Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-05-24

"when I allowed you $1,000 "a year.
and gave you in presents at least
$1,000 o year more. And this is the
return / get for my hberaity. You
shall not stay at Oxford another day.
not another day, sir. shall take you
down homo by tho first train to-
morrow, and then if don't pack
you of to tho colonies and soc tho
last of you'll"
Tom said nothing. After an awful
pause, his father continued:
eve seen the Master, and no has
told mo all about you. Yes, you
young scoundrel. Living in good
set, indeed. know what good set
it is. So disreputable that mono of
the really better sort will have any
dealings with you. And your precious
friend, tho Duke, has conducted him
self SO abominably that they've SGT
him down. And you gone and wasted
91O, 900 on this! BY heaven, Tom,
you shall go to Australia next week |"
The old gentleman was as good-or
nearly rs good-as his word For, i'll
spite of Toms entreatics and his
mothers intercession, the outraged
paterfamiliss remained obdurate. Tho
lads debts no might have got over,
had they been incurred in 'cultivating
genuinely "good" acquaintance; but,
coupled with his scandalous decer-
ton and failure, they were too much
for Mr.. Billifant Tho consequence
was that rs soon MS necessary arrange
ments could DO made, Tom was
shipped off to Queensland, there to do
tho best he could for himself on
very meagre capital. Ho wrote to his
mother few times after getting out
there, but soon his communications
ceased. And his parents 30 COM
pletely lost sight of him-for he was
constantly shifting his quartcrs-that
they did not oven know whether no
was alive or dead.
1t was fifteen yoars later, ard MIR.
Brilliant had occasion to visit Button.
burgh, tho vast centre of Midland en-
terprise, on matters connected with
his business. On his way back to his
hotel from keeping an evening up.
pointmont, tho spick-and span manu-.
facturer was ovortakcn by smart
thunder storm, and, rs no was then
passing the famous Buttonburgh Min
ster, he took shelter in tho portico OF
that solid and stately edifice. He there
found another man in tho same pre-
dicament, n Buttonburgh merchant
whom he knew very we'll in business,
and with whom ho naturally entered
into conversation.
"Hilloa, Vampingtonl Taking shcl-
ter from this internal downpour?"
"Partly that, Biilifnnt," was tho re-
ply. "And partly, I'm waiting for tho
Vicar. Pm Churchwarden hcre, you
know; and, Ms our Wears bachelor,
/ often take him home with mo to sup
per after evening services"
''Dcucc take it, laughed Mr.. Bill
fant. "You Churchwarden and
friend of tho cloth ! Why, you used to
be fearful old heather, Vampington
an out-and-out sinner, if there over
was os,e."
"Ahi" replied tho other gentleman,
with knowing wink. "Things wero
different then, my boy. Our late Vicar
was IL stupid old stick, who wasn't
worth cultivating. But this new man
its quite another tuno with him.
Though ho has only been hero n few
years, he has made such hit already
that he's bang certain of sharp promo
ton; and, young rs he is, 'twon't DO
long before he sits OH the Episcopal
Bench, you mark my words All the
more amusing, too, when there was
that kick up-you remember ?-nbout
his boing presented to Buttonburgh. F"
Cant say do" answered. Mr.. Bill
lifant al don't take much notice of
ecclesiastical intelligence.
"Oh, they said it was scnndalous
jobbery to give SO important and val
liable living to young unknown
person who But here he comes
I'll introduce You. Hem! Hom-let
me-introduce- hcm-the Vicar, the
Rev. Mr.. Thomas Mr.. Bill Hillon,
what's up?"
The church warden had some reason
to oxclaim for Mr.. Brilliant had stag
gered against tho wall, gasping in
wonderstruck amnzemont. "Tom BY
the living lingo, Toni"
| ics, luticI, hhlu LON, III tnC
course of subsequent explanation to
his parent. 81 found out that tho
Duke of x was patron of Button
burgh, and that the then incumbent
was advanced in years; therefore
placed my Oxford credit Mt his disposal
to the tune of $4,000, on condition
that he should present me to that liv.
ing OH it's next falling vacant AS il
is, perhaps, the most important in
England. and man who does wei
there is sure of promotion, You will
admit that it was not bad stroke OF
business"
"They tell me, Tom," said his
father, with glistening eyes, "that-
that-therc is every chance of youl
being made Bishop"
81 have made my mark, believe,
replied Tom, modestly, "and if the
Church papers are correct, the even
of which you speak is within the rang,
of possibility"