Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS. 405
CHAPTER XL.
THE ATTTOBIOGRAPHY OF "WILL BRYAJS'.
"You know," Will began, "what made me leave home. I
can tell you in two words — high stomach. I who had been in
the habit of holding my head so proudly, who used to drive
like fury through the streets, who had acted the gallant with
the girls there ! No, I couldn't bear the disgrace of my father's
liquidation. I had a little money put by, but not enough to
emigrate on ; so I made for this -big town, thinking I'd hit upon
a job in three or four hours. But, after coming here and seeing
all the people, I felt lonely and disheartened. I was afraid to
ask for a job because I hadn't learnt to do anything except
drive. I knocked about until I had finished my money and
then — you'd never believe the difference there is between a high
stomach and an empty one. For some days before my money
gave out, I had been mooning around the stables picking up
stray bits of information, because I saw it was to that it must
come. You know I wasn't quite in rags, and perhaps there
was a little too much swagger in me ; so, at first, the cabbies
used to touch their hats to me, as if I was somebody ; which, to
tell the truth, I was sorry to see. It went to my heart to be
obliged to sell the watch-guard mother gave me when I was
eighteen. But what was I to do ? I kept on going to the
stables, and I fancy the cabbies must have thought me some
gentleman's son who had quarrelled with his father — they were
so awfully respectful to me. They had spotted I was hard up,
and they used to quarrel as to who should stand me a glass ;
thinking, I should imagine, it would be nothing to see me,
some day, after I had squared it with my father, throwing
them a five pound note. That was all right ; for why should
I tell them my history ? I pawned my overcoat. By this time
I had made chums with the owner of stables, horses and
all. He would shake hands with me and, on the quiet, try to
pump me as to my antecedents. But Will was too deep for
him ; and continued to be a great mystery. One day — I think
it must have been the day I took my watch to my uncle's— I