The record-union., 1894-05-19
A KENTISH INCIDENT.

Not so long ago but that the incident is
fresh in the minds of at least those who
suffered ruin from the great defalcation,
very celebrated trustee of estates in the
city of New York fled from the wreck OF
scores of fortunes his dishonesty had en-
tailed.
At the time it was believed that not a
penny intrusted to his keeping would
ever be recovered. Some sympathetic
old clerk, at the personal expense to him.
self of stationary and stamps, was con-
siderate enough to notify those who had
been left penniless through his master S
guilt, and one OF, his brief but kindly
notes was duly delivered by postman,
on rosy September morning, to Mr..
George Pelham, who sat at breakfast op-
posite his sister, Miss Mercy Pelham, in
their pleasant apartments, No., Cheyne
Row, Chelsea, London.
NOW, Merce, if this is even our last
quarters allowance, which should have
reached US in July, we are still all right
for the winter in Florence" said George
Pelham gayly to his sister as he broke
the seal Of the letter.
He hastily scanned the contents, crushed
ruptly and stood before the window
which looked out upon the monument OF
grim old Carlyle, the shilnmerlng blue OF
the Thames and the sun-fecked hills OF
Surrey beyond. For an instant every
thing swan before him and his lips could
not form words for conveying the dread
intelligence to the dainty little woman
at the table.
She looked at her brother quizzically
for moment, munched her lamb chop
as contently as ever, and, finally, after
clearing her throat with a very de-
cided little "Ahem!" initiated an army
roll-cal from the bugle so heartily and
piercingly that the sparrows in the little
park along the Row left off their busy
pecking and perked their heads with
sharp, questioning notes OF alarm, while
George Pelham turned and smiled in pity
ing admiration through his gathering
manly tears.
Poor Mercy" he at last falterd, ''that
divine voice OF yours will be worth moth
ing nowW
bravely on the chop again, and. with
Sprig of water-cress In her pretty hand,
gestured with mock command as she
spoke. Know all about it. Just as well
as though you told me. Old SiX-per-
cents cut up some dido or other?"
George Pelham savagely nodded his
head.
Failed. or suicided, or run away, or
played the stocks, or got nipped on the
short side OF some gigantic scheme Just
as the hard times were coming ont"
Here her brother nodded his head furi-
ously again and pounded his left hand
with the crumpled letter as though it had
been old Six-per-cents devoted head,
while Mercy crunched the water-cress in
her pretty teeth leisurely.
u oF
quarterly allowance, we haven't penny
in the world, and are three thousand
miles from everybody but strangers.
That's the situation, isn't it, brother
George?"
Precisely. Only you don't take into
account the fact that we have discounted
our eXpectations-are under heavy social
obligations, and owe much money to the
people about us. We haven't paid for
the very breakfast we're eatingr'
True enough; but we can't get any re-
bate on cold chops, potatoes, cress,
mullins ana chocolate now, can we,
George?"
Hardly" he replied lugubriously.
''Well, then, sit down here like man,
eat as heartily as though we had every
dollar of our own with us, and then we'll
see what can be DONE"
He did as hidden but made sorry
meal, despite his sisters rallying and oc-
casional bursts of CHEEKY song.
They were d typical American pair, a
brother and sister born and bred on one
of the fine old farms of the Mohawk Val
ley, in the New York State, full of native
independence and ability, SchOOled in
the schools, in city life and in travel, as is
the custom with such, and of later years,
owing to personal merit and the position
which wealth assures TO those OF genial
ambitions, fairly counted as aristocrats
Tor their place and associations.
Their parents were dead and the for
tune which had been left them had been
placed in the hands of one of those "saie
Conservative old lawyers as goes the
term, with which New York city
abounds, whose relations with their
clients never exceed the formaIity of a
quarterly or semi-annual check, and who
never were known TO render an ac-
counting until imposed by defalcation OF
death.
The brother was student of books and
of lowly life, out of which had grown 9
dabbling in art while the sister, pos
sessed of a SPLENDID voice, was sensibly
ambitious of its culture. To the credI
of both, they had proceeded in a modes
and comfortably way, uudesirous of at
tracing attention, mutually loving anC
enjoying the situations life of leisure
naturally presented, and. being excellent
society for each other, had unconsciously
attracted to themselves few desirab blt
friends Indeed their keenest bitterness:
in being confronted with complete ruiz
in a foreign land, was the consciousness!
of the shock to such as liked them fol
themselves when the knowledge o
their extraordinary situation should b,
disclosed.
Nov the first thing. brother George
insisted Mercy bravely, as she left til,
breakfast table, SIS 10 dnd just what W.
owe here in London"
They figured valiantly for little time
rummaging the place for bills and polit,
duns which had been accommodating fol
some weeks past, and found the amoun
was slightly ander 9200
Liabilities, 9l9S 13s. 3d." at last ex
claimed Mercy with bright little air o
business. Nov for our assets ~
"There is no need of counting them
Mercy"
Cash" she continued, without no
ticing his remark, after she had emptieG
her brothers. pockets and her own purse
ssexactly e6i'
mot enough to buy steerage tickets
back to New York, Merce." exclaimed
her brother ruefully. Besides, | dom
know where l could borrow sovereign
in all England"
1--WE won't borrow, George; not
penny,n she returned quietly. THAT
settled" Then she began melodiousl,
humming: