-
lated to show either his contempt or pity
openly. Taking up the book again he
turned over the leaves.
II can show you the paSSageS-thoSe
l want most to understand" and the old
boy took out list of some half-doZen
paragraphs, whereupon Guy said good
naturally:
If those are all we can soon put you
right" And taking fresh sheet of paper
in about an hour he had written fairly
accurate version Of the not over-clear
original.
There you arev' he exclaimed, hand
ing 1t over to the patient and absorbed
watcher nngr of oil In
objected, putting aside the proffered hand
with curt decision. II am only too glad
if you think they will be of use,' he
added, still regretting the improbable
nature of the subject
but surely you will allow me to"
Certainly not" and Guy closed his
writting-caSe with snap so emphatic as
etfectually to put an end to the discus
sion.
Then, at least, you will tell me your
NAME" urged the other earnestly. "You
have done me very great service. l
have not met with so much kindness in
this life as to be at all likely to forget it."
Here the old mans eyes positively filled
with tears as he went on: And some
day, you know, II may be able to re-
turn it,"
And after Guy had given him his card.
they shook hands almost with effusion
and parted-as it happened, never to meet
again.
And a very pretty fortune it is as you
will tind.''
but who, in the name of mystery. is
Jacob Marley, and how do l come in?
never heard the name in all my life be-
fore"
"N-o?" rejoined the solicitor, with the
non-committal caution of his profession.
But he must have heard of you, and to
some purpose, to make him remember
WrrNlF ca sat etal faf @Flv nj L, i
consider, the will says, TO you, Guy
Darrell, in that you rendered him a GER
tain very great and entirely disinterested
SERVICE
The only man 1 can at all call to mind
but that is too absurd! What sort of
fellow was he?''
"A pale-faced, light-haired, old-fash-
Toned man ct about 65," replied the So
licitor.
Dressed in rusty black, with white
neckcloth and "a craze for astroIogy?,'
interposed Guy increduously, as he re-
called TO his mind the old man at the
British Museum.
The very mani And now, in return
for my good news perhaps you will tell
me how you come to figure so agreeabIy
in his will"
Whereupon Guy told of his first, and in
fact only, interview with his unknown
benetactor, finishing by asking: "Rut
had he no relations, no one belonging to
him?''
After his wife died, none; he was quite
alone his SON"
''Oh! then there is a SOM"
mo, there was. They could not apree
after the wife died; and the lad, who was
somewhat OF a rover, went abroad, where
he, too, died"
$50, then, the old fellow was left quite
alone?" ''-''
quite and that no doubt is wby he
thought of you. Originally the money
was settled on the wife, so that had the
son lived
sit would have gone to him, l see-n
"Yes, and what makes it the more pitt
ful is that the son left home under sus-
picion-no matter what now-it was a
sad case altogether. The two messages
the one conveying the news of the discov-
cry of the sons innocence and his recall.
and the other the account of his death
crossed the ocean on their opposite WAYS
at one and the same time"
Poor old boy! and poor young one.
too! For it must have been hard to die
so young-an exile, and in disgrace
knowing ones self innocent all the
while. One might almost be afraid of
such heritage of woe-afraid lest some
of the i'll might not cling to the old fell
lows gold"
why, my dear sir, you are almost as
fanclful as old Marley himself. He GER
tainly was unlucky, while you-well.
you must allow your luck is in the as
cendant, for you will have the spending
of close on two thousand five hundred a
year"
YES, one ought to get something out
of life with two thousand five hundred a
year" And Guy got up excitedIy to
pace the room. How cramped and mar
row has my life BEEN up to nowi The
wonder is that L have borne it for 50
~ 70 fx,T-