The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-06-07

ID Wnlcn LED 10 his SnapDy
little bed-sitting room and flung his
weary body into the remains of a once
j respectable armchair.
Since S o'clock that morning he had
been vainIy looking for work.
4 He was twenty-ona years OF age, he
kyas strong and healthy in body and in
mind, and yct--he was useless; he had
J bsolutely no market value.
Three months before, full of hope and
j ght-heartelnos he had left his native
own of Dry6ei6, in Yorkshire, in de-
6ance of his fathers wishes. A manu-
acturer and mill owner, the father was
strongly of opinion that his only son
{hould follow in his footsteps, and take
[hp a commercial career. Richard was
Ef an entirely different opinion, and
aid so. His was the artistic tempera-
bent, he told his father. He would
lever prosper in business; he was not
ut out for it.
If Richard was obstinate. so was the
I'D man. The two parted in anger,
Ind the youth was warned never to
&ome heal the paternal roof again.
FriendlesS and u~nspeakably lonely.
Richard arrived in London with a port
hanteau, a few sovereigns ana unlimit-
d confidence. He took a couple of
ooms in Baker street, and there, after
khree or four hours spent in sightsee-
3ng, he settled down to work, and Gov
red reams of paper with his small,
eat handwriting. Stories, sketches,
rticles and even plays-little one-act
lays-poured from him day by day.
BE welded, indeed, a most prolific pen.
But, as he was soon to discover. stor-
Is and articles were one matter, get
Ing them accepted quite another.
lamps were bought, capacious en-
= elopes. too, and countless manuscripts
we're dispatched to this paper and to
hat.
They came back with q promptitude
Fhich caused the writer no small
mount Of surprise, for, though he had
bid his father that genius was not al
lays Immediately recognized, he firmly
elieved at the time that his W eff
brts would be unhesitatingly accepted.
Eventually be gave up his rooms in
Raker street and took a small bed-sit-
ing room in the neighborhood of the
dgeware road. Here he labored away
Fom morning till night, living a life
rigid economy ard watching his
haK store Of gold with the Jealousy
a miser.
Puttieng his literary work aside, he
ade an effort to find other employ
bent. Day after day he searched the
blumns of the newspapers in the hope
discovering some suitable vacancy;
.ay AFR day he bought stamps with
e little money that remained and
rote impioring letters to various en-
overs; day after day he secured the
ny metropolitan streets till he was
int with fatigue. But nothing came
it. No one would have him.
I'm everything else unfortunate, 1t
kanced that he was fortunate with
S second iandlad.. Unlike the ma
rity of her kind. she was a mild,
otherly person. with a large heart,
d she was ever ready to show a prac-
bal sympathy with any one in dis
ess.
Not being acquainted with another
ul in all London to whom he might
eak freely Barker had confded in
lis woman to a great extent. She
lew all his difficulties. she saw in his
es the wild, hunted look which is to
observed in every one who is close
pursued by poverty. and, with char
~teristic generosity she permitted him
retain his room and told him not to
brry about the rent until he was for
nate enough to find something to do.
Poverty begets humility, even in the
Dudest Of us, and Barker after he
d occupied his room for three weeks
tnout paying his landladJ q penny
d had pawned everything that be-
hged to him with the exception of
Clothes on his back. so far humbled
fnself as to wrote to his father, con-
sing his failure and asking for help.
Md now a fortnight had elapsed
ce he had written. and is yet no re-
had been received. Hope had now
tircly fed, and black despair had
ken its place.
Brooding over his m;sfortunes, he lay
ddled up in the broken armchair for
he considerable time. Suddenly he
rang to his feet. and cropping about
the darkness secured a candle and
ne matches.
Lighting the candle. he walked to a
pboard, which stood on one side OF
fireplace. anu took from Il of the
klves what looked like a medicine
tie. 1t bore a red label on which the
Brd poison vas plainly printed in
ck letters, and contained a clear
Rprless liquid much resembling water
rker had secured this a week before
Wing at the time i dim idea that il
uld prove useful in case Of emer
hey.
b set the bottle on the table and by
side of it a wir-aglass, then he wen
a drawer situated underneath the
bboard ond procured 4 sheet of note
Der and an envelope. Ink and pei
found on the manteiDiece.