Middletown transcript., 1897-08-21
Without Due
Authority

q. ~ " Z stood at the
|. ! ! !. " ! ! : ! !: ! !: !: !. !. ! !: : :
Ha 9 street corner
~ eA looking drearily
y S&li III into the growing
MRM = fog.
H.k$KN A minute or
.NES two before he had
TYT been standing be
4 "a n hind the railings
in the park, abb
FASg sorbed in an ef-
fort, altogether unavailing, to save the
the souls of his fellow-citizens in this
metropolis of evil. A few yards away
revolutionary bricklayer-out of
work, and with the strongest objection
to being in it-had hurled denuncia-
tions at the iniquitous British consti-
tuition to the delight of himself and
the amusement of his audience and Of
a couple of placidly smiling policemen
who stood near in that impersonal yet
protective attitude characteristic of the
force, A little further on, slight
ming artistn Of tender years furnished
a quiet antidote to gesticulatory au-
arcay by the reproduction on paper of
the 'Duke of York's baby" to Choir
us Of loyal applause. On the preachers
other hand, martyr, whose motives
his country had ignorantly misundsr-
stood, perhaps not without just occas-
ion, had related with some feeling,
much abuse of authorities, and more
of that luckless eighth letter of the
alphabet which is the chosen victim of
eloquence in fustian, the melancholy
details of an enforced retreat from
public life, which, to judge by appear
ances, be had richly deserved. When
| the preachers audience tired of his
discourse, they had only to turn their
heads to imbibe incipient anarchy and
detected patriotism, or cultivate a
healthy admiration for juvenile talent
and the reigning house-a combination
or conflicting sentiments peculiar to
Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon.
The other orators, however, had
found compensation for their wrongs
in the delight Of airing them at large.
They retired from the field of battle
hoarse, but triumphant. The preachers
rilmph was question which he could
only regard as much mUrs dubious. In
moments Of despair which sometimes
fell to this lot, he knew that his con-
gregations merely regarded him as an
interlude between the denunciations of
the political bricklayer and the dismal
rhetoric Of the ex-thief. But, to do
him justice, these moments were few
and far between. He had tough hard
battle from very early age, and defeat
bad ceased to depress him save at odd
times when he was, perhaps, little
colder, hungriar or sadder than it was
his usual fate TO be.
As he stood at the corner hand was
laid on his shoulder, and he turned to
find himself face to face with DR.. jeff.
They had met before, in slums and by
ways, and each man knew enough OF
the others life to respect it. L cannot
assert that jeff is the little DOCTORS
real name, and perphaps he has his
tory, or mystery, or both-a skeleton
which he hides in the cupboard at his
shabby lodgings, with the stale bread
and highly unprofessional cheese which
that receptacle contains-but I am
sure that there is no kinder soul in all
London, despite his snarls, his sarcasms
and the inexpressibly un0rthodox opin-
ions which he scatters broadcast in his
way. All men have their hypocrisies,
and he has his. 1t is his delight to
shock people, to pose as something very
little better than the archtiend himself.
have seen him succeed admirably In
bis deception-with strangers. Those
who know the good little man know
als1 that he would not willingly bru;se
butteify's wing, nor offend tha dirt
lest and most melodious tabby that
serenades his hard-earaed slumbers.
Even now, as the preacher turned his
white face and tined eyes upon him
and forced smile, there was a char
liable scheme brewing in Jeff;s mind.
"Finished spouting?" he asked, gruf-
fly. "Walk my way, will you? Abom-
Unable weather."
He spoke with u savage air, as though
the weather and he were OH terms OF
violent hostility. Jaff's manner gen.
orally suggested the feudbrief and
stiletto and other paraphernalia of
medieval murder.
They walked for some time in silence.
during which the doctor eyed his COM
panion with bloodthirsty expression
Of countenance.
Better give it ur," he said at last.
"WeariDg yourself out for nothing.
All boshl''
SIs it?" asked the preacher, half
sadly. Sometimes II almost wish
my profession allowed me to think SO,
tlo, doctor. But il doesn't"
Hang your professionI" Ierked out
JEFF. "You're not parson2"
"No.n u
"Ever been one?"
"No.n
"TheD, why In the name of common
sense dou't you 60 and earn some
money Ny good fellow, you're"--
He stopped awkwardly, with a
queer glance at the preachers thin face
and shabby clothes.
whats the good Of preaching?n
he went on, changing his sentence.
"The world,%ent very we'll for a great