The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1907-08-30
The Fog Guide.
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llSull'5 nOuSc 10 WIlNc IL me vi Olle VI
Englund's great "olitical leaders,
went to London and took apartments
where / would be nearest the reference
libraries I should need to consult. One
day while ! was on the street the city
was suddenly envelopcd in fog. 1t
was so dense that could not see my
hand held eighteen inches from my
face. could hear the shouts of the
drivers In the street, who at once be
gan TO creep along ana even at this
pace came into frequent collision.
heard footfalls about nc and now ana
again some one, doubtless more used
TO fogS and not to be stopped by them,
brushed ag-inst me. Suddenly | felt
a light touch on the arm, and hand
slid down 1t and grasped mine.
"Show you the way, sir?'
I caught ut the offer eagerly for
there was confidence in the mans tone
Get me out of this l said, ''and |
| will pay you we'll" Then gave him
my street ana number
He moved off at n pace that astonish-
ell me. How he dared proceed at what
OH clear day would have considered
an ordinary gait / could not imagine.
Now and again above the confusion OF
| noises | heard Il tapping as of some
one hitting the pavement with Il stick.
Strange to say, we jostied no one and
no one jostlcd us, but could feel my
guide pull or push me to one side or
/ hn I'm, tn a void
".Are you a stranger in London, sir?"
he asked.
Eyes, an American"
AN American? Then I am conduct
| ing fellow countryman"
Indeed! How came you to be fog
conductor in London?"
81 came here to find better literary
| field than ours in America"
"And got stranded"
| Eyes"
| IL am n literary man myself and am
here now doing literary work but
| have an order"
| you're fortunate. | had no orders.
| had some success at first. but my
wife sickcncd aud died. and my Gaugii.
| ter became confirmed invalid This
| reduced me to working OH potboilers,
and at last
Even they would not boil the pot?"
'Thcy did till my daughter failed me
as an amanucnSis"--
.nA6. fhtss W0IpRnt .Mhether the .man's
| by his misfortuneS or through careless
ness, we were nearly knocked down by
some one proceeding more rapidly than
was safe. After this we ceased our
conversation. As to our location had
no knowledge of it whatever, but my
| guide told me lie knew exactly where
we were. In about an hour from our
starting lie led me up to IL door, which
he opened and we stood in the hall of
n tenement house.
| This is not my lodging house" |
said sharply, fearful that | had been
| trickcd.
Forgive me-" said the man, who |
could now see was intellectual LOOKING.
but very shabby; "I5live here. | have
Drought you to my home to show Won
what can happen to an American who
trusts himself on the literary sea OF
London. He opened door and took
me into room. or, rather. two rooms
communicating In one of them on q
couch lay girl with the Aaring ewes
and hectic cheek OF n consumptivo
Il would offer you some rcfroeb-
mentS,' said the man. but there is !, II
crust oI bread here. We have Lei
,'e' l"e' nor HghtS. and my poor
u"uEh'oF' lar from having the delica-
yieS she needs, has not even ordinary
food"
"'h 'aNhS no credit to myself in
o'H ~ ,'''' renewed their distress. 1t
m'"'" y" hlhty heart that could re
i ,uSG iG!lo" couhtryman in strange
',''','. H''e was listening to a more
"''"''," "'o'! ol thcIr lives ray OF
S"'''-'' C''ie streaming in nj the win
uoW' anu taking a memorandum OF
'''N,' ''."''oh' III lheA
va. '"'H 'h' lath"r appeared at my
t'', ~, ~ - ''l me uat his daugh-
,.i,,,i H""' ,'ile 10 iIVc ana de
fANs Hl,.,t