The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-02-21

D within his grasp, but he cndeavorcd to col
ceal his impressions.
r "On sitting down to the table he file
his glass and gave as the toast, :" To ou
! mountains in Morvan."
The lawyer scarcely seemed to understan
what he meant.
g am worth a million, Conrad" said ht
q almost guessed as much," answere
the artist "Wel!, | should be most happ
to hear it, were it not that it seems to b
purchased at the expense of health an
youth"
: Then, fearing he had spoken little to-
plainly, he added, in gcnter tone;
You know, Tancred, ever since VIC re
turned from the pond of Vary; you hay
treated me as a visionary, because am salts
lied with quiet happiness. Now. you MUS
know that 1t is you who are Visionary
W hat are you the better for this million
DO you llycs NO-not more than 4 biocl
OF stone. The seasons go By without you
noticing them-your life is worse than
galley siave-you never knew what it wa:
TO love? have known you brisk, healthy
vigorous and ruddy, and now you are hast
ening to premature old age; and no wonder
when you rob both meals and sleep to gaiI
time to add few more piles Of gold to you,
vast fortune. Your hair is streaked witt
silver threads, you never smile, you wear
iiannel, let the weather be ever so fine, anc
/ all this to be able to say, am worth mil
/ lion -"
/ Then, to soften the hsrshness Of his stric-
/ lures, he said in a tone Of real concern:
! "Now, do listen to me, Tancred Ny
little cottage is become comfortable house,
and have purchaeed the surrounding land,
d xs~..T- Il ,rr,- ~, 49,
park. We are surrounded with all the lux
uries Of Il Partisan life Besides which, we
have delicious milk and vegetables, and
plenty Of Sanccrre vine, which is especially
rcyiving 10 inyalifs"
And what of all this:" said the lawyer
Why, now that you are in possession Of
this coveted million do throw of that nasty
black gown that consumes the wearcr ike
DCjamra's tuuic, and in six months time
You viii be once more the hale and hearty
man you were when We returned TO Paris. "
"Fiddc-de-dce :" said Tamcred; "none Of
your idols for me. What makes you fancy
am i'll? Why, | ara the most active Of all
my brother lawyers. | shall not lose my
time in drinking ass rH.ik-not I! besides,
the million | loHgcd for year ago is no
longer sufficient for my wants.
How so:" cried Conrad. half stupefed
, "WLy, you know | have two chldren-
u boy and giIl. | must have money 10
launch my son in the world, and a marriage
portion FOR my daughter, and something for
myself % you see that must 90 on work
ing. In three years | shall have accom-
p.IShed my tasl-our children will then be
worth a million between them, and the other
million viii be for Us. | shall not rest til
then
Seeing him so resoute, Conrad attempted
no further remOnstranCe; but he thought,
as they parted, that their annual meeting
would become moresdili -ult to keep. Nor
he mistaken.
y few days before the 3lst Of October, lie
received letter, IN which his friend blgg,
him 10 postpone their friendly meeting TO
another time. Tancred said he was over
whcliaed IN business, but trusted they
would meet at the beginning Of winter.
The winter passed, and not 4 word was
said about this meeting. The two other sea
sons followed, but without bringing Tancrcd.
The 3lSt of October brought Conrad a
iotte'~ - guess it's eonsout=-' rzid liie art
isl, even before lie had broken the seal
Iancryd wrote to say that over and above
bic usual occupations, he was canyassing TO
.e elected member of the Chamber Of
Deputies, which obliged hin 10 postpone
their meeting.
- ain afraid the 3I>t Of Octojer viii be
struck out of the calendar" saii Conrad to
himself. = However, let Is see SHAT next
year brings
This time the lawyer came to the meeting
in his carriage.
Great changes take place in Paris in the
space OF three years. IaHcfeI was row an
important parsonage. lie lad been elected
senior advocate second time, hc was a
member Of the Chamber oi Deputies, and
was, in short, one of the fifteen or twenty
men of the day. who concentrated the attcn-
ton OF the puOlic on themselves.
al suppose you VIII soon be minister
said the artist, after they had taken their
seats.
II prefer my Office to the cabinet" an
swcred Tancred. " because it brings me in
at least two hundred thousand francs per
apnuia."
DO you still think So much of money :"
asked Conrad.
How can one do otherwise? 1t is the
sinew of modern life. Besides, 1 have en-
largcd my views
" cannot congratulate you on that score"
al thought Il couple OF millions would
have done, but | see must have three
one for each of my children, and one for
myself"
Meanwhile, Conrad was rcmarking to
himself how greatly his friend was aged
since last they met Nor were the symp-
toms of decay confined to the mere surface
you could see that it was undermining the
vital springs Of the human machine. lie
who could formerly hold forth without an
effort during three consecutive hours, now
spoke with a painful degree Of slowncSs.
His gestures were languid, and his eyes
scarcely ever flashed as heretofore.
"Do You persist in gaining these three
millions" resumed Conrad.
1t would be folly to give over, with the
influence now possess. 1T Will be out the
work OF three yearS-a mere tTiilc.
You call three years trifie!" muttered
the artist, when we are none of US sure of
the morrow. Aasl poor madman, you will
never learn to enjoy li!e.'
They parted, each saying t. himself-"I
don't think we shall ever hold our October
meetings again"
y year aud half afterwards, Conrad was
sauntering through the Tuilleries, when he
met his friend in the sunny spot called Pc
titc Provence, where children play, and men
come 20 seek the warmth. Tancred was
pale, and disease seemed to have made
fearful havoc in his system. lie kept lean
ing every now and then against the horse
cheStnuts as he crawlcd along.
81 have come hither to enjoy the sum-"
said he to Conrad. The artist tfered him
his arm in friendly manner.
II completed my three millions yester-
day." said the lawyer, adding that his health
had been so injured by sitting up at night,
that his doctor had ordered hin to spend the
winter in Italy.
We all know what that means in the case
Of an invalid.
Six months after, letter sealed with black
brought Conrad news that Tancred had died
at Pisa, of a brain fever, combined with Il
disease of the larynX.