Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-06-14
THE WIDOW
AND THB
! BARONE1
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BY Theodore Dahle.

BY Theodore Dahle.
Sir Leonard Burnleigh- Burnleigh
shivered in his garments, shivered to
the very marrow, because he was
hungry and cold, and hadn't the
wherewithal to buy food and warmth
and shelter.
Yet he seemed craftsmanship
years of age; a gentleman, and shiv-
ering! Shivering under his greasy.
silk hat. in his green-black frock coat,
with its rusty silk facings, and in his
threadbare trousers: snivering from
his clean paper collar to his gaping
boots.
The drear November sky blanketed
London with the usual fog that was
half mist and half rain. The biting
northeaster cut through the baronets
skin into his lungs, razor-keen.
Within him was vacuum, a
yearning void, and he longed to eat
and be filed. But void, alas! were
his pockets also.
Without begging. or stealing, or
borrowing. all which were beneath
the dignity Of gentleman, he could
not have raised as much as a cent
He had nothing for which pawn
broker would issue ticket, nothing
to vend, nothing to hope for.
He was without home, without
even bed. so bad was it with him.
He was at the stage wnen man feels
that two of the big copper coins that
England calls pennies" constitute a
fortune.
The mighty human tide of the
Strand hurried past him, needless.
The cold, Implying swish of it was
ears.
He was one among millions. and
the millions were busy with their own
affairs, as Is their wont.
Each separate unit was palpitant
with Its pleasures or pains. its hopes
or fears, its struggle, its defeats OIL
1t triumphs.
II the sidewalk under him had sud
denly gaped wide and swallowed hi:
shivered body utterly, not one uni
would nave missed him, not even thu
editor who kept his name shining IL
the classic pages of the peerage
baronetage, and what not of that is
land kingdom.
He was not gentleman who coult
work for long, or be happy while HI
no nj
Until he was thirty life appeare,
to be that of one who had been par
ticular in the selection of his parents
Then his father was gathered to nj
ancestors, and till he was forty h
lived without stint--even as hi
father had lived.
At fifty, as indicated by the chef
osophists, the fate line of his han
parted-the bank in which lay tn
bulk Of his earthly treasure called i
the official receiver, and, after tn
lapse Of three years, paid the Englis
equivalent Of three cents to the do
lar.
At flfty-two his gold-mining share
went to the bottom of the Stock E,
change list-and stayed there.
On his ffty-fourth birthday, the sa
news came to him that the only SUI
viving partner in the firm who ha
been the family solicitors for geners
tons had blown out his brains; an
within week he discovered that thi
solemn act had been accomplished az
parently to avoid ten years impri:
onment for forgery and malfeasance.
Thereupon Sir Leonard realize
that he was worth exactly what h
stood up in, which. at that momen,
included twenty pounds in notes,
number of rings, a gold chronometel
. gold watch chain and fur-line
cloak coat.
He lived on the twenty pounds, tn
chronometer. the watch chain and tn
rings for two whole years, and brush
ed his garments regularly, as a gel
tleman should.
Then he tried to work in feebl,
good-natured, whole-hearted sort {
way. eventually gravitating to tn
docks, where other gentlemen ono
moving in England's higher circle
may be found, and where he wa
eventually crowded out by younge
and stronger hands.
The day before yesterday he lei
the gates with nine pennies in hi
possession. Yesterday he had fou
and they bought him three meals.
Today, copperless, and soaked wit
atmospheric ooze, ne was glidin
through the Strand.
ut is time to retire from work." h
said, communing with himself. :
will claim my due"
He came nearer to his due as h
threaded the labyrinthine streets
the early dusk. with the lamps ligh
Ing up the death-pallor of his fin
features.
Anon, he paused at large, yer
large house, and rang the bell, boldl
at the front door-as gentlema
should.
The sound echoed through tn
quiet corridors. There was clatte
Of bolts and locks. A person in un
form came to the door.
MAY come in?" asAsd Sir Leol
ard. suavely.
"All right" exclaimed the porte.
sad In Cir Leonard stepped,