Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-29
A QUEER CHARACTER

lG WuS OuS CVSuluS dUOuo a AL cAAe5Av
after had installed myself in little
villa at Siena. l had just sat down to
dinner and was waiting for Concetta,
nv elderly parlor maid, to take the lid
off my tureen of minestra, when she
came into the room a little f1urried and
indignant and announced that an lin
dividuo,' evidently foreigner, was
waiting in the hall and desired to speak
with me on a matter of the greatest i'm
portance. Who could it be? wondered,
for knew scarcely soul, certainly no
foreigner, in Siena was struck. too,
by Concetta's emphasized use of the
word 'sindividuo, for an Italian serv-
ant is usually ready enough to give the
"person'' the benefit of the doubt and
call him a signore. He must be toler-
ably low specimen, ! reflected, but l
felt bound to go out and interview this
most mysterious visitor.
There stood before me in the dimly
lighted hall being whom would have
passed without thought in London
street, but who here in remote Siena
compelled my closest scrutiny and arous-
ed to the full all my faculties of obser-
walton. He was small, mean creature,
with small, bald head, small, puckered
features, small, pursed mouth and re-
ceding chin. He had close cropped cler-
ical whiskers, and his upper lip and
chin were covered with a three days
stubble. He was wearing seedy brown
overcoat and shiny black trousers. In
his hand he held black billycock hat,
oily and crinkled with age and much
wear, and I noticed that his ill fitting
boots were down at the heel and showed
patches of dirty white stocking at the
toes and sides. Waif, stray, bully, cow
ard, sneak, cad, mendicant, outcast-all
were stamped on every lineament Of
him, and yet these characteristics SEEM
ed almost nullifed by the indescribable
insignifcance, the hopeless pettiness Of
the creature What was he? What could
he ever have been? seemed to remem-
ber having seen creatures little like
him hanging about the platforms Of
Hyde park meetings, and he had GER
tain resemblance to a shabby, fawning
knaye who once served an uncalled for
writ upon me.
'sGood evenin, Mr.. 'Utchinson," he
said, in rich, unadulterated cockney ac-
cent, 81 really must hapologize for dis
turbin English gen I'm n at this hour
of the evenin." Il noticed that he strug-
gled greatly with his his, but more often
put them ON than left them out. ''But
p'raps between one English gen. PM
and another in foreign parts there's a
kind of brother ood. Eh, Mr.. 'Utchin-
son? The fac isl
His effrontery began to amuse me a
little.
''May ask your name?" said. "And
will you tell me what you want with
me?''
Certainly certainly, Mr.. 'Utchin-
SON.. - He unbuttoned his overcoat, fum-
bled in waistcoat pocket, and produced
dirty, greasy card, ON which was writ
ten, "The Hon. Patrick Kilfinane
Winch, Castle Winch, Co. Limerick.
OF course had often heard Of Castle
Winch; it is the seat Of Lord Kildyke.
"You bein a English gen'l'm'n n will
know my name, no doubt, Mr. 'Utchin-
son, he pursued with a familiar wave
of the arm. "I'm Lord Kildyke's only
brother and heir to the barony. His lord
ships lyin desperate i'll at Rome, and
CAM recover. In fact, at this very mo-
ment that I'm talkin to you, may be
Lord Kildyke with a rent roll Of e12,-
000 Mines sad story, Mr.. 'Utchin-
son. needn' trouble you with it. I've
been very much to blame. I've come
down in the world through my own
fault. All that 'orrid gamblin, Mr..
hutchinson. 'ope you never touch a
card" with confidential leer. "I've
tramped it here from Florence. I'm
trampin it to Rome to arsk pardon Of my
pore dear brother for 'avin disgraced the
family; all I arsk of you, Mr.. 'Utchin-
son, as between one English gen'P1n'n
and another, is franc or two for a
nights lodgin and mouthful of food.
In the mornin I'm off again. tramp, |
tramp, tramp-'ard fate for a English |
gen Pm n of noble family, amt it, Mr..
'Utchinson?"
Twas looking at him curiously. New
er had I been face to face with such
matchless effrontery. But what clum-
sy scoundrel he was! Could he possibly |
suppose that any one would believe that |
he was gentleman and heir to an Irish |
peerage? The problem of this strange |
medley Of innocence, ignorance and |
brazen self assurance began to fascinate |
me. I desired to study it at my leisure. |
Too close habit Of studying and OBJ
serving human nature leads to rash and |
morbid acts. was about to do su-
premely foolish thing.
"Mr. WINCH" I said, "I am very
pleased indeed to have the opportunity
of making your acquaintance. I only |
regret that your bad fortune should be |
the occasion of it. I assure you 1 shall |
have great pleasure in being of any
service to you. Of course know your
name very we'll am just sitting down
to dinner. I must insist upon your join
ing me. I cannot possibly allow you to |
sleep at an inn while I have bed to |
offer you. Nor can hear of you tramp
ing it to Rome. You must really allow
me to lend you money for ticket in
the morning."
The Hon. Patrick Kilfinane Winch's |
face was a curious study at that mo-
me1t. Surprise, suspicion, delight,
greed-all fitted across it, but he did !
not for a moment lose his colossal self |
assurance.
"Mr. 'Utchinson, sir,'' he cried,
grasping me warmly with one of his re-
lpulsive. clammy hands, IT could see
from the moment you hentered this all |
as you was peric gen l'm'n From no |
Ione helse but a English gen'l'm'n such |
as you could I accept your hotter, but
from you, sir-well-and to think, too, |
as may be worth thousands of pounds
at this very moment that I'm talkin to
you"
No thanks, please, Mr.. Winch, >" I |
said. "Come along come in to dinner
He divested himself of his damp look
ing overcoat and revealed threadbare,
musty, black coat now turning green
and very greasy at the collar and cuffs;
frayed, black, made up scarf did not
hide much Of his red and black checked |
~; ;~k. L. L