The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-02

JE.t q pOy OL lU, WnO Duii1ed the other boys and took their clothes away from them for his own use when they hap pened to have any worth taking, and Miss Fanny Squeers, about 16. Miss Fanny at once began to make eyes at Nicholas. for he dined with the family that night. But Nicholas was more interested in the appearance of youth called Smike who waited on the table and seemed to be a sort of common drudge.
 Smilxe was a strange, crushed creaa- ture:. Though approaching 20, and tall for his age, he wore a skeleton suit, such as is generally put on little boys, and which, though absurdly short for his frame, was abundantly wide enough for his attenuated form. Around his neck was tattered child's cloth.
 Well, Smilxe, what is it1" asked Squeers. seeing that the strange crea- l ture showed desire to speak to him. 'Ts there-has there." hesitatingiy began Smike. "anything-been heard about me?"
 No" roared squeeres. s'Nor ain't likely to be. either. Pretty thing. ain't it? That you should have been here all these years and no money paid for you after the first six. Get out" The next morning, when Nicholas was introduced into the school itself, the last vestige of his air-castle van ished in thin. floating wreath of for- TOT and disgust The schoolroom itself was squalid, dirty. miserable to the last degree; but the pupils-the young nobleman! Pale, haggard faces, lank and bony figures, children with the countenances of old men, deformi- ties with iron on their limbs, boys of stunted growth and others whose long, meagre legs would scarcely bsir thelr stooping bodies, all were crowded to- gether--the hare-lip, the biear eye, de- formity, neglect, cruelty and horrible endurance. Little faces were there that should have been handsome and instead were those of sullen and. vic- ious-faced boys breeding like malefac- tors in jail! And yet this dreadful scene had it's ludicrous features, for Mrs. Squeers was stationed at one end of the room where she was feeding out birthstone and treacIe to each boy in turn. Medicates 'em," said squeers Rot" said Mrs. Squeers Tt takes away their appetites and that's good for us It purifies their blood and hope that's good for them"
 Now followed days and weeks of hor- GOT for Nicholas; days and weeks or starvation and abuse at Dotheboys Hall Every day he grew more ana more desperate at the scenes of oppres- sion that he saw around him. At last Smfke. whom he had taken under nlss special protection, so far as ne couio' ran away and was brought back 70 pc treated with such exaggeration or cru city that Nicholas could bear It no 1arrar Tn the presence of the whole school he cast off all seh-control, thrashed Soueers savagely, ana depart ed with Snilxe.
 After he had trudged some miles with the poor, half-witted boy through the wintry country lanes, resolved 70 walk te London. he began to reahze that he had done a rather hasty thing Ha had but a couple of shillings in his pocket and the way was long. put a god from the machine appeared m in the shane of John Browdie, nale younk Yorkshire farmer with whom Nicholas had become acquainted durins his stay at Dotheboys Hall ana Who had recently married 'Tildy Price friendly enemy of Fanny Squeers.
 saHo. ho. hal" laughed the big fel- low. civ us thy bond, yoongster. Beaten the schoolmaster. hast theeY Dang it, I love thee for it," and then honest John insisted on landing NIGH olas sufficient money for his trip 10 London.
 Arrived there, Nicholas at once sought Newman Noggs and Tn the bumbie quarters of that red-nosed philanthropist found. for time, rel ufre for himself and his charge. New man told him that Ralph Nicklepy hao given Kate and her mother quarters Tn a half-ruinous, deserted house or ms, and that Kate was still working TOT Madam Mantalini.
 The next morning, after Nicholas arr rived at the new homo of his mother and sister. a guest was there before hITn. RaIph himself. Ralph had re- ceived a letter from Miss Fanny Soueers her "pa" being stil to III to write. in which Nicholas was accused not only of having beaten the scnoot- master within an inch or ms nte, put also of abduction In having run on with Smike, and--just thrown in Tor good neasure-of having stolen ruby ring belonging to Mrs. Squeers.
 Ralph had just read this letter ana Kate and her mother were in tears when Nicholas came into th? room is a lie!" he shouted when the cnarges against him were made knoWh. |. aid thrash Squeers, aui hc 1eservso IL r have. rescued from his cruelty poor. half-witted boy. But there mas been no theft as you well know
 "oh. dearl" sobbed the simple-minded Mrs Nickleby, T don't know what 70 think. Nicholas .is so violent ana ms uncle has so much composure' put suppoS6 we can go lo tAS " ~ or the Refuge for the Destitute or the Magdalen Hospital"
 Kate indignantly disclaimed bellef m the accusations against her brother and besought him not to leave them again. But Ralph sternly said that II Nicholas would go away he would see that his mother and sister did not want If he stayed, all his help Woulu he withdrawn from them at once
 Without money, without employment what could Nicholas do but take ten der farewell of his family and go his way? At first he tried giving French lessons to the Miss Kenwigses, the Tour daurhters of Newman Noggs's land lore. but that was hardly remunera- tive enough to support himself anu smike. He tried other things-castlng about him as, young man without trade or a profession will in great city, and failed to catch anything worth having by his casts.
 At last he resolved to go down Into the country, where competition was less keen. There chance brought about that he fell in with strolling company, and he became an actor, ana a pretty good one, under the tuition of the Crummles family. Smike was drilled into playing walking part and for a time Nicholas prospered
 But Newman Noggs had promised 10 keen watch over Ralph Nickleby and over Kate and her mother, and to Ter Nicholas know at once should his pres ence in London be required.
 The storm broke suddenly. He re-
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