Evening star., 1901-11-09

"W Il CANNOT OFFER GUINEA n "
only sign that his pride-which was greater
than his shame-allowed him to make.
sir said the dressmaker, you doubt
less remember the conversation we had
week ago"
Il remember it, madam. perfectly. 1t
was not conversation of the kind which
man in my position readily forgets
stop stopi' interposed the lady in the
mask. He is in want of food. l am GER
tain that ne is in want of food. Let us
first order some refreshment for him We
must not enter upon business with him un-
I'll he has appeased his hunger
LAS you please, madam Mrs. Brymer
answered, coldly. Il should, however,
recommend business first. When our busi-
ness is complete he can order what he
likes
There was. in fact, nothing at that mo-
ment which the prisoner desired more than
food. He yearned and longed for food. He
was faint and sick for want of food. At
the mere mention of food he changed color
Pride could not prevent this betrayal. He
reeled He was fain to clutch at the back
| Of chair.
A debtors prison, however, is like Lead
enhall market in containing supply OF
everything that man can desire texcept a
quickening breath of fresh air), PROVIDED
there is money to pay for 1t. Cold peer
was Immediately attainable with bread ana
a pint of Lisbon. Can you eat cold beef
| sir?" asked the lady with the mask Ihe
young man sat down and proceeded to SHOW
that beef cold, cut off the silver side, with
| bread, was at the moment the one dish
| which he would have chosen before all
| others. Indeed for a hungry man, cold
| beef, slightly underdone, has no equal. All
| this in spite of mods, winkS and admoni-
tory shifts from Mrs. Brymer, who saw IN
! the perverse and ill-timed charity, the loss
| of those advantages conferred upon the
| bargainers by the present necessities. Ihe
food restored some color to the young
mans cheek and some strength TO ms
| limbs. The wine also gave some courage tC
his heart. He finished his repast and stood
up again with low bow of gratitude.
| Now. Mr.. Mcnamara" the dressmaker
resumed business. We have wasted time
| already. You remember, you say, our
discourse. You were then, believe, still In
possession of little money, and If | re-
member Alright shoes and stockings. Your
case was desperate, but you concealed from
me how desperate 1t was.
| II told you / was a prisoner for life
What more was there to conceal?
You did not tell me, sir,' she added
severely, that you were on the point OF
becoming quite destitute A mere paupel
and beggar. Your transference to the poor
side will certainly make a great difference
| in our arrangements. We cannot offer a
guinea a week to one on the poor side. A.
we'll bestow Burgundy or Rhenish on q
common tramp of the road
Mrs. Brymer murmured the lady 1r
the mask, spare him. He is a gentle
| man.
"As YOU will madam My poverty is
such that | must consent to anything
You undertake to assume certain liabll
tiles. Let US have no mistake about th'
business. These liabilities are not large
but they are at present quite beyond YOU
means of payment. They would, therefore
by themselves, make your release impos
sble, unless the creditors consent. ANT
this they will not do. But that is no hard
! ship, because you are already in the names
I .f
| hard-hearted.
| "You are beyond any hope of release. Yol
| are now on the poor side. You have M
I rent to pay. You have no fees to pay
| Everything is cheap on the poor side. Ant
| you have your share of the doles while yol
take your share in rafting the box. !
pretty fall it is for gentleman Tn
| young man changed color. but said nothing
Il would propose therefore, as you ar
doubtless quite unprovided with any com
forts. first to find you mattress and
blanket, and next to give You an allowanc
of five shillings a week. That, conclude
the poor side, rich,'
The young man bowed. The lady VIII
. had charge of the business went on relent
j | lessly:
You will marry the lady at once l ca
! bring a Fleet parson here in half an houl
: You will make no attempt, either now or a
: any future time, to claim her your wife
! | She will be as much dead to you after tn
ceremony as at present. Do you quite ur
| derstand this?"
, "Quite. There Is no necessity to repea
| the agreement"
, "I am the best Judge of the necessit,
! | Very we'll, then. Some persons in you
| condition have tried threats of variou
: kinds. If you try anything of that natuI
> | we shall increase the detainers."
II understand. Is this not enough?'
"And we shall stop the allowance. Wei
| think there is no more to be said.
! | You behave well and can be trusted thel
: | might. at some time-we make no promise
4 | but there might, say, at some time, be
| question of the Rules"
THE Rules would be no use to me.
t | could no more make livelihood in ii
: | Rules than in this place. You have sal
d | quite enough. madam. and more tina
: | enough. But my position obliges ME
;. | hear all and to endure ali.''
;: Madam" he turned 10 the lady with IL
4 mask. who had not spoken, you are,
I suppose. the lody concerned. Understan
S pray you, that the degradation offered n
n must be accented If it will give me foo
r Degradation. shame. humiliation cam
4 touch a poor wretch un the poor sid
:; | Hunger Is the whole armor of such
4 ore against any kind of shame
q Sir. you speak and you feel as a ge
q .temar. Believe me, 7 am deeply griev.
Il ! 70 sec a young gentleman in this cond
.e ! ;ian -
:, Business" the dressmaker repeated h
= | former lesson knows no compassio
? l There is no friendship, no pitY. In bushes