The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-23

than sufficient means to keep up appear
ances withal. Sand why shouldn't he
have it? was my next inspiration; and
with that ! sat down in a chair to think
it over.
If were skilled in that sort of thing,
dare say might write a very interest
ing passage here. But since | anu not, l,
will tell you the upshot of my medita-i
.tions in the fewest words possible. /
made over my bequest to Floyd, arrang-
ing matters in such way that he should
be under the impression that it came to-
him direct from the testator, withoutmy
intervention. said nothing about what
/ had done either to our own business
agents, Messrs. Frisby and Faust, OF to
my father, who was not in condition to
hear anything yet. Everything being
settled, and my father appearing to be
on the mending hand, l went back to
Cambridge, and dropped in quietly at
Floyd's rooms.
The dear old boy was in great spirits,
though, as his manner was, he showed
little of it on the surface; but he toldme
what had happened, and I congratulated
him with an artful assumption of sur
prise.
He was going to start for America in a
month, and "run" his estate himself,
leaving his father and sister in England.
"That sort Of life wouldn't do for
them, you know" said he, leaning back
against the mantelpiece and putting his
hands in his pockets. ''But it'll suit me
first-rate; ! rather guess I'll make just
about the everlastingest tip-top planter
ever you see! Of course" he added in
his usual tone, "the governor and sis will
come in for their full share of the plum
der all the same; mean to settle a hun
dred thousand sterling on her the first
thing"
We talked together till the small hours
Of the morning, and I must say I never
enjoyed an evening SO much in my life.
Floyd was just the fellow to be rich. and
| had the good luck to make him So
without his being aware of it.
At last we shook hands and said good.
night, little thinking that we were not to.
meet again.
But the next morning came the tele-I
gram announcing my fathers death. /
went home by the next train. After the
funeral came the crash. Old Mr.. Fris-
by, the senior partner of the firm Of our
agents, came to me in pitiable state Of
shame and anguish, with the news that
Faust had stolen nearly the whole of my
fortune, and had ahsconded none knew
whittier. If Irealized what was left, it
would amount to barely eight thousand
pounds. In other words, instead of being
heir to twelve thousand a year, must
content myself with about two hundred
and fifty.
I took pains to keep Floyd from any
knowledge of my sudden poverty, be-
cause, especially should it ever chance to
leak out that his estate was present
from me, / knew well enough what his
generous heart would prompt him to do.
So let him sail for the New World
without seeing me again. He remained
on that side Of the Atlantic; and after
writing me one letter, which, upon re-
flection, thought it best not to answer,
we became lost to each other, SO far as
any communication was concerned.
Nevertheless, always thought of him as
my dear and only friend, and I never
doubted that was as dear to him as he
to me.
I may as we'll add, lest I should ac-
guire reputation for generosity which
| wasfar from deserving, that my changed
fortunes troubled ME very little. In
fact, rather enjoyed the new order of
things. I had always fancied l could
paint pictures, and cherished secret
ambition to live by my brush. Here,
then, was my opportunity.
/ went on the Continent; became
student of the QUARTER Latin in Paris;
wandered thence to Italy, and so, after
several years of careless Bohemian ex-
istence, I found myself at length in Dres-
den. 1 hired part Of small third etage
on the Bautznerstrasse, set up my easel,
and divided my time between that, the
gallery, and the music gardens.
For six months all went we'll; then
happened the event whereof / am now to
write, and which threatened to upset my
plans, my ambition, my self-respect and
my peace Of mind. And now, my di-
gressions having run themselves out, 1
can no longer put off recounting the NOR
tifying particulars. s-
Really, now I am in for It, there seems
to be next to nothing to tell. / had left
my rooms, as usual, about half-past two
in the afternoon, and passing through
the Naustadt, Icrossed the old bridge,
and entered the Altssadt by way of the
Georgen Thor. AT the window of the
Porzellan-Fabrik l stopped to look at a
beautiful painted vase which was on ex-
hibition within.
While I was standing there, a lady
and gentleman passed, and the lady,
catching sight Of the vase, made her
companion pause while she examined
it. I knew that this was occurring,
though | did not turn my head to look.
Butas was about to withdraw, / hap
pened to see the dim reflection Of the
lady's face in the broad pane of the win
dow. 1t struck me with being face
with which was familiar. I turned,
.ul L. - ,xnoo,a -l.oaoI 81