Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-01-15
Thomas Bowling sir y

SoohS w Hlo rdIner foreign IN DIS man
ner."
"Well, II he looks clean, you can
show him up here, only you had better
stay within call"
In a few minutes q heavy footstep
was heard on the stair, and MIR. Bowl
ing stood within the sacred precincts of
Mr.. Thriftspender's luxurious dressing
room.
"Well, Mr.. Bowling, what is this
matter of the first Importance tn at you
have to communicated"
'Mr. Thriftspender, it's long story
I've got to tell you; and, if it's agreea-
BILE to you, I'll take the liberty of talk
ing a chair"
The moment the man began to speak
1t was very evident that he was colo
NAL, and the ease of his manner in the
presence of unaccustomed luxury and
daiutiness made 1t even more apparent
that he was not member of the Eng
fish poorer classes. He wheeled an
easy-chair boldly up from the corner of
the room, and placing it close to the
fireplace, without by your leave'
or with your leave" stretched out
his legs and placed his feet upon the
fender, as much as to say; $50 far as
the conversation is concerned we must
stand or sit upon an equality"
Mr.. Thriftspender was so taken
aback by the mans splendid audacity
that he was unable to make any re-
monstrance to his presumption, and
even found himself in cowardly sort
of way smiling an acquiesence.
He began to feel that this was a
man who was likely to dominate him,
and he regretted now, when it was toe
late, that he had not insisted upon
knowing what was his business before
having him admitted.
"Now, Mr.. Thriftspender, SIR" the
stranger began, i've got a strange,
strange story to tell you, and one
which, if am not greatly mistaken,
will prove vast deal more strange
than pleasant to you and your wife.
I've come to this country on purpose
to tell it to somebody, and, from, all
that can gather, you are the person
most interested, and, therefore, enti.
tied to hear it first. You, 100, will be
able to advise me this he said with
deeper suggestiveness in his tone]
whether it is a story worth repeating
to others or no."
Mr.. Thriftspender moved uneasily in
his chair. Could it be that at last one
of his wild oats was about to bring
forth fruit? Could 1t really be that, al
though
The mills Of God grind slowly"
they are certain in the end to get hold
of and grind all with exactness? How
ever, at any rate, he must present G
bold front, albeit he was pretty certain
in his heart that this brutal visitor d
his had dlscerned at first glance thai
he had but cowardly fellow to deal
with.
swell, Mr. Bowling, proceed with
your story. At present am at a loss
to understand how anything with any
mystery in it can be any concern o.
mine. Let me remind you, too, before
it is too late, that any communication
you may think fit to make to me Is mo-
of my seeking, and 1 refuse to bint
myself in any way not to divulge any
facts that you may reveal to me if ]
hereafter think fit to do So"
Mr.. Thriftspender looked at his Wis
itor as much as to add: 'sYou see
you've got, a devil of fellow to dea
WITH" but was disappointed to motto,
that Mr.. Bowling did not seem to b.
be particularly impressed.
On the contrary he merely cleared
his throat, spat into the fire and pro
ceeded with his story as If there hat
been no interruption.
-Four years ago was third-clas
passenger on board the steamship
Dresdonian bound for the port of Lon
don. need not tell you, sir, The stor,
Of that ships loss. You, I'll be bound
know all the details as we'll as anyon,
alive, that is to say bar a very interest
| lnR llUulO wv vi uCW6 WulCu IL Oul'
known to myself, The newspaper
had it that every soul aboard that yes
sci was lost, but I'm able to tell you il
my own person that those newspaper
made mistake. I, sir, Thomas Bowl
ing, was saved by what some would
call luck, but what l call Providence
so as the right people should com,
rightly by their own. l, Mr. Thrift
spender, had by the sweat of my brow
made a considerable fortune in the ia
east, and was on my way back to m,
native land to enjoy the fruits of a har,
life; but that competency, sir, wen
down in the good ship Dresdonian
What, then, ask you, did Providence
out of that ships crew save my misera
BILE life for? I'll tell you-although
never guessed why it was until tire
months ago. Although I've a rougl
outside, Mr.. Thriftspender, I've sof
heart, and it was because my heart wa
soft that was saved from that wreck
Yes, sir, on that last terrible night
when, with her engines disabled an,
her sails in ribbons, the Dresdonian la,
as helpless as log in that tremendou
sea, man was the equal of gentle
man, woman the equal of lady, an,
third-class passengers stood side b,
side and wept and trembled with tn
first-classers from the saloon. Ever,
lurch the ship gave was expected to b
our last, and we were all huddled clos
to one another as if determined to e
into eternity not alone but in couples
BY my side a fine lady clasped her lii
tie boy to her bosom. She seemed t
have forgotten all terror for herself il
the soothing of him. said heart
word or two to her, poor thing, whic
made her turn and look at me. ha
got hold of a large cork belt, which
had slipped on, as well as a small life
buoy, which thought l might as wei
have as anyone else,
Are you good swimmer sh
said the moment she looked at me.