Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-06-17


IN the soft iron when the Isar magnet
whispers its nearness. Why should the
human heart be less natural than the
seeda Why less responsive than the
ironf
A block too soon for the swift-a
block too late for the sloW-and this
history had never been written. But
their lives crossed where their paths
did. Too swift or too slow seemed prob.
able enough forAthe lives of any two
paths crossed IN that city that morning
was probable enough in any other
cAses-hut was impossible for these two
men There is such a thing as Fate.
Bladsley in his headlong rush nearly
overturned . stout gentleman Just at .
street corner, made apology without
fairly halsing, paused-and an instant
later two hands were clasped with q
warmth that melted the ice of twenty
years silence in . moment
Charley. Charley Where on earth
did you rush from ?"
"Dear old Andrew Who would ever
have dreamed of knocking ron over in
my walk this mornirg2"
Bladeley had to attend to business !;
Stone had no business to attend to. So
Stone went with Bladeley, making the
latter gentleman LATER with several bus
mess engagements than he had been
before for years. They talked over by
gone times with all the zsst and enthu-
siasm of bygOne yOuth-and Bladeley
smoked more cigars than his economical
habits had ever allowed him before in
any one day, and bstte- ones than he
had ever used.
Stone said he corld give his friend .
weeks time anywhere and IN any way as
well IS not. while BladeIey couldn't af-
ford to lose train. So it was arranged
that they should go East together in the
morning. instead of Stone going West.
They dined together-Bladely always
in hurry, Stone always slow. Stone
submitted, with protest. to bsing hur-
ried during the afternoon when assured
that they could have the entire evening
together only on the condition that
Bladeley was allowed to rush his busi-
ness frst.
81 rushed enough when I was
younger" complained Stone. "Pve
been getting slower and slower for ten
years past What . breezy fellow yon
are. BlsdeleyI"
It was . most unevsntful evening
which they spsnttOgsthsE. Stone told the
story Of his life. or thought he did. and
doubtless told il Is completely e any
one could have done under the circum-
stances BIadeley was 70 tall his the
next evening IN another city couple Of
hundred Of miles east, where business
called the business man of the two
They commenced VherA sls Old-tims
acquaintance left of. with Stones last
letter which Bladeley had bnttoned mp
in his breast pocket. 81
"Where was I when / wrote last? In
California prospecting for gold? Or had
I gone to Me1ico on that railroad
snhens2 Or hadn't I got bask from my
trip after furs mp near the Arctic Ocean
in British America ?"
Bladeley took the letter, thick one.
fro.s his pocket. aud opened il Twenty
four hours before. he couldn't have said
positively just what venture his friend
was engaged in when the letter was
written; he hal made money in half =
dozen curious enterprises before that
time. Tonight with the memory Of il
fresh in his mind from the morning
reading Of it. BlAdeley started Stone of
at the right point at once and the letter
vas not read that evening.
A half hour after he had taken il from
his pocket Blaieley put it back. bat
the last page lvrittep on an odd half
sheetl hat,srei 70 the door unnO-
tieed BY either.
Stones life had bssn IN eventfulone.
Canada and California and Mexico had
not been his only fields Of fortune. he
bad travelled and traded in SOuth
Aneriea. in Rassia. in India, in China.
"I never pat ny hands to anything
thai wasn't > snccess." he sAid. "T
navsr ulannad = sehsr,,a that dfdn't ro