Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-12-21

were absolutely pcnniless, n would not
make shadow of difference with me
| have enough for both of us"
Il know that is what your gencrou.
: Nheart would suggest, my darling e. re-
piled her lover, with deep emotion
But the prevailing sentiment of this
world is of a very different character
Already sly intimations have come u
me to the effect that the loss of my
fortune would not be very serious
affair to me, since | have n rich wife
in prospect, which was shrewd enough
to secure in time"
Let these ungcncrous insinuations
pass for nothing, Edgar" said Clara.
with quiet dignity. "You know they
have no power to touch my mind for
an instant"
Il have been thinking this matter
over great deal lately, Clara" said
Edgar, pressing the little hand he was
holding. "And while have not the
remotsst thought of ever disrcgarding
my engagement, believe it is better
for us to wait few years and let me
endeayor to repair my fortune, with
out anticipating any portion of yours.
You are now only nineteen and
twenty-threc we will be young yet for
some years. will direct my energies
to this work. will take hold of the
manufacturing business my father left,
adapt myself to it and make that the
use of my life instead of the profession
to which | had been expecting TO de-
vote it. | must be "A business man, and
l will try to be useful and successful
one"
More conversation followed, which
we have not space to detail here, dur
ing which, however, Clara questioned
her lover with much interest in regard
to the condition and character of the
property he was cndeavoring to save ;
and they parted at last, more firmly
bound, so far as related TO their future
hopes and expectations, than ever. It
had been agreed that their marriage
| should not be deferred beyond Claras
twenty-third birthday, unless by her
own desire, which he felt certain
would not be entertained or expressed
She stood looking after her lover until
he had passed from view. then waited
a kiss after him from the tips of her
pretty fingers, and returning 10 her
room opened her writing-desk and be
gan to inditc a letter, with an expires
sion upon her bright face Of mingled
archness and resolution.
Two days later. while Edgar Wa
seated in the nSiyate Office at the fac-
tory with pile Of books and papers
before him, which he WAS cndeavoring
to bring into some order, visitor was
announced, and the next moment he
was clasping the hand Of Mr. Blanch-
ard an old and well-known friend Of
his father.
After a few preliminary remarks,
expressive Of his deep regret at the
sudden death Of Mr. Alison, the visitor
said:
81 have been talking little in re-
gard to your affairs. Edgar, with the
/ lawyers who have the management of
! your business. not, Of course. learning
anything from them except what I felt
certain you would be perfectly willing
to have me know. They tell me that
the business is by no means in a hope.
I less condition. There is considerable
amount of real estate that can be saved,
understand, by paying off cncum-
brances on it, and l believe you also
hold some two or three patents, sup
posed to be available and valuable in
the manufacture of articles to which
the factory is adapted, and for which.
/ with lttle capltal 10 bTlng them out,
there would probably be an extensive
| demand"
"All that Is sor' said the young man,
who had been listening TO his visitor
with peculiar interest. "But. single
handed, am virtually powerless; and
the wide prevalence of business failures
has rendered it impossible for me to
procure aid that might otherwise have
obtained"
81 have no capital continued Mr..
Blanchard, that it would be right for
me TO put in jeopardy. The most of
my property is in real estate. on which.
however. could borrow, l suppose,
for term Of years, and at moderate
/ interest an rnurh M vott xsot,id ha Ill olt,