The Argosy — page 272: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

In the Dead of Night. 251 though he had not been there. ‘The sterling qualities of the old law- yer, and the thorough sincerity of his character, gradually forced them- selves on the notice of Lionel and his wife, both of whom came, after a time, to regard him almost in the light of a second father, and to treat him with.an affectionate familiarity which he was not slow to appreciate. As ‘Tom Bristow was turning the corner of Duxley High Street, one afternoon about three days after his arrival from London, he was met, face to face, by Squire Culpepper. The squire stopped and stared at Tom, but failed for the moment to recognize him. “Good morning, sir,” said Tom, heartily. ‘‘ Glad to see you looking so well.” “Why—eh—surely I must know that face,” said the squire. “It’s young Tom Bristow, if I’m not mistaken.” ‘You are not mistaken, sir,” answered Tom. “Then I’m very glad to see you, Tom—very,” said the squire, as he shook Tom warmly by the hand. ‘“ Your father was aman whom | liked and respected immensely. I can never forget his kindness and attention to my poor dear wife during her last illness—never. He did all that man could do to preserve her to me—-but it was not to be. For your father’s sake, Tom, you will always find Titus Culpepper stand your friend.” ‘It is very kind of you to say so, sir.” “Not at all—not at all. So you’re back again at the old place, eh ? Going to stop with us this time, I hope. You ought never to have lett us, young sir, but have settled down quietly - your father’s shoes. _Vagabondising’s a bad thing for - young man.’ ‘I quite agree with you, sir,’ said Tom, in a tone of isan simplicity. ‘Glad you’ve come round to my way of thinking at last. Knew you would. Well, if I can do anything for you in the way of helping you to get a decent living, you may command me fully. Think over what I’ve said, and come and dine with me at Pincote to-morrow at seven sharp.” ‘““It would be worth something,” said Tom to himself as he went on his way, ‘‘to know what my old friend the squire’s opinion about me really is; to have a glimpse at the portrait of me in all its details which he has evolved from his own inner consciousness. Strange that in a little town like this, where everybody knows everybody else’s busi- ness better than he knows his own, if a man venture to step out of the beaten track prescribed for him by custom and tradition, and is bold enough to strike out a path for himself, he is.at once set down as being, of necessity, either a lunatic or a scapegrace—unless, indeed, his lunacy chance to win for him either a fortune or a name. And then how changed the tone !” CoOnniclooolkKks (C(O)