Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-10-08

rgors of fortune. Our lamentations however took the
turn they usually take among companions whose age
does not exceed twenty years.
And l." said Albert, +" have finished a work which
would create my reputation, could publisher only be
met with willing to undertake the expenses of print
ing"
Il have asked principal" added l. to increase
my salary after four years of asdOus service and he
answered that of such clerks he could find as many as
he wished for six hundred francs year.
My dear fellows, interrupted George although we
neither the the other any hope of ever ma
KING fortune, could we not get the credit of being
rich ??
:" To what gOod?' asked l.
1t gives position in the world a large nheri-
tance augments the consideration in which we are held
everything becomes easy.
:" remember, was my answer, /" having heard in my
childhood OF a cousin who went tO Jamaica Marti-
nlque, and never returned
That is just what want we will bring this cous-
IN to life, or rather will kill him. Yes, Jaqnes Ne
ldn died at Martinique, leaving sugar plantation, fifty
slaves IN short fortune valued at two millions of
francs all to his dear cousin, Louis Meran from attach
ment to the name"
We laughed heartily at the joke, of which I thought
no more but my two reckless friends George and AL
bert spread abroad the tale when we broke up with all
the seriousness Imaginable
The next day people came to compliment me- 1t will,
of course be understood that disavowed all cause but
would believe me- my two friends had affirmed
the truth of the report In vain did assert that it
all a joke. Many remembered my cousin Jaques, some
had actually seen him embark at Nantes in 1889 A
mOng the number OF these visits not the most
agreeable. With the whm of young man, had some
time previously ordered rockcoat in the fashion,
without having the means of payment the garment was
out, and yet owed half the BILL There had been
for some time GOODNESS between my creditor and my
SELF whose opportunities wished to avoid The rumOr
of the legacy made him hasten to find me. Such was
the penalty paid for the foolish pleasantly of my
friends
Good day, Monsieur Matthew said |, with some
embarl assment you are come for the fifty lancs ?"
Does monsieur imagine that | am thinking of such
trihe? No, it was for the mourning
"What mourning? q
The mourning for your cousin, monsieur and mour-
ming of an heir-at-IaW. Without doubt you want a
complete suit
AT this time, Monsieur Matthew it would be I'M
possible"
&" hope monsieur does not think of withdrawing his
avOrs from Coat vest, and pantaoOns black frOck
of dark bronze for the mourning
Il tell you agaii | have not yet received -
|. entreat monsieur not to speak OF money; it will
come enough, added the tailor, who had already
taken out his scissors and passed his round my
waist.
was in truth, in great want of Clothes and permit
ted him to continue 10 he gone than another
individual entered, who Immediately began.
My dear monsieur, you must do me great service
Buy my house. You rich very rich, you want real
TlLy francs are nOtlllp yOl only
the half Of your income and at present am in urgent
want of money. | expected Monsieur Felix to buy it.
but he does not decide and have pressing engagements
! to SETTLE
;" buy your house? what folly"
{" 1t is folly 1t is a safe Investment. After some
repairs, in two years it will be worth double. | have
your word" and he left without giving time to reply
SO well did lie propagate report of my purchase that
in two hours afterward Monsieur Felix come to me ir
a great hurry, apparently out of humor
You have cut the grass from under my feet, mon
seur, on entering cannot dO without that house, and
thought it was already mnc as | had made an offer o.
forty-nnc thousand francs, believing that the
would surely come to my terms. But there is hope
Of starving you into agreement so, without further
preamble to offer you advance of fifteen thou
sand francs upon your bargain"
Fifteen thousand francs coming, | knew not how to
me who had so much trouble in earning my eight hun
dred francs of salary clerk to the registry of the courts
of law. Although but little acquainted with business
saw the advantage to be derived from my position and
replied
at this moment, return at five o'clock meantime
/ | will consider the matter
At quarter before the appointed hour, Monsieur
Felix was again at my door
Monsieur said l. L" | had no wish for that house
and did not think about it, when the proprietor
came to beg to purchase it and it appears that the
house is mine. AS it suits you, and any other will
do as we'll !ol me, accept your offer
You shall be paid in a fortnight i'll paper on Paris,
exclaimed the purchaser, delighted with my promptitudt
| in business.
Paper on Paris / was so little accustomed to that
CURRENCY as to imagine that it would be necessary osenC
to the capital for payment and therefore wrote to com
mercial house, the only whose address knew, as
from that received regularly annuity OF five hundred
francs left by of my unces, and which formed
welcome portion OF my income.
With what impatience | waited the expiration of the
~ 7 tO
that having certain funds to invest begged their ad
vice to the safest mode. 1t appears that the words
certain funds have very different acceptations il
commerce. according to the and position OF hin
who uses them The of my inheritance must have
reached Paris. Certain funds, situated as was
modest manner Of specifying considerable at eas
supposed so, receiving in answer from the firm tina
my letter had been received just before the close of h
Cortes loan in which they had purchased to the amour
of twenty thousand dollars that, If | thought it too
much a large profit might be Immediately realized al
the stock had gone up postscript, in the hand of th
principal congratulated me my accession OF fortune
i Twenty thousand dollars! The letter fell from my
hands the amount frightened me. wrote instantly tt
my correspondents informing them that so .arge sun
went beyond my means; adding that remittance
having been received from Martinique, they supposed
unable to satisfy their claims.
i The answer came in day or two, stating that
did not appear to have confidence IN the COrtes loan
they had sold out my stock at profit of eighty thou
sand francs and begged me not to feel uneasy re
m1tances were always slow in coming from the dstan
plantations in the interim, my signature would iurns
me with all the money | could want. The prospectu
of German bank inclOsed, to which fifty share
had been subscribed for me.
Eighty thousand francs. Either l understood notl
ing Of commercial matters, the clerk had written on
or two naughts too many. My situation became Ell
barrassine was overwhelmed with congratulaton
especially when put on my suit of black. Tn
editor Of the newspaper thought himself obliged to civ
biography of my cousin Jaques, and asked me for az
ditional particulars. | was beseged with annoyn
- T., ,rbo+ uyov uould I furnish my hOnSn