Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-09-25
CHAPTER XVII.
ROB PULLS HIMSELF TOGETHER.

|
In a London fog the street-lamps are
up and about running mallciously al
pedestrians. He is in love or writing q
book who is struck by one without re-
monstrating. One night that autumn
fog crept through London a month be-
fore it was due, and Rob met lamp
post the following afternoon on hissway
home from the Wire Office. He passed
on without word, though he was not
writing a book. Something had hap
pened that day, and but for Mary
Abinger Rob would have been wishing
that his mother conld see him now.
The editor of the Wire had called him
into a private room In which many a
young gentleman, who only wanted a
chance to pnt the world to rights, had
auaked, hat in hand, before now. 1t is
the dusty sanctum from which Mr..
Rowbotham YEARLY distributes glory or
CONSERVATION, sometimes with mig
gardly hand and occasionally like an
African explorer scattering largess
among the natives. Mr.. Rowbotham
might be even greater editor than ne IS
| IL he was sure that it Is quite the proper
thing for so distinguishes man as him
self to believe in anything, aud some
people think that his politics are to ex-
plain away to-day and the positions he
took up yesterday. He seldom writes
himself, and while directing the line to
be adopted by his staff he smokes cigar
which he likes to probe with their pens.
He Is pale and thin, and has rowing eyes,
got from always being on the alert
against aspirants.
All the chairs in the editorial room,
except Mr.. Rowbotham's own, had been
converted like the mantel-piece, into
temporary bookcases. Rob tumbed
the books off one (your enquiry into
the State OF Ireland" was among them,
gentle reader) much as coal-heaver
topples his load into cellar, or like
housewife emptying her apron.
"You suit me very we'll, Angus" the
| editor said. "You have no desire To
write book, have you?"
mo" Rob answered. Since l joined
the press that ambition seems to have
gone from me-"
"Quite so," said Mr.. Rowbotham, his
tone now implying that Rob had left the
court without stain upon his charac-
ter. The editors cigar went out and he
made a spill of a page from "Sonnets OF
the Woods" which had just come In for
review.
Gas you know, the editor continued,
81 have been looking about me for the
last year. You have way OF keeping
your head that like, and your style Is
not so yilianously bad. Are you pre-
pared to join us?"
'I should think So" said Rob.
Every well. You will start with eSoC
year. Ricketts,, as you may have
heard, has half as much again as that,
but Le has been with US some time"
"All right" said Rob, calmly, though
his chest was swelling. He used to re-
ceive an order for sack OF shavings In
the same tone.
''You expected this, 1 dare saY?'
asked the editor.
scarcely" said Rob. 81 thought you
would offer the appointment to Marriott
he is much cleverer man than am. "
"Yes," assented Mr.. Rowbotham,
more readily than Rob thought neces-
sary. IT have had Marriott in my eye
for some time, but rather think Mar
riott is genius, aud so he would not dc
for u.s."
"You never had that suspicion Of
me?" asked Rob, little blankly.
Never" said the editor frankly. 81
saw from the start that you were q man
TO be trusted. Moderate Radicalism is
our policy, and not even Ricketts, can
advocate moderation so vehemently az
you do. You fight for 1t with fail. BY
the way, you are Scotch, l think?"
Yes" said Rob.
az only asked" the editor explained,
"because Of the hall and wills difficulty.
Have you got over that YETI"
NO" said Rob sadly, land never
will"
81 shall warn the proof-readers to be
on the alert" Mr.. Rowbotham said
laughing, though Rob did not see what
at. ''Dine with me at the Garrick on
Wednesday week, will You?"
Bob nodded and was retiring when the
editor called after him.
"You are not married man, Angus2h
mo" said Rob with sickly smile.
"Ah, you should marry" recommend.
ed Mr.. Rowbotham, who Is 3 bachelor.
"You would be worth another two hun.
dred year to US then. wish l could
find the time to do 1t myself"
Rob left the Office q made man, but
looking as II it all had happened some
| time ago. There were men shiVering
in Fleet street as he passed down 1t who
had come TO London on the same day as
himself, every one with tragic story
to tell now, and some already seeking the
double death that is called drowning
care. Shadows Of university graduate:
passed him in the fog who would have
been glad to carry his bag. That night
a sand wich- board man, who had once
had a thousand a year, crept into the
Thames. Yet Rob bored his way home
feeling that It Was all Ia vain.
BE stopped at Aoinger's door to tel
him what had happened, but the cham.
bers were locked. More like man who
had lost eight hundred pounds . year
than one who lad yet been offered t.
he mounted to his own rooms, hardly
noticing that the door was now ajar
The blackness OF night was In the sit
| tipR-room, and 3 smell Of burning
leather
Another pair Of slippers gone, " said
4 voice from she fireplace. Il vas Dick
and II he had not jumped out Of one o.
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