The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-27
CHAPTER xxx.


 Alban had returned some two months from Poland, when, upon a drear Octo- Der evening, the Archbishop of Blooms bury, my Lady Sarah, the flower girl, and Betty" the half-witted boy, made their way about half past nine o'clock to the deserted stage of the Regent theatre, and there by the courtesy of the watchman, distantly related to Sarah, began their preparations for a honlely evening meal.
 To be quite candid, this was altogether a more respectable company than that which had assembled in the Caves at tho springtime of the year. The Lady Sarah wore spruce black silk dress which had adorned the back of Duchess more than three years ago; the Archbishop boasted & coat that would have done no discredit to canon of St. Paul's; the boy they would call Betty" had a flower at the button-hole of a neat gray suit, and car ride himself as though all the world be- longed to him. This purple and fine linen, to be sure, were rather lost upon the empty stage of that dismal theatre nor did the watchman's lantern and two proud wax-candles which the Lady Sarah carried do much for their reputation; but, as the Archbishop wisely said, We know that they are there, and Sarah has the satisfaction of rustling for us.''
 - Now to be plainer. this was the occa- sion of a letter just received from 'the Panorama who had gone to America since June, and of joyful news from that incurable optimism.
 "I gather" the Archbishop had said, as he passed the document round "that our young friend, er-hem-having exhibited the American nation in wax, 6 symbol Of it's pliability. surely is now proceeding to melt 1t down and to return to England. That is wise undertaking Syrus, the philosopher, has told us that Fortune is like glass, when she shines too much she is broken. Let our friend take the tide at the flood and not complain afterwards that his ship was too frail. The Pano- rama has achieved reputation. and who Is of the world does not know the pecuniary worth of that? Consider my own case and bear with me. I have the misfortune to prick myself with needle and to suffer certain personal inconveniences thereby. The world calls me villain. Other men, differently situated, kill thousands Of their fellow creatures and look forward to the | day when they will be buried in Vest minister Abbey. We envy them at the height and the depth of 1t. This the | Panorama should remember A success full snowman is here today and-er-hem- l melted down tomorrow. It is something | to have left no debts behind him; 1t IS | much more to have remembered his old | friends in these small tokens which we
 shall consume in all thankfulness, ac- | cording to our happiness and our diges- tions."
 | He had seated himself upon a stage chair. gilt and anciently splendid, to de- liver himself of this fine harangue. Tho | Lady Sarah, in her turn hastened to
 take up commanding position upon the | throne that had served for very mod-
 ern Cleopatra, while the boy Betty" &C., customed to hard beds, squatted upon the
 bare boards and was the happier for his 1 liberty. For inward satisfaction, the
 menu declared monstrous pie from a
 shop near by; plentiful supply of fried fish; three dozen oysters In a puny bar
 rel, and half a dozen bottles of stout
 three of which protruded from the Arch bishops eapacious pockets. The occasion 1 was great one, indeed. the memory of | their old friend, the Panorama, at its
 zenith.
 1 'l always did say as he'd make a noise
 in the world and that's the truth, God | knows" Sarah took an early occasion to 1 remark. Not If he were my own brother | could I wish him more than l do this
 night. 'Tisn't all of us would care to go l 'crost the ocean among the cannibals and | take the King of Hingerland in a 'amper
 l saw him myself, wrapped up in piper | box and lookin' beautiful, Gods truth
 with the crown done up In tissue beside him. That was before the Panorama left
 us. Be 6 good boy says I, and don,
 fall fin love with any of them darkies as you'll find in Mericky. So help me lucky | I'd good mind ter come after you says l. and marry their Ole Man jess ter set
 'em 8 good exampls"N
 By which 1t will be perceived that the
 Lady Sarah's knowledge of the great and | mighty republic beyond the seas was I clearly limited. Such ignorance had often | provoked the Archbishop of Bloombury
 to evaporation; 1t annoyed him not lit l tie tonight.
 My dear child" he protested. you ar,
 laboripg under a very great delusion. R,
 assured that America is very grea l country. where-er-hem-they may ca
 each other. but not as you imagine. be lieve that the American ladies arc yer,