The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-03-21
The Fog Guide.
[Ori2.inal.l

England'S great political leaders. /
went to London and took apartments
where would be nearest the reference
libraries should neeG to consult. One
day while was on the street the city
was suddenly envelOped in fog. It
was so dense that ! could not see my
hand held eighteen inches from my
face could hear the shouts Of the
drivers in the stree. WHO at once be
gan to creep along and even at IL
pace came into freqCant collision.
again s some r..e. d. !" .o~r u'ai
to fogs and not to be stopped by elem
brushed agalno.t me Suddenly fe.t
light touch on the arm. and Il hann
slid down it ana grasncd mine.
"Show you TIE way. sir?'
/ caught at the Ger eagerly, TO-
there was confidence il the mans tcn>
"Get me out Of this" I said. '&Nl
will pay you well" Then gave hinl
my street and number.
He moved OF at 4 pace that astoleh
ed me- How he dared proceed 4 VIVA.
on clear day ! woC!d have co-&i ere
an ordinary salt | could no5 in" cine.
Now and again above the confusion ~
noises heard 4 tapping as Of So
one hitting the paveIlcEt with 4 tic.
Strange to say. we io3tled no one. aHl
no one iostled us. but could feel M
guide pull or push !..e t. on size o"
the other in order to aV0id collision.
"Are you a stranger in London, sir?''
he asked.
eyes. an American"
can American? Then I am conduct
ing 4 fellow coIntrymaH%'
Indeed. How came YOU 10 he fac
conductor IN Iondon?"
81 came here to End :: better literary
field than o,.rs til America
"And got >tran+cI:'
eyes"
Il am literary man myself and am
here now doing literary work. but !
have an order"
you're fortunate. ! had no orders
l had some success at first. but my
wife sickened and died. and my GaUgl
ter became a confirmed invalid. This
reduced me to working on potboierS
and at last
even they would not boil the pot?"
"They did till NY daughter failed mo
as an amanuensis'-
At this moment. whether the mans
mind was taken from his present wo"i:
by his misf0rtunes or through careless
ness, we were nearly knocked down by
some one proceeding more rapidly than
was safe After this we ceased orr
conversation. AS to our location, had
no knowledge of it whatever. but my
guide told me he knew exactly where
we were. In about an hour from or
starting he led me up to a door, which
he opened. and we stood in the hall o.
a tenement house.
''This is not my lodging house."
said sharply. fearful that I had been
tricked
Forgive me-" said the man, who
could now see was intellectual looking
but very shabby; 81 live here. have
brought you to my home to show you
what can happen to an American WHO
trusts himself on the literary sea Of
London" He opened door and took
me into 4 room. or. rather, two ROOMS
communicating. In one of them on =
couch lay girl with the flrlg eyes
and hectic cheek of conStmpt.vc
II would offer you somet refresh
ments." said the man. but ther- is no1
a crust of bread here. We have Eoi
Their fuel nor lights. and ny p35r
daughter, far from having the del ca
cies she needs, has not even ordinary
food"
| am taking no credit to myself in
saying that | relieved their distress Il
would be q finty heart that could re
fuse fellow countrymun in strange
land. While | was listening to Il more
detailed story Of their lives a ray OF
sunlight came streaming in at tie WIZ
dow, and, taking Il memorandum OF
their location, left them.
One day the father appeared at my
apartments 70 tell me that his daugh-
ter had but d short time to live and de-
sired TO thank me in person for what
/ had done for them. promised to he
there the same afternoon. | exDecte
i melancholy scene and preferred to
get through my days work before ell
tering upon what would interfere with
that condition of mind necessary to
mental effort
During the afternoon | went to Their
rooms. They were alone together, the
father being the sole minister to his
daughters comfort. The remains OF
some Geiicacies / had sent a few days
before were on table. The invalid
was resting in steamer chair. and
approached her with a sad heart.
can never forget the look of graft
tuda that accompanied the girls words
Only an exile who had been succored
by one from her native land could have
felt rs she felt When | took my de-
parture | asked her father, who spoke
only by a pressure Of the hand, to let
me know more Of his daughters con-
dition.
The next day / received word from