Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-21
David Christie Murray. IN Casselrs Fam
lily Magazine)

l.
sanford was ruined. and his case. as he
looked at IT, seemed altogether beyond
remedy. lie had been man Of genius
once upon a time. or, at least the world
had told him so He had been carcssed
and lauded, had made money easily and
spent It easily. and was now without a
penny or friend. a great painter, who
had lost the use OF his rieht hand
His time OF raging against fate and
false friends was over He had cncoun-
tered his misfortune without courage. and
IN the first shock Of Il he had taken TO
drinking very much more than was good
for him. He had borrowed heavily. and at
nrst with lNtlc difficulty. because the
eminent surgeons who had charge Of his
case had been confident As their doubts
ercw. he had begun TO be little base. and
GO deceive people lie borrowed on pre-
fences which, II not wholly false. were
colorcd.
Tie had said once. when his heart was
warm after dinner. that no man in Lon
don had so many friends. 1t was his boast
that ne had climbed the ladder OF success
maiaed, and that he had begun az the
bottom rung. The professional reputation
makers had never been his associates.
They had. indeed. been barely known to
him 10y name. and his position had been
earned by honest labor
This was all true enough. but I'm a while
10 ceased 20 be Of use 10 him. even as a
memory. People began 10 be tired of his
distresscs and his borrowings and the
more hc grew to be In need the less help
De got. That is. Of course. and always has
been. the worlds way. and everybody
knows it-in theory. There are heaps of
things which are known I'm theory. and
are accepted with light heart which be-
come suddenly odiOus and horrible when
translated into ones own experience. That
IS because we are all so different from
other people. and because what is excel
lent sauce FOR the goose is absurdly
reuscous when served with the gander.
Sanford was seen TO have been in.oN-
Gated two or three nights running. but on
the night ON which he slipped upon a piece
of banana peel in Regent street ne was
as sober as a Judge That made 10 DIFF
ference II was natural 70 think tat the
IAN wrich injured his hand anew, ana
made bis case quite hopeless was the re-
suit of the vice which had taken hold
upon him. Very few people cared TO re-
member that until misfortune overlook
him he had been "a sober man IL was the
general opinion that ne had himself 10
hank for all that had befallen him.
Little by little and yet with a rapidity
frchtful 10 contemplate. the few sticks
which had Kept him ahoat IN the whirl-
pool OF poverty We're drawn from MS
grasp He grew shabbier and more shah
by ln aspect. His face. which had once
been handsome and full Of fine spiritual
quality. deteriorated.
sitting by himself one miserable eve
ming. be had turned out all his pockets.
and had found a few pinches Of tobacco
dust. mixed with dottngs OF tinfoi small
spliuters Of wooden matches. rolled
crumbs Of cloth fibre. and other foreign
matter. He spread the dust upon an un-
clothed table and with the broken point
Of pen drew out the worthless particles.
The voice Of his landlady had been heard
necessarily for half an hour. She had
no interclocutOr-she and Sanford were
alone IN the house-but she pretended TO
be- addressing somebody as she sat on the
stairs in the dark. and complained pas
sionately OF her lodgers Indebtedness.
The ledger cleaned the pinches of to-
bacco dust &c this accompaniment, packed
hts pipe. and began 20 smoke. with his
elbow resting on the table. and his chin
on his clenchcd hands. The voice outside
rose 20 q shrek, denounciug him, but ne
did not seem 10 listen; and when he had
smoked his pipe 20 its last Whit he slip
ped 10 into his pocket. stuck his hat on,
turned out che gas. and went down stairs
You're not a-takin anythin' else out
O. my '0use. are you2" asked the land
lady. You pawned the empty pOrtmanty
last Toosday. didn't you? You're a-goin'
20 cheat me out Of the seven weeks rent
you owe me. amt your
He went by without a word brushing
her slightly In the darkness. The woman
broke into a storm OF screams and sobs.
lie left the house in silence. the screams
pursuing him through the open door and
falling suddenly In the noises OF the traf-
DC and the rain. IL was "A night of storm.
and every now and again street lamp
was eXtinguished by the wind. a Chin
ney-pot fell a yard behind him, and went
10 pieces with "a crash. He paused and
look back envious'y. and then took mis-
way through the wind and rain again.
a corner house was afiame I'm the dis
NAL night with gas and polished brass
work Sanford stood before il with the
rain pouring from gutter in the rim Of
his shabby old wideawake. and groned ion
hs pockets to assure himself Of his LAT
threepence He sh0uldored the swinging
door aside and entered.
Two OF gin and screw Of shay" lie
said. throwing the cODpers on the pewter
of The counter.
man turned at The sound Of his voice
ana stared. until SANFORD feit The glance
and turned also He started. and tn
blood flowed 70 his sallow face like a
wave.
Sanford" said the man. and the ejacu-
lauou bespoke a horror OF surprise
Sanford answered with gasp Of
laughter
you hadn't hearl?"
The bald reply acknowledged everything.
The inquiry and response held "a volume.
Heard what manT' cried the other
''For Gods sake don't tell me this isn't a
masquerade"
Real enough" Sanford answered.
holding out his right hand do you see
that? II was worth something two years
ago. II isn't worth much now"
The rain drpped from his shining coat
and trousers. and made q pool about his
feet ia the saWdust OF the floor. The
barman served him, swept up the half
dozen half-pence, threw them into the
till, ana went back 20 the further end OF
the bar The two men were alone.
TEL me an about IT,"
There isn't much 20 tell" said San
ford.
Il had outruu the constable. Not
much-not more than usual Then this
happened. tie held out the atrophied.
distorted hand. 1T was a gun accident.
10 begin with Ny creditors sold me up.
OF course and-here / am. What sur
prises me Is that you didn't know II. It's
been trumpeted abroad enough"
Il got back last week" the other an
swered. Been Dacoit-hunting out OF
the way OF news Drink up. ard wen