“Gone a Walker.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 179, 7 August 1888, Page 3

“Gone a Walker.”

A ROMANCE WITHOUT A WOMAN AT THE BOTTOM OF IT. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND OR BARBER CUTTING BARBER. Gisborne is not as big a city as London, nor as small as Ormond, but it generally manages to knock along fairly well. When we have got nothing worse to do there is our break, water to talk about, and when we have nothing better it is always possible to vamp up a few nice little stories and generally to improve on the prosy tittle-tattle which is inseparable from any community that can boast a population of two women and a man—stories which may be increased in volume just according to the number of hands it may pass through.

But last week there was was a real live romance performed—a romance which would have afforded Dickens material for a novel of the first order. No other author could have made anything of it because there was no woman at the bottom of it. Nor could it really be said that money—the other root of evil—had anything to do with it, though it must be admitted that the want of money had a great deal to do with the strange develop.ment to which allusion is herein to be made. There was a time when Gisborne had not the fortune, or misfortune, to possess more than one firm which undertook the dispensation of the tonsorial art. There were also in a more highly favored city two well disposed young men who were not above helping any other poor devils provided they elevated themselves in equal proportion. Learning that in Gisborne many of the gay young mashers were unable to look their best girls in the face or brave the bright Sabbath sun, because the soft down had become ragged on their cheeks and their locks had assumed a dishevelled appearance—being the sad result of a scarcity of tonsorial artists or an inability to supply the necessary coin—our two heroes thoughtfully came to the rescue. They arrived in due course, and set about their preparations with so much expedition and despatch that on the following Saturday everything was complete and in readiness for the comfort and “titivation” of all and sundry. It is a sufficient guarantee that the site of business was a respectable one whan it is stated that it was not many yards from the the Standard office.

Our heroes may be distinguished as Wilty and Arry. Wilty was a poetic-looking young man, with an intelligent though somewhat narrow forehead, and the bump of self-esteem much better developed than was his corporation. His hair and complexion were dark, but there was a tenderness and timidity about his whole bearing. He was just one of that kind after whom the ladies might be expected to pine, and one who would not fail to reciprocate the passion. Arry was of the jolly sort, with a twinkling eye and a ruddy countenance that betokened the best of tempers until he was " riled.” and then be could be as obstinate as a tough steak is to a man without teeth, Well, we can skip much that follows, beyond noting that there was no further excuse for neglecting the shaving or hair dressing processes, and as a natural consequence the Sundays-out could be availed of to the best advantage. Wilty conducted the tonsorial business, and Arry filled in his spare time in ministering to the physical requirements of the community—he was in fact a knight of the cleaver, though he was not too proud to carry round the basket. Time rolled on and a gentleman with a speculative turn of mind made an offer for the business, at the same time agreeing to keep Wilty on at wages. The offer was made and the'money paid, but when later on it came to signing the legal document Wilty refused to do so, and contrary to arrangement started again in another portion of the town, in a shop which had been specially painted and done up for his reception. An unanticipated circumstance arose at this point. The person who had bought out the previous business found that the former tenant had left a small item for rent still unpaid, and the landlord, in his desire to have his rights, did not in the first instance discriminate between the property of the new tenant and the scarcity of the belongings of the first tenant. But explanations followed, and the landlord was satisfied so far as the then tenant was concerned, though not so as regards his own pocket. Arry stuck to the cleaver, and Wilty continued the practice of his profession with surroundings on a magnificent scale. Pressure from different quarters induced Arry to consider whether a change of air would not be beneficial for his constitution, and finally resolved upon this when he became aware that there was a possibility of his erstwhile partner dropping him in for rent and sundry other items which he did not feel inclined, nor did he think he was entitled to pay. He announced hie determination to a few friends who sympathised with him and were of opinion that he was being had by his former partner.

So he decided to do a walker on Friday last, and was all ready, just waiting for the Snark to steam off. Strange to say Wilty was observed rushing down the back read just at the last moment, and a new and mysterious interest was added to the affair. Wilty seemed rather surprised to see so many of bis old acquaintences on the wharf, but there was no time to delay and he went on board the launch. In reply to an enquiry he said he was just going out to the steamer. Still there was mystery and Arry’s friends could not make it out. Each other’s movements were watched until the launch was about to return, when here was a pretty go : it transpired that Wilky was off on a walker too 1 When one of Arry’s friends—one of the jovial sort—heard this, it struck him that Wilty had on an overcoat of his which he had forgotten to pay for. So he laughingly slipped it off and made a present of it to Arry, who was then Wilty’s greatest enemy. But they have gone—they have hade their farewell to Gisborne, leaving at least a few in whose memory they will hold a place for a period, if it is only for the mockery that will be made of the latter’s misfortune. It was expected that when the boat reached Napier on Saturday the police flag would be up, and information received of a dreadful tragedy on board. Perhaps the old partners shook hands and had a good laugh over it when they got fair on the ocean blue, but the best news that has since been heard is no news. Arry seems to have been more sinned against than sinning.