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

put my name to note which I couldn't
pay when due, to a check that wasn't
promptly honored, or to anything
whatever-important or unimportant-
that didn't prove true. When I've ex-
pressed opinions, facts have borne them
out; when I've imposed conditions,
circumstances have SHOWN them true
and correct; when have made predic-
tions. the future has made them true.
Bladeley. I am worth more than mill
hon dollars." ,,f .Y4'
Did the reader ever meet an old friend
and talk for hours. to part later and find
how much had been said, and yet how
little? In his chamber that evening
Bladeley thought of Thousand ques-
tions he should ask his friend on the
morrow. He had met man who. slow
though he was, had been almost every
where, and who would think no more Of
a journey from London to China than
many man would of a ride of compile
of hundred miles by rail. Where was
his home? What was he doing here !?
Where had he intended to go next? And
while Bladeley's last drowsy thought was
rs to what he would ask, Stone was
drifting into dreamland with his mind
full of what he would tell next day.
"The story was only a poor Frame
work after all. I'll fill it in tomorrow. I"
And sleep came. .sls
The train went early. Stone was in
the habit Of rising late. Bladeley had
been wslking nervously up and down
the sidewalk in front OF the hotel for a
half hour before his friend appeared.
They were too late for breakfast; they
were too late to walk to the train; they
might fail to reach it even by hack, for
it was nearly two miles from the hotel
to the station. Stone talked almost in
cessantly all the way. The train was in
sight when they arrived, and Stone was
just concluding
"Ihave as large fortune as I wish !;
more isn't worth trying for. I neglected
to tell you last night that I have the
loveliest of women for wife. I've an
elegant home, congenial neighbors.
perfect servants. ] wouldn't say SO to
anyone but you for man with no bus
mess and no ambition would be looked
down on in this rushing age of which you
are type; but I have nothing left to
work fOr-nothing to look forwa-d to-
no desire ungratified." ; w
The hack stopped. No one had
ever called Charley Bladeley super
stitious, but he glanced at his friend
with much the look he might have
given had ghost leered at him over his
friends shoulder. Stone never noticed
it he was slowly and ponderousIy get
ting out Of the carriage. BladeIey,
always in hurry and always nervous.
rushed away 10 attend TO his baggage,
The nervous lines in his face had deep.
ened in the last few minutes stone
Who was never in hurry. and one of
oIs fortunate individp-Is who can
travel anywhere without luggage, set
tied with the hackman, and sSuntered
slowly across the platform. Bladeley
looked up from his talk with the bag
gags-master to follow with q look of
anxious admiration his friend, who was
so entirely his opposite in every respect.
he turned back again, and finished his
business with the agent.
There is always hustle and confusion
at station at train time, bat Bladeley
turned toward the train with his checks
in his hand with the Impression strug-
Cling into prominence in his mind that
the confusion was greater this time tb an
usual. There were hoarse cries and
commands rush forward a shrinking
bask. A fainting woman was helped
toward the waiting.room; . pale man
reeled against tbs wall Of the building.
Bladeley moved forward. Come one
said. "They came together" and thu
crowd silently opened and let him pass
-dazed Is yet to the reason why he
should be given privileges in = city
where he was stranger. Yesterday he
had gone unwittingly to meet his friend
for the FIRST time in twenty years; now
be went to meet him for the last time in