The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-02
Mr.. BRISHER'S TREASURE.
BY H. G. WELLS.
.(copyright. 1893. by n. q. wells.

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"You can't be too careful who you
marry. said Mr. Brisher, and pulled
thoughtfuliy with a fat-wristed hand
at the lank moustache that hides his
want of chin.
That's Why I ventured.
Yes" said Mr.. Brisher, with a SOL
ernn light in his bleary, blue-gray eyes,
moving his head expressively and
breathing, intimately at me. There's
lots as ave 'ad try at me-many as
could name in this town-but none ave
done it-none."
1 surveyed the flushed countenance
less carelessness of his attire, and
heaved a. sigh to think that by reason
of the unworthiness of women he must
needs be the last of his race
II was a smart young chap when ]
was younger" said Mr.. Brisher. Il 'ad
my work cut out. But L was very care
ful-very. And l got through
! He leaned over the taproom table and
thought visibly on the subject of my
trustworthiness. l was relieved at last
by his confidence.
Il was engaged once he said at last
with a reminiscent eye on the shuv-
penny board
$50 near as that!'
He looked at me. 80 near as that
Fact Isl He looked about him
brought his face close to NINE lowered
his voice and fenced off an unsympa-
thetic world with a grimy hand. If
she amt dead or married to some one
else or anything-Im engaged still.
Now" He confirmed this statement
with mods and facial contortions.
Still" he said, ending the pantomime,
infn of NV
surprise mel"
Run away" he explained further
with corruscating eyebrows. Come
'ome.'
That amt ALL"
you'd 'ardly believe it," he said,
'.but found a treasure. Found a regu-
lar treasure"
l fancied this was irony, and did not
perhaps greet it with proper surprise.
Yes he said, L found treasure.
And come 'ome. [ tell you [ could sur
prise you with things that has hap
pened to me- And for some time he
was content to repeat that he had
found a treasure-and left it.
l made no vulgar clamor for a story,
but became attentive to Mr.. Brisher's
bodily needs, and presently 1 led him
back to the deserted lady.
''She was a nice girl" he saba little
sadly, thought. And respectable'-
He raised his eyebrows and frightened
his mouth, to express extreme respect
ability-beyond the likes of us elderly
men.
"Itwas a long way from ere. Essex,
in fact. Near Colchester. 1t was when
1 was UP in London-in the buildin'
trade. was a smart young chap then,
l can tell you. Slim, 'ad best cloes S
good as anybody. 'At-silk at, mind
you" Mr.. Brishers hand shot above
his head toward the infinite to indicate
a silk hat of the highest. Umbrella
savin's. Very careful, / was
He was pensive for a little while,
thinking, as we must all come to think
sooner or later, of the vanished bright
ness of youth. But he refrained from
the opportune moral.
L got to know 'er through a man
what was engaged to 'er sister. She
was stopping in London for a bit with
an aunt that 'ad a shop. This aunt was
very particular-they was all very par
ticular people, all 'er people was-aud
wouldn't let er sister go. out with this
Teller except 'er other sister, my girl
that is, went with them. So e brought
me into it, sort OF to ease the croWding.
We used to so walks in Battersea park
of a Sunday afternoon. l liked er from
the start, and. well, thought I say it,
who shouldn't-she liked me. You know
'ow it is, desSay?''
/ pretended I did. sea
And when this chap married 'er sis
ter-'im and me was great friends
what must e do but arst me down 20
Colchester, close by where she lived
Naturally 1 was INTRODUCED to 'er peo-
pie; and we'll, very soon her and roe
was engaged He repeated engaged
She lived at 'ome with 'er father and
mother, quite the lady, in a very nice
little 'ouse with a garden, and remarh-
able respectable people they was. Rich
you might call EN- Almost. They owned
their own 'ousetgot it out Of the build
ing society, and cheap, because the chap
who had it before was a burglar, and in
prison-and they 'ad bit of free'old
land, and some cottages and money
invested; they was what you'd call snug
and warm. | tell you, 1 was on. Furni-
ture, too. Why. they 'ad a pianner
lancer name was Jane-used to play
it Sundays, and very nice she played
too. There wasn't 'ardly i'm toon in
the book she couldn't play.
"Many's the evenin we've met and
sung inns, me and 'er and the family.
" Err father was quite a leadin' man
in chapel. You should ha' seen him
Sundays, interruptin' the minister and
givin' out inns He 'ad gold spectacles
1 remember, and used to look over 'eIn
at you while he sang hearty-he was
always great on singin' 'earty to the