Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-02-24
CHAPTER XI,-(Continued.J


begged her to let me know what it
was, as l was so anxious for any sugges-
ton that might help me.
"Well, there's no harm in telling you,
at all events. You saw that Mr.. Mont
gomery. Well, you see, although he's
much broken down, he's a wonderful
clever man, with heaps of learning,
knows everything, and was once, they
say, a rich gentleman. Well, now, I was
thinking that if you could make up your
mind to tell him a certain portion Of
your history, he would be the very man
to advise you and help you"
No, l did not like the thought of TAX
ing Mr.. Montgomery into my confidence.
/ could not tell why, but I was not
agreeably impressed with him. Another
of my strange instincts.
"Well, perhaps you're right, Master
Silas, for he's a strange man. l can't
make him out at all. He's the quietest
man that ever breathed when sober; but
he drinks. hard, and then he mutters
to himself, and tells stories about him
self that makes your flesh creep. That
young man, "Fitzwalton, is regularly
frightened at him when he's got one Of
them fits on him. He's come down here
after they've gone to bed shaking with
fright, saying that he could not stop in
the Eoqm with him"
~, No; I .Wassdetermined I would put no
confidence in Mr.. Montgomery. Martha
.noWu pressed upon me the necessity Of
making some change in my attire.
;s She took me to secondhand clothes
shop, where, for a few dollars and my
old coat to- boot, 1 procured one "like
what civilized people wore," as, Martha
: phrased it I bought a hat. and necktie
at the same place. Then she took me to
q barber's. - &4,'
When I looked in the glass I found
myself completely metamorphosed.
and figure. The kind-hearted girl was in
raptures.
There! don't believe old Porter
himself, would know you!' she cried. =
While my money lasted insisted upon
paying so much for my board. Day by
day my money dwindled down, until
had not penny left. Martha tried to
cheer me with the assurance that some
thing would turn up" soon, and that
when things came to the worst they
were sure to mend, and such like bits
of homely wisdom; but l was almost
hopeless.
At one time l thought of writing to
Mr.. Jonathan Rodwell, to ask him if he
could assist me in any way; he had told
me to do so if all else failed; but, then
he had made an express stipulation that
was to tell him everything. How little
did I know myself! And even of that
little there was much that dared not
reveal. Besides which, the nearness Of
his neighborhood to Bury st. Edmund:
would make any confidence dangerous
for what was more probable than tina
he would apply to the Rev. Mr.. Porte
for a verifcation of my statements, ant
thus give that contemplate man clu
to my recapture?
Day after day I walked through tn,
streets, seeking employment. I applies
for a clerkship, for the situation Of ligh
porter, for that Of messenger, or eye1
errand boy; but no person would en-
gage me without reference, even in tn
humblest capacity. At times, l almos
tainted with heat and lack of food.
felt such poor, wretched waif among
all that busy life, that eager crowd; ev
7 cry one seemed to have purpose, work
except myself: seemed only fit to cree
incubus upon the world. I have stoo
upon the bridges, as many poor wretche
have done before me, and will continu
to do while this stony hearted city ex
lists, and looked down upon the turbi
stream that flows beneath; while a voic
whispered in my heart, "There you ma
find peace! Why do you hesitate? Yo
have neither father, mother, nor frien
to weep for you. Death will give res
to you, and do no wrong to any liv:n
being"
Thus did the tempter tempt me, an
only by prayer could subdue the temp
tation. At length I avoided the neigl
borhood of the river, which began to e.
ert such an irresistible fascination owe
me-a fascination that felt must owe
power me at last, if I did not fly from
I now took to wandering about til
parks. 1t was there that an incide1
occurred to me that changed the who
current of my thoughts and actions.
CHAPTER XII