The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-13
TIE EVENING STORY
An Irish Tram.

ground. In order to have plenty Of
Ti41e 70 enjoy this interesting region
oeclded TO spend the whole month
u roses IN a walking trip in what is
called the Trossachs. I ran across a
young Englishman named Marston.
VINO was amusing himself in much /
lisa t.le same way as and We agreed to
tramp together. Marston was a thor
ough Brtton and with all Briton's 1
respect for rank. He was not noble /
hlmself, but profeSsed to know many
of the nobility.
We were resting one day on the |
Danks OF Loeb Lomond when a typ /
lcaI freshman tramped by. He wore |
corduroy breaches to the knee and |
WOODEN stockings, the conventional |
snort cuddy pipe in his mouth, and |
carried bundle slung to the end of |
a stick over his shoulder.
rat called, ''can you let me
have a match?"
Faith, I can that same" he re-
piled and, turning, joined US.
You're from the Emerald Isle?"
How did you know that?" he
Il guessed it. Where are you
Faith. since yer SO good at guess
In We can guess that also!"
1 laughed and asked him If he
which he accepted. and we all pro-
ceeded on our way together. Marston
was evidently not much pleased with
the Irishman's company, but I found
amusement in his wit and would not
let him leave US. He seemed to take a
great fancy to me, but regarded Mars
ton much as Marston regarded him.
However, we kept together for sew
eral days, during which Marston
warned me tht the fellow was prepar-
ing to work" US in some fashion and
advised our getting rid of him. Mars
tons prophecy was, in measure, full
with me, asking for a loan of t2O, ac-
companying his request with the fol-
lowin ghighly improbable story.
I'm next to a baronetcy,' he said,
my cousin being the present posses
SOr of the title. He is dying with con-
sumption, and I'm not sure but he's
dead by this time. I'm out of funds
and tramping 1t. If I can get them 1
can reach home much earlier, and it's
important that 1 be there before my
cousin dies"
I refrained from smiling at the
story. but said that If he could give
me the family name I would refer the
matter to Marston, who knew all
about the British aristoeracy. If
Marston knew of the family and
thought the matter to be as represent
ed 1 would cheerfully make the loan.
This seemed to stagger him He
thought the matter over, then said:
| Never mind. I'll foot it,
Marston left US soon after this re-
quest, and before parting warned me
not to be gulled by the Irishman, in
forming me that personating connec-
tons of the nobility was a common
confidence game in the country, ''and
most people knew enough of it to
keep from being heeced.
Pat and I trudged on together He
made no further move to obtain
/ loan, but permitted me to pay sundry
expenses. Indeed, I paid for all his
meals and his lodging where we
stopped. I parted with him at Glas-
Cow I going overland to London,
while he said he was going to work
his way on some vessel to Dublin. He
had amused me. and thought l
should pay him for doing SO. hand
ed him a five pound note. He took
the money, asking me, of course, to
whom he should send it. told him
not to bother about a return, but
gave him my address at my bankers
Goodbye, Pat" said; you're
too witty to remain a tramp. Come
to America and go into some show
business. You'd keep an audience
laughing a whole evening"
Goodbye" he replied. You've
been very kind" And with that he
remained in London for some
time One day received a note
which read
"The Earl of Arrascragh presents
his compliments to Mr. Reginald
Brewer and would be pleased to have
him spend week October to 12)
with him at Arrascragh castle.
+ Not ever having heard of the Earl
of Arrascragh, believed he had
made some mistake and wrote him
polite note to that effect. By return
mail I received a reply stating that,
mistake or no mistake the invitation
held good, and I was requested to seno
my acceptance. Not unwilling to see
com etE,inrr of foreign Irish life among
the highest class, took advantage OF
the situation, accepted and on the
date named went to Ireland. On driv-
ing I'D to the castle a gentleman whom
I took to be his lordship hurried to
the porte cochere and received me. AS
we stood facing each other I put my
hand up to my eyes to make sure they
were seeing Alright. In gentleman
dress I saw the Irish tramp had be-
friended in Scotland.
Welded so bountiful a return. Not for
a week, but for a month, was feted
as I had never been before asked
the earl why he had told me that he
was next in line to baronetcy m
stead of an earldom. He replied that
he made a mistake in mentioning any
title since it only made his story more
unavoidable I did not question aim
about his life previous to MS cousin
death and he did not refer to 1t. EVi-
5enfIv he had had a pretty hard time
of it. It was probably no dlherent
from the fate of many British young
err sons who. the estate being entail
ed, are obliged to shift for them
when I left him he had the delicacy
to make no reference to the small
sums I had expended for and loaned
him. What I accepted from him
would have made its repayment OBJ
9sctlNila DAS- RRTrcE PARKER.