The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-16
perhaps a little too haughtily, and w


was going to say that things went from
bad to worse with me, but that would not
be exact. They stayed as they were, and
l almost forgot to be disconnected. / still
lived on the fag-ends sof literature. / took
up a scrap of the Daily Telegraph one
day in a LOckhart's cocoa rOOms-it must
have been some years after I met BontOr.
1t was only the advertisement sheet, but
l read 1t. as men in my case do. read
the prospectus OF a new company; valu-
able proprietary article was to be sold, it
seemed. The vendor was to receive &c.,,
600 for his rights, half in cash and half
in fully paid up shares. Further down,
saw that Mr.. Philip Qioster Bontor was to
join the board after allotment l laid
down the paper and walked out. Within
hundred yards I met BontOr. had no
desire to stop; it might have seemed invi-
dious under the circumstances, but al
most involuntarily I stopped. l thought
shade of annoyance crossed his face, but
he stopped and held out his hand. He
was portly now, with dark mustache and
hard eyes. He had lived hard. but looked
well. He had not the manner of gem
tleman, however, as l f1atter myself l al
ways had, even with my misfOrtunes. He
was pOmpOus and somewhat cOndescending
as he said. why. Grant! what are you
doing in the city: Thought you would be
somewhere about Bedford Park Ken
sington. Don't hear of you much lately.
How goes it?''
1 muttered something about "abstruse
researches when he looked at me keenly,
and said coarsely, Not doing WE'LL eh?
Don't look it!''
l said l doing very we'll, but he
continued hurriedly, Know man named
Schntzel-going to start a society
paper. Want job?"
| was tempted to say Yes but to such
l walked away without answering. l had
expected kinder treatment from an old
school fellow.
I Bontor's name occasionally in
newspapers after that. He seemed to be
getting on. l found he was married and
lived at Princes Gate. He had a yacht
and moors which the prince Of Wales shot
over. All this took place during the five
Years succeeding my second meeting with
him. Things We're nncTiy with inc then,
through no fault of my own, l am sure
1ien aid not like me to work for them
there vas a conspiracy against income
impudent fellow even told me l was lazy
lie. l did not drink, either-at least not
| much | could not help contrasting bitter
ly the different fates of myself and Bontor
man with not quarter of my abilities.
l felt the unevenneSs of fortune, and ours
ed the gods. One day l looked at the Lon
don directory in bar in Fleet street, and
found Bontor's city address. / got there
late in the afternoon, and waited outside
1ol soIIe tlIHe L tnOugnt perhaps he might
help me. AT last he came out with an
other man. / drew myself and hummed to
| see if he would recognize me and speak.
| He stared at me coldly and barely nodded.
l was mortified but went back next day.
| AS he came out l forced myself to raise
| my hat.
He barely stopped and said. well, what
| do you want?''
l reminded him Of our school days. and
| asked him to assist me. He looked at me
coldly and said:
| Il offered you work and You declined it.
| You are lazy-your hands show it; you are
| sloven-your dress shows it; you drink
| your face shows IT, / cannot help YOU
| This was bitter and hard for me to bear
| me, a gentleman. l wept that night as
| told man whom l. met in public house
| how shamefully my old school fellow had
| treated me.
| That was 10 years ago. Bontor is NJ p
| j. p. and several other things now He
| served his term as lord mayor last year.
| went to his office for assistance several
| times after our last meeting, but could
| never see him.
| Yesterday he bought box of matches
| from me in Cheapside, and wouldn't recog-
nze me. Bontor is a. cad