Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-21
THE ChSE OF MICHhEL SANFORD.

Here YOU are. old chap. Find me
down stairs when you are ready
In twenty minutes Sanford descended,
clothed and like himself once more.
Nardley's whiskey had braced him. His
checks had taken color and his SLOUGH
had changed TO a walk.
There's a spare bedroom I'm the house"
said Nardley. and I've taken It, I'm
beastly hungry. for ! haven't dined to-
night. and I've ordered supper. Every
things cold. you know. but it's late. I've
got some blinking good beer and some de-
cent Burgundy You don't get beer in
Burmah Good creature. beer eh?''
Look here. said Sanford STOPPING 10
The fire. you mean well. Yardley, but /
oughtn't to have come with you. You'll
have to drop me-
why shall I?'
I'm beyond mending. never was good
for anything outside my work. | could
paint-once."
"Oh. Well" said Yardly. IL amt a mil
iionaire. but I've got enough. and what's
enough for one Is enough for two. You
can't 80 about as you were doing to-
night, you know. Upon my word, i don't
understand what people were thinking Of
to let you do it. It's the wretchedest sort
Of nonsense. reallyn'
down. shading the lower half OF his face
with his injured hand. and staring over 1t
al the glowing Goals.
u never thought" he said. and stopped
there.
Never thought vhat?" his host asked
him.
Il never thought you cared particularly
about me. Yardley. | never reckoned you
a special friend OF mine"
wei. for the matter Of that, old chap
said Nardley II don't know that j ala
either. But we have been pals In "a way
Don't make a fuss about it. Now. do
hold your tongue, there's good chap. I've
got something / particularly want to talk
about Now sit down and hold your jaw
like Christian"
Sanford had broken upon him with in
coherent thanks and protest, but he
dropped back into the chair. from which
he had risen. and stared AT the fire again.
Didn't you know Lovedale?' asked MS
host in commonplace voice.
your Lovedale? Oh, yes. knew him
"If the tone means anything, you don't
like him"
II haven't cause to like him" said San
ford.
owed you money, didn't he?'
"Six hundred pounds. the scoundrel''
Exactly. Well. he's back again-you' We
asked him for the money!
I've begged for it. I've Inundated my
self TO him. I've written till I'm tired.
"Ah! / didn't know that. Of course; but
ne was very tipsy after mess one night,
and-in vino veritas, you know-he told
me in his own dirty way Il needn't de-
scribe IL to a man who knows HIM that
you'd been fool enough not TO ask him for
any sort Of acknowledgment, and he was
chuckling over it. He doesn't mean to
pay"
Back again is he?" Sanford asked
He felt a wild-beast instinct stirring in
his breast. For many months now he
had known nothing but stupid
acquiesence in his own fate. but this news
awoke him TO the old agony of hatred and
revolt.
Hes living a dozen doors Off" said
Yardley. I'VE came back together. l
don't suppose he's got six hundred
pounds. but he can find a bit now and
then. and / don't see why we shouldn
make him. I'm game to prove his YER
bal admission of the debt. You write
and tell him what / say, and threaten
him with the county court You can
make him shell out a tenner from time
10 time. and that will be something"
Something" cried Sanford passionate
~. IF he repays me it viii keep me Tor
twelve years better than / have been
kept for the last six months
poor old chapi' said Yardley, with a
hand upon his shoulder
Sanford looked up, his eyes shining wet
and his heart registered vague, tumult-
uous vow of fealty and affection.
"Thirty-two is the beggars number
said Yardley. Look him up and tell
him what l have told you.
"Can YOU send a note to him?' San
ford asked, and by way of answer Yard
lev laid writing materials before him.
.sWrite for me-" Sanford said. Its a
slow and clumsy business with the LETT
hand. ] should get into it If l nracticed,
dare say, but I've never found the
heart
"An right" Yardley answered, seating
himself at the table and squaring MS ell
bows. Let him have it hot. November
twenty-hfth' Go ahead!
".Sir.'" Sanford dictated. rising and
striding No and down the room, you
have acted like "A hound.
Good" said Yardley. Like houhu'
Rim il into him, old man.
when | straitened myself 10 lend you
money. which ] could III afford TO part
with. [ trusted 10 your honor, and TOOK
no acknowledgment Of the TRANSACTION.
II YOU had been gifted with one gram
Of self-respect that trustful negligence
OF mine would have made the debt more
binding ,,.,-,. ...o
binding. Go ahead
.'Aro Tor yardley. who Is SO Kind as TO
write this letter. informs me that in MS
nresence YOU have made a drunken brag
about the foolish confidence ! reposed III
Hold ong' said Yardley, "let me add
a bit"
he wrote at a great pace, and read
with splutter Of angry laughter
And Major Yardley takes this oppor-
t,,nitv OF expressing his personal opinion,
which Is that you are the rottenest rogue
Of his acquaintance and If arrangements
are not made within week. Will make
q regimental businesj of IT, Ill put mat
I'm brackets" he said. 80 that he'll know
it's a personal interruption, don't you
see?'
The letter was finished by demand for
an interview, and Yardley's man. took it
Immediately 90 No. 32 returning
10 say that Captain Lovedale was out
OF town but was expected back to-mor-
row The two men took supper, and in
dire time went to bed. Sanford lay long
awake. luxuriating In the sense of per-
sonal cleanliness and freedom from the
pains Of hunger lie had warmed his
blood with half bottle Of good wine
and his mind began to grope toward the
light again. II but the merest kind OF
bare living were afforded 10 him, he
would teach his left hand something Of
what had been his right hands cunning.
He would live to paint again. And-this
he vowed again and again before he fell
d, .foo,. he would nav YardleVS Kindness
win such an affection OF gratitude as the
world has not often seen. He would
live for Yardlev. lie wOdd become IA
-. Z. ,...,,. IL runrn only fhaf NarlIaX