Show 1 I 1 from Glea gleasona sons 1 fic tonal j MR ADVENTURE 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 BY BT FRANCSIS A DURT on a very pleasant jans morning handsome d young min man of t wenty twenty two or thereabouts fashionably attired and with that pensive melancholy air ail which well became hip dark eyes and wavy looks locks and which I 1 marked him as a poet ot of hie ale byron school a rejected lover or an unlucky gamester or a turf defaulter or a attorney or whatever you will for melancholy has many causes and wraps her dirk dark man mantle tle round many tn shoulders in ih this weary world orld w of ours g a 1 1 band some melancholy young man we w may aaby interests inte interesting resti no enough p to flutter the hearts I 1 ot of a whole aole bo boarding 0 ardiri m school was strolling I 1 along a pleasant lane in one ane of the rural countries of f england ile he had come down by the bondon coaell coach and while waiting for foi a conveyance to take him crass across the country to he place of his destination thought to aiu amuse se himself by a brief ramble iambI 6 ue he paused now and then to gather a fragrant at rose or a i bunch of hawthorn I 1 from the hedgep row buthe but he to tossed ased away the flowers flower 8 as carelessly ashe as he them I 1 41 heigho bo he ha muttered mattered to himself it remains to be seen what will be the upshot of this visit to mv my rich old bachelor uncle my mv I 1 I 1 only surviving c relative Is it at all likely the whimsical old humorist whom I 1 h have ave not seen since child childhood hooI will adit a dit me or that I 1 all shall all suit him A retired ato man of abts iness how can I 1 expect that he wi will 11 fancy a goob good fr for nothing fellow who never heter did atly any business a S iness in his whole life ife a poet whose h book sell a dramatist whose play was a failure a who found I 1 no favor with the publishers will he be pay my debts and mike make me his heir beir my whole london life has beema beao a failure and t the benonly only agreeable episode was my trip to bath poor pool I 1 sophy wim agles I 1 believed she loved me sin sincerely car 1 I but I 1 acted honorably wheal found thatty heart was enga engaged gedl tore myself away without hn an explanation for iv whai 4 had hadi I 1 to offer her ber I 1 bankrupt in hope and purse P I 1 As he mused mu sed thus mournfully he cime cama in sight bight of a handsome villa facing I 1 a broad abroad smooth moosch shaven lawn lavrn and backed by a pretty garden and park of ornamental trees As he paused to survey it with the pleased eye of a poet a smart servant in spruce livery advanced along 0 theroan the road Toad and after glancing at him sharply touched his hat and said respectfully I 1 mr smith 7 in my y name 1 f thank hank ye thank ye sir 1 said the fel I 1 low krinn grinning krinning oe from ear to ear and curnin turning g 0 on oa his b is heel h eel he I 1 rao raa offard off and disappeared Is th that u fellow crazy craze I 1 A moment afterwards a dozen or more farmers boys armed with muskeg s 1 suddenly appeared i in the road before him and set iet ting up p a loud load burrah discharged their weapons si simultaneously and then disappeared in the smoke I 1 what the deuce is to pay here thought ill t smith 1 I Is this election day aay oi or fair day or oris is thata that a lunatic asylum aud andi those fellows madmen b he walked on cat curious ious to learn the cause 1 of the commotion As he advanced he be saw a white flag flying on the lawn and he be he hed heard d the distant sound of music magic As he ap preached 0 d nei nearer to the village 1 a gate in the thick hedgerow b opened and a portly gentleman in black with a spotless white very rosy gills and it a buloh of flowers in his button liole bole suddenly appeared with both hands extended I 1 my aly dear boy boi 1 said I 1 he lv welcome elcome youre before your vaar time but s so much the better L it speaks well of your gallantry but whores your uncle I 1 4 seen him yet sir air and I 1 heard hes unwell 5 well ell well said the old gentleman 11 hardly expected him look quite well your eel self f A little pale nervous no matter it wll soon be over hey bey well you dont look jook a bilake hit like the old man I 1 expected exi eki I 1 to find you yon shorter and stouter 1 I thought sophy must have been mistaken misto ken in your appearance 1 So sophy phyl exclaimed smith more and more bewildered 1 ay aj ay my boy she told me all how bow she mel you dt at bath and loved you and how you suddenly disappeared you had no idea of entering ent into an arrangement for life eringi I 1 without see seeing ng your your intended and faith I 1 dont blame you for or it when I 1 was of your age I 1 have married a girl to please a thousand uncles till id satisfied myself tut but you let your uncle know about that trip to bath sly d dog 0 Y but come along so saying the officious old gentleman seized the arm of the bewildered smith who found it impossible to believe that ll 11 1 I 1 was awake and dragged dr aggred hint him across the I 1 lawn and ushered him into the drawing 1 room where a fat woman in in a crimson turf fur ban rushed into his arms and abd saluted him bira on both cheeks and then burst into a passi oolite bitof fit of tears I 1 i 10 0 d dear ear dear said she this his is the happiest and saddest day of my life im sure youre a very nice y young oung man kind and will aill take the eire of my daughter and your yn eles cleli ii a dear good creature but sophy is my all excuse a mothers feelings feeling sj I 1 mr 1 smith an only child abild 0 dearl dear I 1 I 1 I 1 1 1 I 1 1 mrs mrs wriggles room pose yourself fil said the old gont gentleman leman j wriggles is really the girl then fliter all thought U smith my uncle is bonaly au an older man than ever the world has given him credit for to manage such it a surprise for me 1110 and to leave me t to tumble into happiness wi without chont the least bus suspicion biclon i of the felicity lf before bre me but liia meditations were out short abort b by y the entrance of the fair sophy attired in virgin in white and looking 10 lovely loveli as an an mr and mrs led her drw forward r and then disare discreetly etly left the room As she sho seemed overcome ove by emotion smith caught her is ib his hid arms and her head reclined nid I 1 upon his shoulder 1 I 1 1 I 1 my dear angel cried smith tell mo me if I 1 owed owe to your own free w will ill and not to your filial oVed obedience inee can you yon KS ai me williamp william ire replied lied the bride li lushing and looking up ip in his face smith pressed the lips of his hia adored what a strange courtship ours has been said smith carried on in the language of the eyes alone i 1 yours were so expressive said sophy apoy PO your i ur bath ican in I 1 iver ever forget 0 the pump room rooms cried 01 led 1 t atie lover 1 I 1 MOW how I 1 trembled when I 1 handed you your veur gloss I 1 I 1 1 howa 4 w vt thrilled drilled when anen J drank it t and tho assembly rooms suggested ge ested smith I 1 and the waltzes and polkas polka sll replied the arde I 1 decidedly wo we were wera formed for each oth ther the r 1 j I 1 I 1 s sophye So phyl cried the voice of the parental parent C Com coming illg mother excuse me ma dear dearest eat cried the bride and tearing herself irgin her lovers arms she sped put out of the room loom of course this is ni dream daml said smith but its vey pleasant while it lasts I 1 Fory for you od hira sir I 1 1 sail said tho the livery servant smith jet in the lane entering and presenting efio 1 I a package and a letter on a silver sal ver smith dismissed the map man opened the letter and read I 1 your uncle has begged me to wr write te because lie cause ho has the go gout ut iris in his hand and cant hold a pen he begs begg me to say that he wishes you all sorts of happiness happi nesa hut but he 6 cant think of being present ai i the ceremony cei emony ho he sends you herewith a hundred j guineas cineas ui and a letter latter 0 credit on his bank k paris and will expect you as aa soon as the honeymoon andybur and your tour on the continent are ended humbly wish for myself I 1 remain yours to 6 cor command amand SIMON SLOW I 1 1 I dont know k now this simon slow jt hought smith but I 1 suppose hes my uncles stew i ard the he fellow thinks to compliment me by spelling i my na name me smythe but plain smith issod enough for me its a respectable family but contains too many johns of course lie he pocketed the money without demur arid and prepared to go through thi ough the c ceremony er with tile the easy grace and nond nonchalance hala i nce of amun aman of the world he was introduced to a great many people and shook hands so m many times that hit ached breakfast the carriage was announced the leave taking was hurried through throng gh the happy couple escaped from their friends and took their seats the postil pasti ions lions plied whip and spur rt a anticipation of liberal fees and away the flew behind four span spanning king bays at a rattling rate down the same ro road ad up which the i bridegroom had strolled in m melancholy cUn chol y mood that api very 7 mo morning aning As he glanced out of the window he a saw 7 a fat pedestrian in iii drab gaiters wiping his perspiring fareh forehead aad and toiling through I 1 the dust smith smiled if anything can add to the gratification of being whirled a along loan in an easy running barring carriage e it is to eon it with the toils of f on a dusty road but little edid did mr smith suspect who that unfortunate was while mr awl I 1 mrs irs smith are speeding on their bridal tour let us follow up the little fat pedestrian tri an overcome with the heat of th the e weather and his own on exertions he sat down on on a stone cavot day he be exclaimed exel Aimed in the purest cockney V vernacular aal m he mopped his crimson forehead with his thick bandanna ob lot enough to roast an Otten tot vot vota A go to think of that ere theogine hamrine 11 ni noff off the rail and hall the passengers vot a me vender T if I 1 ham in the right direction directions 9 that thac looks as if it might be the alonse onse ullo you aid the last words were addressed to the servant in livery whom we have before encountered and who was now strolling alon along 91 visibly h ly affected by cha champaigne before breakfast t I 1 who freyou are you speaking 0 toa to said hea he lof 1 tily to you was the reply whose lous ouse 0 is that mr 1 11 1 I thought so hes your master hey the servant nodded veil youre expecting somebody aint you bowl now I 1 10 0 no replied the servant 1 nobody P fl the pedestrian coaxingly I 1 y and placing P a bipin the hands oath of the e servant I 1 C veres your young youn 9 lady I 1 gone igene off I 1 vero and whom with her husband I 1 er ausband us band it aint possible cried the I 1 I 1 ie tell 11 you it is though 1 I seed leni em with my gwok eves eyes 1 said the vats your name said the cockney tsam sam 5 I 1 then brhen satia sam show me to your master I 1 must mat pee isee am lim hink antly cried the little cockle cockney with at a tragic ragie ajar ar there was something so imperative in his bis manner that th it the servant servant did not hesitate to comply with his demand he took him into the house bouse ind and ushered him into the presence of mr wriggles there is ia bothin nothing 9 vei very jolly in parting with an only daughter I 1 anae anal even en mr mi wriggles who was one of tho the heartiest of mortals left alone in ing room while his bis wife had gone bone up upstairs at ai ire to have a good vh q cry r was as not in the best pos possible I 1 ai hui humor llor so I 1 after ate r motioning his guest ta to 4 seal sea he enquired somewhat S sourly I 1 pray 1 sir to what am I 1 inde indebted bied for the honor of this visit 1 I 1 1 i I 1 vy sir replied the little chokn cockney py with i the same phraseology of politeness andfrid id 4 severity vo of f manner 1 11 I simply came e ar ne ta pay my respects and to hin quire after ift eithe the health of your family I 1 I 1 11 I 1 asir I 1 am obliged to you for your solicitude replied mr Wr wriggles aggles my amy family aia pretty well I 1 think you your daughter 1 I lope said the cockney bowing F aho including my daughter said mr brug gies you tire are i aware per perhaps haasl that she was married this morning 1 or Married lar ried 13 cried the cockney at starting kiting to his feet beet married ill trouble q yo yon x to 6 re poat that hex mr wriggles my daughter was married this mor jiing gi replied the bereaved father with a savage air intended inter ded to tb say sa haya that to ta i I 1 I 1 I 1 1 I 1 vill you ATO the hex kindness kind nes mr wriggles Wro ggles said aid the ope kney to sto whom your dau d aughter abter cawed r I 1 nothing ig can afford ird me greater pleasure sir replied the father bitterly the name of myson I 1 son inlaw in law is william smith IB is is it cried the cockney trembling g violently I 1 I 1 I 1 yes sir Sr smith aith 1 replied mr calmly I 1 Smyth fi A ay aa 0 and a ap h or smi smith th aith a hi and a inquired the cockney f furiously u riou sly syi 1 11 1 L 1 1 1 11 what is it to you how he spells his name I 1 cried mr wriggles getting angry a replied the cockney auric a letter into my less hands hand mi Wr wriggles aggles read it and turned pale from your uncle anole sir he said I 1 J yes fr om my uncle whom youve ben a af frolin its as youve been Is a boolin fool iril me 0 O why wb y why cried drugles Wr rising wad nid bacig ta e room 4 gahy y pet here soonee soo nerl V I 1 I 1 1 I 1 W 1 I 1 vy Bo screamed reamed the ole cockney wap whom we ingot u ow call b y hia rea re alane i ame af willian thi ivy vy because the hinging runoff run off the track I 1 abd the te re reason agoo and yo youre ure a frilop 1 44 an ur Wr wriggles aggles youve gone and given yd your vir I 1 daughter ter to a b him i in p oiw A I 1 if bep bean named akins 1 1 or brown bron ti alu aig have happened 1 said wriggles 0 reproachfully fully 11 i 4 I 1 falit hits mighty heasy to trow ta tha blacine vve on that retorted sr ow low oan can I 1 NIP my mv name besides I 1 spell it with a ay y and a he ay my iy daughter ill v was s n a 6 barito party to til the e i Z plot if p t biere e were said W niggles wriggles thought fi T for 8 sho lie knew this gentle gentled in in am me met t him a at tb B ith were you ever eve rat at bath never said the cock cookney coq kney nev and you ne her never them its very clear th that it i at t leist I 1 she his has married the danahe man sho loved and very lively that the name he caime yas was a real one I 1 theres a mystery iti hi this sad affair which 1 shall not rest till I 1 have probed tp the th 14 lot i torn tom you can assist me perhaps will yau sta st ay iy V aud dine with u s 3 I 1 no 81 sir rl I 1 ret rest another linit under this roof bat yow you shalli shall hear near from me again 2 sir air r my attorneys pir sir chit tand and chaffer Chaft br jn hinn hill lave ave rea redress bif ther theres ls such a thing athing thin r as I 1 liw al w in fingland Hin gland 1 and the co cockney aney banged I 1 jp gred a away w ay tp tak the next train jor for london this 8 scene cene threw mr ii wriggles into a fever of apprehension and perplexity bis d had marri married edthe the wron wrong 11 mal maa yet she knew him bim he was gentlemanly aad well dressed and as far as wis was w is concerned a mi much ich fitter fiber enate for thavil gar smythe sav the while ahil thus hi harassed a his servant handed him a card j on which he read william viliam smith S I 1 A another n ther 11 smith the world is is peopled with them cried poor wriggles a bring meno me no nore more smiths the ge gentleman etleman I 1 ig 1 i walting in wis lua chaise at tho the do door T sir sir says hes lame and can cant t get out ou t ani will yo yoi i please have the goodness to go to him I 1 mr wriggles went out into the avenue and there he found a |