The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-15
GDpYR 0GDBT, D@&. fM OlRWDIsc; FS1RgG.

old lady who might be cross about
1t wouldn't make them very we'll off.
So she wrote Arthur Pendennis little
note that made him ride distraetedlY
around the country. toss wretcliedly
through sleepless nights and deem that
Ito should die.
But he did not; and at last the major
thankfully saw his nartyrdom at All
end and returned to his beloved clubs.
Pen wrote tragedies more burning
than ever, cultivated moro Byronic
gloom and talked of his blighted lovo
to Mr.. Smirke until that gentleman
feebly confessed to him that he, too,
loved passionately; and on PENS laugh
ingly asking her name said 1t was his
mother; which made the Prince OF Fair
oaks ronr out most Indignantly AMI
send the poor curate out of the house
in sore disgrace.
His Majesty now decided to go to
Oxbridge, where Harry Eoker and other
friends from Greyfriars We're reading
for their degrees. The widow scraped
together all her savings and dispatched
him there in magnificence. Soon Pen
dennis OF Fairoaks was leader in all
that classical place of learning and life.
His rooms were the finest, his wines
We're the best, his words were quoted
copied by all the college dandies.
All declared that he was easily the
best man in the university; but some
how another man carried off the Greek
ode prize and a rival won the Latin
hexameter prize. and at the last poor
Pen got nothing but minor declama-
ton prize, which his mother marveled
at and cherished as the finest thing
ever won In q college.
All the young mobiles and spend
thrifts at OXbridgc belonged to Pens
set Honest Harry Foker, who was
presently "sent down. because of a
little dinner that he gave in college IN
which prize fighting guest operated
on proctor who came to investigate.
said to Pen before he left: Its not me
I'm bothered about. AS long as people
drink beer I don't care. But you're
soin too fast, my boy. You can't
keep up the pace ] tell you"
Presently Forker's prediction came
true. One day the crash came. Pen's
allowance had long since been spent, he
had borrowed right and left. tradesmen
openly besieged his door, and Pen sat
down to realize lnat lie had spent more
than E1,400 In his two years. and still
owed 200. In the midst of his trou-
bles the lists came out and Pendennis
found that he had been "plucked."
He fled from Oxbridge and went to
London to see the major. That gem
tleman, who had been vastly delighted
with the fine acquaintances his nephew
had made at Oxbrdge, received him
with pleasure that changed to trem-
bling Indignation when he learned tile
truth, and he stalkad 81 away, re-
GREETING that his engagements would
not permit him to see much OF Pen
during his stay in London.
Poor Pendenns skulked about Lon
don after writing to his mother such
letter as prodigals have had to write
ever since there were Mothers and
prodigals. The gentle soul who re-
ceived 1t did not care one-half so much
about the great sum or money or the
loss of the degree as she did to know
that her son. OF whose wild career in
Oxbridge she had learned from many
sources was coming back to her. re-
pentant.
And as to the money. why, asn't
all of PENS fathers money his: Hadn't
he right to spend it2 Besides. the pro-
biem of raising the cash was not at
all difficult one, for Helen's eyes were
not the only one that wept over Pens
penitent letter.
You know mamma" said the owner
OF the other pair of eyes (and remark
ably fine ones they were), II have been
living with you all of my life. and if
had had to go to school 1t would have
cost me great deal. SO am sure
that the $500 that are in my bank be-
long to you. and shall be very angry
II you do not take them"
Mrs. Pendennis embraced the owner
of the fine eyes and wept again and
called her dearest Laura" Who Was
| luls dearest Laura who Is Introduced
thus unexpectedly at this financially
opportune moment?
Once upon time, long before Miss
Helen ThistleWood ever imagined that
she would marry an elderly gentleman
with bald head there was q young
gentleman of Cambridge University,
who was as poor as she was. His name
was the Rev. Frank Bell, and he was
waiting for living. Before 1t fell in
they were separated. and finally he went
away to colony, where he married
years afterwards. There he and his
I wife died after Helen's marriage tC
1 Pendennis, and she sent for Laura, Che
/ child whom the Bells had left all alone
! in the world, and brough. her up as
! her own.
| 1t was Helen's dream that some day
her beautiful clever Pen should marry
l lier beioFed Laura ana tnat young
4 gentleman sometimes thought that lie
nigh, crafty the two women ulti-
niately when he had seen enough Of
1 life.
i Pen came home very much humblcd
he blushed when he saw Laura who
received him with all her true, old,
Il time affection. Hs sold his mare anr
felt that he had done a very virtuous
i act. He lounged around the house
whose state, never great, was nluci
diminished now to help pay his debts
He commenced several tragedies ant
wrote innumerable verses OF fright
{! full melancholy. At last, however
= roused by the insstence of Laura, Ii,
7 Went back to Oxbridge, where he shu
himself up for a while and passed hi.
\ second examination with perfect ease.
When he returned with his degra,
he resumed his idleness. He fell asleel
with great regularity after dinner AM
peryaded the house with gloom AM
desp2ndssncs. until an unusual event
clavering Park was to be reopened
The Coverings had not honorad thei
country with their presence for som,
years, The father OF the present bar
3 onet Sir Francis Clavering, had live,
on inc continent aA an outlaw. III