The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-18
A REAL LIFE ROMANCE.
An English Honorable" Sweeps With
a Chicago Street Gang.
His Own Account of the Money He
Spent in Riotous Living-His Conse-
quent Destitution and the Final Re
eeipt of Thousands Due Him.

lobby of the Lexington Hotel, in one of
the most comfortable of chairs the ele-
gantly appointed place affords, sat a man
who seemed in no sense different from
those of his fellows who rose when the
forenoon was half gone, who lunched at
u O'Clock, drove on the boulevard at 2
O'Clock, dined at o'clock, and retired at
midnight after hours of luxurious ease.
He was rather above the medium height,
strong enough in physique, undeuiably
handsome and undeniably product of a
very cultured civilization His clothing
was of that kind which one never notices
at first, yet which, if you care to scrutin-
ize it. proves to be the very acme of ex-
cellence and style. He was not reading
or smoking. He was simply looking
about him with an expression of peace,
enjoyment-and possibly the suggestion
of gratitude in his eyes.
The boy brought him card and he
took it from the silver tray with that de-
liberate motion the plebeian never can
initiate. Then he nodded TO the boy and
said:
Bring him over"
1.-THE Honorable George Balesfordl"
asked the stranger, approaching and OK
tending his hand.
The quiet gentleman bowed, rose calmly
and returned the rather cordial greeting.
"Mr. Blank he said, glancing from
the card TO the gentleman before him, and
naming-not Mr.. Blank, but one Of the
richest of Chicago's fashionable young
men.
Eyes. l am glad to meet you. My
mother is stopping in London. She met
your sisters there and they told her you
were in Chicago. She urged me TO hunt
you up and l fancied l would find you
here"
They had seated themselves again,
types of quite different classes. both ac-
ceptable, each recognizing a fellow in the
other, and each in his way pleased at the
meeting.
-''You wouldn't have found me here
Yesterday said the Englishman qui-
city.
''No2 Where were you yesterday"
"Shoveling snow over on West Madison
street"
'What!n
The Hon. George Balesford smiled
slightly, a smile in which amusement at
his companions annoyed expression was
mingled with something pathetic about
the eyes He shifted his position-not
uneasily, but like man who finds
one attitude of comfort still more
grateful than that which preceded
it. But he met the Chicago mans gaze
with very level and very contented
glance.
NoBLEMAN WITH SHOVEL.
"Shoveling snow on the street.-The
second son Of the Earl of -- working
on the streets of Chicago" Then a fash
of light came over his face. He smiled /;
the smile broke into laugh, and he said :
. 81 see. You were looking for expert
enees."
81 was not looking for experiences, but
! found them"
The laugh died. The smile departed.
81 don't think nderstand-but, then,
been in Chicagol"
''Six months ...
stWhy, my mother has only been gone a
month. She would have been delighted
to meet you. She met your sisters in
Rome last year, and"
"Yes, have often heard them speak of
her. l should have enjoyed seeing her"
''Why didn't you call}"
Instead of replying the Honorable
George looked straight at his companion
for moment, tnen lifted his head in the
merriest laugh that ever charmed the
throat of nobleman.
81 have great mind to tell you WHY
be said presently: for the pause and the
laughter were not comforting to the
caller.
DO" was the cordial response. 81
should be delighted to have you. But
are you not going out this EVENING""
"No. / shall stay here. l am comfort
able You will understand that better
when have done"
stShall we smoke}"
Eyes, if you please. Thank you. No,
] Ike the milder ones. The story2 Well,
then, If you remember your mothers let
terS- You know there was little sparing
of expense among US young people when
the question of entertainment arose, ]
thought so. Well, the allowance was a
lavish one. But after all, there was a
limit, and had wildly overdrawn mine.
My father was quite put out by it, and
even mother was inclined to lccGure me
Among the foolishly eXtravagant things ]
did was to advance $1,000 to Henry
Plank, an almost total stranger-a young
man of whom l knew nothing except that
he was shrewd manager of schemes al
fairs and places of that kind. He was
coming to Chicago to the exposition, and
persuaded me 10 back him in venture
that should make his fortune and insure
an easy way of payment for all my debts
's1hey were particularly displeased al
that. They called him an adventurer. a
scamp; and had no defense and didn't
care TO make one. OF course 10 wasn't the
amount of money. But that | should
have in any way associated myself with
him was very distateful 10 the family
to listen to their reproaches. l told then
l should leave and remain away. | an
not particularly proud Of that incident, sc
we will pass II.
PREPARING HIS OWN DISCONTINUE.
''I left and wrote them a letter, mailec
1t under cover to friend in Sydney, New
South Wales, and asked him TO forward
it to them and hold his tongue. Then
went about and settled up some affairs il
London. OF course l had some money
about S5,000-where / could get il, anC
with that / started.
1.-The day reached Chicago is a day
neither l nor Chicago will forget On
that day the cold storage warehouse a.
the fair ground was burned. just as
entered the gates it was topping. Ny
first thought was tiippant one. All my
thoughts were fippant then. The nature
of that calamity only came to me later,
when / had suffered.
"You would think some one from home
would have met me here, but no one did
was around every day usually at tht
fair, but often in the most public place:
in the city, and never saw a face / had
known in England. The theater was
visited nightly. You will remember tina
there were good many excellent plays il
town through the summer. / fell in witt
a rather rapid set at such places, though
never entertained or received them a
nv hotel And we had a good time