The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-26
BY WILKIE COLLINS.

- AAo A0[AA1
was more than Mr.. Batterbury could
tell. l could ascertain nothing in rela-
tion to it, except that the bequest was
accompanied by some cynical remarks,
TO the effect that the testator would
feel happy if his legacy were instru-
mental in reviving the dormant inter-
est of only one member of Doctor Soft--
ly's family in the fortunes of the hope
full young gentleman who had run
away from home. My esteemed uncle
evidently felt that he could not in COM
mon decency avoid doing something for
his sisters family, and he had lone it
accordingly in the most malicious and
mischievous manner.
Here was a pretty complication
Here was my sisters handsome legacy
made dependent on my OUTLYING my
grandmother! This was diverting
enough; but Mr.. Batterbury's conduct
was more amusing still.
The misery little wretch not only
tried to conceal his greedy desire to
ave his own pockets by securing the
allowance of pin-money left to his wife,
but absolutely persisted in ignoring the
plain fact that his visit to me sprang
from the serious ~pecuniary interest
which he and Annabella now had in the
life and health of you humble servant.
l mad all the necessary jokes about
the strength of the vital principle in
Lady Malkinshaw, and the broken
condition of my own constitution; but
he solemnly abstained from under
standing one of them. He r~esolutely
kept up appearances in the very
face of detection; not the faintest
shade of red came over his wicked old
mahogany face as he told mi how
shocked he and his wife were at my
present position, and how anxious An
nabella was that he should not for
get to give me her love. Tender-heart-
ed creature! | had only been in prison
six months when that overwhelming
testimony of sisterly affection came to
console me in my captivity. Minister
ing angela You shall get your three
thousand pounds. l am fifty years
younger than Lady Malkinshaw, and I
will take care of myself, Annabella,
for thy dear sakei
The next time l saw Mr.. Batterbury
was on the day when 1 at last got my
discharge. He was not waiting to see
where l was going next, or what vital
risks 1 was likely to run on the recov-
cry of my freedom, but to congratulate
me-. and to give me Annabella's love.
1t was a very gratifying attention, and
[ said as much, in n of the deepest
feeling.
: An unexpected disappointment await
ed me. My Scenes of Modern Prison
, Life had not sold so we'll as had been
anticipated, and my publisher was
: gruffly disinclined to speculate in any
, future works lone in the same style.
; During the time of my imprisonment
a new caricaturist had started, with a
manner of his own; he had already
formed a new school, and the tickle
public were all running together after
him and his disciples. I said to my
self: "This scene in the drama of
your life, my friend, has closed in;
T you must enter on another, or drop
the curtain at once" OF course I en-
: tered on another. 3
Taking leave of my publisher, I went
+ to consult IN artist-friend on my fn-
ture prospects. 1 supposed myself to
; be merely on my way to a change OF
profession. AS destiny ordered it. L
was also on my way to the woman
! who was not only to be the object Of
! my first love, but the innocent u
of the great disaster of my life.
( 1 first saw her in one of the narrow
streets leading from Leicester square
i" 10 the DlIdill4 1iiN40 No1
G in her face (dimly visible behind a
: thick veiD that instantly stopped me
as l passed her. 1 looked back and
hesitated. Her figure was the perfec-
: ton of modest grace. I yielded to the
impulse of the moment. In plain
S words. 1 did what you would have
$ done. in my place. followed her.
. She looked acknowledgements me
- and instantly quickened her pace.
Reaching the westward end of the
D Strand she crossed the street and sud-
denly entered a shop.
I looked through the window, and
l saw her speak to a respectable elderly
g person behind the counter, who darted
an indignant look at me, n at once
led my charming stranger into q
back office. For the moment |
was fool enough to feel puz-
zled; it was out of my charac-
ter YOU will say-but remember, al
y men are fools when they first fall in
y love. After a little while L recovered
the use of my senses. The shop was
I at the corner of a side street, leading
. to the market, since removed to make
room for the railway. There's a baeh
f entrance to the housed" I thought 10
e myself-and ran down the side street
Too late! the lovely fugitive had es-
y capped me. Had I lost her forever IN
e the great world of London? 1 thought
so at the time. Events will show that
y | never was more mistaken in my life
| was in no humor to call on my
Il friend. 1t was not until another day
Il had passed that l sufficiently recoN'
cred my composure to see poverty
Il staring me in the face, and to under
q stand that / had really no alternative
: but to ask the ~good-natured artist te
Il lend me a helping hand.
had heard it darkly whispered thai
he was something of a vagabond. But
. the term is so loosely applied, and i
{ seems so difficult, after all, to define
what a vagabond is, or to strike th'
!, right moral balance between the vaga'
u bond work which is boldly published
Il and the vagabond work which is re
q served for private circulation only. thai
Il did not feel justified in holding alooi
from my former friend. Accordingly
I renewed our acquaintance, n tol(
him my present difficulty. He was !
p sharp man, and he showed me a wa,
out of it directly.
} "You have a good Y for a likeness,
he said: and o have made it keel