Prudence and the possession-man.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 75, 21 December 1907, Page 19

Prudence and the possession-man.

(By Tom Gallon, author of "Lady Jane's ■' Christmas Party," etc.)

Mr. Silas Fothcrgill sat in his office in the City, fingering certain' long slips of blue paper. Outside, all tho world shouted to him audi to 1 evor.yono olso that it was Christmas Ere, and that, for a time at least, hard bargains were done with and old scores forgotten. If you had known Silas Fothcrgill yon would have undorstood that-it would take a great deal more than Christmas Eve to nmko him forego a bargain or forget an old score •In the narrow court in which his office was situated the wind howled and moaned, and drove stinging sleet into tho faces of such people as still remained to transact business; inside tho offico. a meagre scrap of firo had long sinco given, up tho attempt to burn brightly, and was slowly flickering out. Silas sat in his overcoat —which was cheaper, us far as warmth was concerned. "I'll sell him up—l'll turn him out of doors—l'll toach him how hard tho world can be, when you refuse to look it squarely in the face and pay your debts!" ho muttered. "Tho young'dog!—just like tho father that flung his money broadcast five-and-twenty years ago. .Liko father—like son; only tho son shall pay for both!" He was interrupted by a knock at tho outer door. His clerks had gone for tho day, lind he must perforce opon it himself. Opening it, thcro was literally blown in,upon him, in a whirl of wind and sleet, a little closelybuttoned man, holding his hat on with both hands. 'Murmuring apologies, Iks set to work to help Silas Fothcrgill close tho door. "I was just iroins home," panted the siowcomer, "when I remembered that you wanted to seo mo about this business of your nephow. Christmas Eve, you know —it doesn't quito seem' a time for business—does it?" He smiled propitiatingly, and shook tho •' sleet from his hat. "AH times are times for business with me," retorted Silas. "Como inside; I shan't keep you.five minutes—especially as you're a lawyer. You charge for your timo." The other laughod at tho pleasantry, and; followed his patron into tho inner office. Covortly enough ho drow as near tho firo as he could; and warmed his hands at the last speck of it; watchod Silas.Fothorgill as tho latter picked up tho blub slips of papor, and flicked.them between his fingers. ] . "Is this all •?"■• asked Silas, looking up at tho other, with ihis mouth ono grim. lino. "Don't deceive mo, Martin Slndo—or I'll find another lawyer." "Thoso are all I can find—and I have mado most careful onquiries in all directions," replied tho lawyor. nephew has borrowed rathor extensively,in one direction ani anothor—'flying kites,' we call it; those are tho kites. You seo,,not having been brouglit up to any profession, tho poor lad hasn't had much chanco'of making money; and he's got a wife and child to. support." . • •• "What the dovil right has ho with a wifo and child?" domanded Silas violently. "Look at mo! I can't afford a wifo.and child; and yot I'm supposed to. bo pretty well off." ■ "You thought of.affording one once," retorted i Martin Slado boldly. "Thirty years ago." Silas was silent for a moment.or two; ho was looking f rowningly • at tho pieces of paper. "And if I did?" he said at last,- in a lowor tone. "If 1 was fool enough to believe in woman, and to fancy that I loved her—what thonp" i ' "Your nophow Godfrey, whoso signatures you are looking at.on those slips of paper, is her child,", tho lawyer reminded him. "I don't.want to rake over old grievances, Silas Fothcrgill; I only w'aiit to remembor tho past." :, : . ''•;' "I do remember it," oxclaimed tho older man, passionately, ,"I do romemhor. it; I remember how that'brother of mine, who always got the host of everything, stolo the heart of tho woman I. loved. She's dead now —and that's, an end'of the matter; You can't mix spntimont .with , business—at all events, I can't." . ; ' ,"• '• •■■; "And your business has been to buy iip all this young man's debts, so that you may.hold him in tho hollow of your'hand,, and do what you like with ,him." The lawyer was watching hirii keenly. "Why?" '''"Oh—if you care to put it so'crudely— a little matter of vengeance. I could not reach the father; I can roach tho son: Thotfathor spoilt my world for mo—and has.gono to his account for that and for other things;' tho son lives, and may bo made to feel something bf what I felt—thirty years ago. ■ He's a young fool, or he wouldn't have got himself into his present position—like a fool, ho has probably lived in a fool's paradise. Now I have him," —he flourished the papers in his hands as ho spoko—"and I'll squeczo him. Ho ddesn't know me save as that Uncle Silas who has been asortof'bogey to him all his lifo; I'll show him my power." "What are you going to, do?" asked Martin Slado. . "You have threatened him that a writ shall bo sorved upon him; in fact, if you have followed :your instructions, you havo already served that writ—eh?" demanded Silas Fothorgill. . Tho lawyor nodded. "Very well, thon, ho knows what to oxpect. To-night a man goes down to tako possession of his property—such as it is; ho shall spend his Christmas with a broker's man in possession." . "Surely you can wait until after Christmas," urged tho lawyer. "Man.alive!—thero is time enough for vengeance before the first of January. Besides —1 doubt if I can got a man to go down at all at such short notice, and''on this night of all others." Silas Fothorgill folded the blue papers, and put them "-into-his pocket; buttoned his coat, and slapped:his pocket with moaning. "Don't worry yourself," ho said. "For my purposo Christmas is as good a timo or better than any other. He'll bo oasy in his mind at Christmas; he'll ho thinking of making merry and forgetting his debts. (Besides, as to tho man—that's easily settled.' I'll go myself." "You?" Tho jittlo lawyer starccl at him ■with' a dropping jaw. "Yes—l'll go myself,"said Silas Fothcrgill, with, somothing as nearly approaching a laugh' as ho could force from his throat. "I tell you ho doesn't 'know me—oxcept as a species of ogro in tho background. I shall go down as tho man in possession; I shall havo tho opportunity to see what sort of a fcllow.it is that wastes his money, and plunges into debt, and marries, and brings children into the world. I'll spy upon him whon he doesn't know it; and whon I'vo found out all about him, I'll sell tho dog up, and tell him who.l am." Mr. t Martin Slado buttoned his coat, preparatory to going out into tho wind, and the sleet. 1 Ho put his hat on very firmly, and, getting well towards tho door, expressed his sentiments as probably ho had never dared do before. -'"'■'. "Mr. Silas Fothcrgill," ho said—raising ono hand as though about to dclivor himself of some great sentiment—"l can only say ono thing to you; and that-is, that you are about to do an infernally brutal action. Don't jump, at mo, sir," went on the little man with growing heat, and yet jumping on his own account a littlo hearer to tho door,—"l repeat, sir, that yon are going to do. a scoundrelly action. Tho boy has never done you any harm, and, properly speaking, you ought to do something to assist tho son of tho woman you lovod. On Christmas Night—or Christmas Evo (for you'vo upset mo to such an extent that I scarcely know which it is)— you're going to do somothing ontsido all reason, and all humanity, and all conscience. Bali!—l'm ashamed of you!" Having in tho process of this extraordinary address worked himself to tho door, Mr. Martin. Slado, worked himself round it, and so out into the sleet and tho wind. On tho wholo he felt rathor proud of himself for his daring; yet on tho other hand he felt convinced that no words of his would turn Silas Fothergiir from any purposo ho had. Silas Fothergill, for his part, had been merely amusod at tho lawyor's outburst; had wondered a littlo, in fact, that tho man

should havo found courago to say such things to him. Ono phrase only had struck hard at tho old man, and had cut him moro deeply than ho would havo cared to confoss. "Tho son of tho woman you loved I" That was truo onougb; but then he was tho son of anothor man —which made all tho difference. The woman Silas Fothcrgill had loved lay in her grave; all that remained of. her was an imago in tho heart of tho old man, of someone bright and dainty, whoso laughter had echoed in his heart "and echoed still. But sho had been stolen from him —and noiv hor boy must pay tho price. "Tho Lord knows I'm shabby enough to play tho part," said Silas, with a whimsical grin. "But then everyono knows me, and I don't need to carry my wealth oil the outside. When you como to think of it, it'll be rather a Christmas Joke—this going down to tako possession of tho boy's house —this spying into, his life and his secrets. If he tries violence, I'll reveal myself, and lot him know who I am; if ho accepts mo philosophically, ! shall probably learn more abolit him in five minutes than I should have dono in five years in any other way. It's a good way to spend Chrisfenias —this turning of oneself into a broker's mail. The dog shall humble hiniself in the dust; and then I'll sell him up afterwards. Good notion, that: to buy up all his debts, and then act as'my own debt collector. As "for Slado— I'll get rid of him, and secure tho services of a man who doesn't mix sentiment with law." - . Silas had secured tho necessary papers from Martin Slado beforehand; his path was clear boforo him. He went out into tho sleet and the wind, with an impatient shrug of the shoulders when a man whom ho knew slightly boisterously wished him "A Merry Christmas,", for what had ho to'do-with Christmas or with merriment? If ho had his way, ho would put down this business of Christmas altogether; it garo clerks, who wero indolent enough already, an excuso for, furthor holidays, and for debauchery. Furthermore, not being a man to wasto money, he took an omnibus to his destination in a certain quiet suburb of London; and had a wordy argument with tho conductor, because ho was sot down somo five yards beyond tho actual end of tho strcot. Behold him, therefore, walking down;that street on this Christmas Evo, to wreak his vengoanco on a certain small household. A pleasant street bordered until trees, and with littlo neat houses stamliug back from tho road. At ono of these neat • houses he stopped, and, turning up his coat collar (not so much as a protection against the weather as a species of suddenly conceived disguise),' rang tho boll vigorously, and waited for tho door to bo opened. Tho door was opened, surprisingly enough, by a child. That is to ' say thero' was a sort of littlo strugglo that appeared to'go on for "a moment or two between a maid and tho child; but;tho child laughingly won. Tho door was flung- open, and a mito of some soven years of age in a white frock held out her' arms to Air. Silas Fothcrgill. Which was disconcerting, to say tho least of it. Then the arms dropped disappointedly at her side. ■ "I thought you wero Santa C!a.us," _slio .said—"Daddy told mo that ho would bo suro to como to-night." '{Toll your Daddy, as you call him, that I'want to speak to him," said Silas. ''What namo shall I say?" broko in tho maid, looking at him suspiciously. , "You can say," retorted Silas, brutally enough, "that I am the man in .possession." He stalked into tho houso, and stood waiting for what was-to happen, : relying solely on tho fact that his nephew had nover seen him, and thorefore did not' know him. "From the sounds and tho laughter and tho lights it almost saoms. as though a Christmas party was going on," thought Silas) Fothprgill. "Well, I shall probably ho able'to break that up, at all events; I'm 'going to teach the extravgant young dog a lesson." . ■'. That extravgant young "dog presently camo out into tho tiny hall'to interview tho visitor. Tho child had been'dismissed and tho maid also was gone; it was a ,curious fact, and one to bo noted, that tjio maid did not seem in tho - least;- - surprisedat the visitor. ■ , - Mr. Godfrey Fothorgill,. with his hands stuck in his pockets, surveyed tho intruder with a look of comical dismay; ho seemed rather to bo wondering what ho should do with the man than nonplussod at his actual appearance. "It's beastly "rough that iuv uncle should havo cho'son this night, of all nights in the year, to put a man'in," ho said. "I'vo got a house full of. guests; how tho douce am I to explain you? ~ You look protty, ,a. (broker's man." 1 "Tluink you," retorted Mr., Silas Fothorgill. ■ "What do you gonerally do with men in possession?" ' "Oh, genornlly speaking, I smuggle 'em away in tho kitchen until l ean manage to pay them out. But to-night it's so awkward. This placo is so small that it isn't quito easy to smugglo you away." A door opened, and a young and pretty woman had come out; the child was clinging to her skirts. Sho came up to ' tho ycung man, and dropped a hand on his shoulder, and looked at Silas. "My dear Godfroy—what's the matter?" she asked. Ho whispered briefly,' so that the child should not hear. Silas Fothcrgill, watching, saw (tho young woman drop hor faco for a moment on tho hand that rested on her husband's shoulder; heard ,liim'whisper again' that sho mustn't mind, and ,that it would ho all right. Tho ■ child's cagor trcblo broko in. "Daddy—what aro you going to do with tho possession man?" needn't, troublo about mo, you know," said Silas grimly. "Don't let mo interrupt your party; you-needn't introduce mo to your guests." "Gad—but I will!" exclaimed tho young man with a laugh. "I can see a way out of this—and yo'u shall have tho best time of your life, Mr. Possession-Man. We don't refer to you by your proper titlo in polito society; but there is one title you shall havo that will suit you. You must know that I havo a certain grim relentless eld uncle, the man has bought up, all my. debts, and is doing his best to crush m&—and they call him Silas Fothorgill. • That shall bo your name, iny friend ; I'll introduce you to tho company as Unclo_ Silas I" "Nothing of the kind," exclaimed Silas Fothorgill: "I'm not i" tho habit of participating in jokes of this sort." "You'vo got to do as you'ro : told," retorted , Godfrey Fothorgill.' "Abovo a'l things, little Prudence hore-r" "Is that her name?" broko in the old man sharply. , (It had been the .name of tno dead woman ho had loved years before—the mothor of this Fothcrgill ho had como down to crush.) ■ "Yes, that's her'name," replied.tho young mothor, looking at this strange old man for a moment in somo surprise. "Why?" ' "Oil—nothing; only it's a pretty namo,": lie replied, in a chariged voico. "Now, what aro you going to do with me? I'm in your hands, and I suppose I must submit." "Of course you must. , Besides, if you como to that," 'added Godfrey Fothergill with a laugh, "my Unclo Silas, I should imagino, is just such''an old'curmudgeon as }0u look. Of course, I'vo'never seen him, but I should judgo him to be your typo of man, Something's got to be dono with you; I can hardly approach my guests, and say to them—'Permit mo to introduco to you tho broker's • man, who has just been put in possession of tho place!'■ I couldn't do that, you know; and they all know I'vo got an Undo Silas. We've got to mako tho best of you —so como along." ' ' Mr. Silas Fothcrgill, divested of his overcoat. and hat, found himself thrust suddenly into the midst of a crowd of young pcoplo all bent on mischief; found himself too, strangely enough, dragged thither by the hand of littlo Prudence. (A soft littlo hand, mark you, with ' baby fingers that clung about tho knotted ones of tho old man; arid as that had seldom happened in tho lifo of Silas Fothorgill, it was a circumstnnco to be reckoned with). Moro than that, Silas found hiniself, despite his protests, introduced into various games that included much scurrying about, and somo romping in corners; discovered that, for tho, preservation of his supposed cliaracter, ho was actually expected presently, at tho earnest solicitation of Sirs. Godfrey Fothorgill, to dance in ono corner of the room, and bark in anothor liko a dog, and whisper tho namo of his sweetheart in anothor (ho whispered, 'Prudence,' • whereat thoy clapped .their hands tromondously), and to crow vigorously in a fourth. Altogether the strangest broker's man that was over known, and one likely to forget his errand unless sternly reminded of it v Strange as

it may appear, Silas Fothergill, was enjoying hinisolf. The City was miles away, not oven to bo referred to in such a moment as this; thero were laughing happy faces-about liini, ho was thirty years younger''than'"'the', iiotunl record of his days would show. Moro than that, he discovered, somewhat to his amazomont,'that ho was a bit pf a favourite; overheard one man whisner to young Godfrey Fothergill that ho liad always understood that Uncle Silas was a. very, ...terrible person indeed. "Look at him!" whispered the friend. "He looks as if he had suddenly qomo to life t" It was only when all- the friends woro going, and whon Godfrey Fothergill and his wife had come back to .-the recollection of what this man was \yiio. played the part 'assigned to him so well;;that their aspect towards him bhanged a'jittle. After all, they had kept the knowledge of the disaster from their frionds and that was much; but 'tomorrow was Christmas: Day—and. after, tomorrow ruin stared them in the'face." Tlieyworo young yet, and little l'rudenco had to be thought of, as someone to inherit whatever disasters might fall upon themselves; yet who could withstand the dreadful,Unclo Silas who lurked in the background,:and who had; out of sheer vindictiveness, bought up theso debts tho better to get his grip upon tliem? The broker's mail they bad dubbed"Unile Silas' was nothing; a mere instrument in.the hands of stronger men with whom they must rcckon in tho future.

The curious part of the business was that' little Prudence seemed to havo taken'a tremendous fancy -to '"the'', possession-man, "''is she called him. It became evident'pT.psontly that that small and tyrannical person was not going up tho long dark stairs to 'bed unless tho possession 'man carried, her';, and bttby arms about a man's, neck, are",apt.to ,bo softening things. More than that,' she discovered tho humble apartment in which Silas Fothergill had been sent'to bed; a/id in tho morriing roused him at an unearthly, hour bv thumping hard upon the door. Wonder of wonders, ho so far neglected his duty; as to march out with the mite into .-•tho'; snowy streets; so far forgot '- the dignity' of Silas Fothergill as to teach borrow.;,to! slide, in a quiet street; was boastful, too, about, what he had done himself in that-direction as. a hoy. Tho bluo slips of paper'folded in the breast pocket of Silas Fothergill's co'aV were", like leaden weights; he wished with,all his heart that he had < never been foolish enough to take this business upon his own shoulders. I don't think he would havo broken, down in his resolution, oven under, the influence of what ho had seen in that quiot homo, had it not been for the child. Tho hearing of her name over and over again was an acute reminder of the past, and of tho woman he'hal loved; moreover, ho had.an absurd delight in the thought that tho child had taken, to hi In. If he injured Godfrey Fothergill and his wife, as he must- injure them, he hurt,tho baby; and that was something not. to be thought of. He had various, plans in his mind as ;to what ho should do; how - lie would go away ,• and put this business into other hands; .how. ho would, 'in characteristic fashion, brutally de-j claro himself and state his errand, and demand that tho good monoy he had paid for those slips of bluo paper..should be:restored to him.' But always the'child, the.v.had so mistakenly named Prudence stood hi his way; always ho felt hor arms:about his neck, and her soft cheek against his own. . v, • Thoro was another party of a modest character on that Christmas Day; and onco again tho broker's man'was introduced'as. IJncle Silas. When, 'at tho- end of it, the- people had gone out into the snowy streets, Godfrey and liis wife knew jn a senso 'that: this; was the end of the respito; that they must : face realities. But Silas Fothergill by that, tim? had made up. his mind';, and. Silas Fothergill said the surprising thing that ho had determined to say. With the'characteristic cow-' ardico fif the man hell row the child to him, and spoke the words he. had to say oyer, her head. "' " .

"I'm not- a brokor's man at all,''-ho'said. "I'm tho real unadulterated Unclo Silas;'and I've boon playing tho spy upon you' r f6iv;,the past two days in order to discover what sort of pooplo you wore. I've got''your.promissory notes, and < all 1 ' tiie other. 'paper- yoii'vo been living on; now, :'what have. yoii! got, to say to me?".' _ • ; a Godfrey Fothergill was breaking out indignantly enough when the old man.stopped ■■him. with a gesture. haven't finished vet ; it'a this baby'that's going ;to. finish; the gamp, for 1110. More years ago than- ; I/care to count I had dreams of another , Prudence, who was nevor to bo mine; perhaps the loss,, of her soured and embittered; mo." His bout, so that his grey ; hair mingled with the fair hair of the child.,J "Whatever I might have done to hurt you .or i. your. wife',. I couldn't have dona-to-hurt a ;litt|e -person that bears the name of the woman,l loved-so long ago. I want to see. more of.that.littlo porson, in tho better "days that'are coming; but first she's got to do' Something for me;"/Amid a curious silence: the: old man drew the slips of blue .paperJ from his pocket'and rolled them loosely, into,a bundle;, die put thorn into tho littlo" hands- of"; the. child. "We'll have a Christmas blazo; little .Prudence—to warm our' hearts a bit. Go and throw them on the fire." The child tossed tHem into the flames, and clapped her hands as tlie.v blazed and dropped away into ashes. And'in-tho most surprising fashion Silas FotheiSgill' clapped his hands too. Vii'Y'-