St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-24

an Unexpectedly good night. After had
breakfasted, therefore, when he once more
required to the subject which seemed to be
uppermost in his mind, permitted him to
| talk, but implOred him to control himself
as much as possible, and not to overtax his
strength.
What he told me was in substance as fol-
lows. | made exhaustive notes OF it as
soon as | left his room, and am confident
that have succeeded in recalling many OF
Sir James actual phrases. 1t made a very
powerful impression upon me, and do not
doubt that it will equally excite the interest
and sympathy of the reader. The names
| alone are altered:
81 was bOrn," he said, ''in London in
1912, My father was the rector OF st.
IS; and after putting me to good
school he sent me to Cambridge. l took
my degree in 1888, and they went to the BAR
My chief friend, both at Cambridge and at
the Inner Temple, was Horace Raven, a
young man who possessed astonishing abil-
ity, remarkably good looks great ambition,
and the prospect OF succeeding to a large
fortune and to one OF the oldest English
barOnetcies. In all these respects he was,
| need scarcely say, my superior. | was a
poor man; l had only my energies to de-
pend upon; and | mad no influential rela-
tives no near relatives indeed of any kind
except my father. | being an only child, and
my mother having died during my infancy.
AT the bar | was, for yOungster, fairly
successful. Raven and / had chambers to-
gether; we had our law-boOkS in cOmm0n;
and we We're ON such terms of friendship
that we were known on our staircase as
the Brothers, For some years | lived a
very happy life. | made enough to enable
myself to live in tolerable comfort; and in
time indeed felt myself to be justified in
looking out for wife.
''One evening Raven and went to ball
at Lady DIS. We there met Miss Mary
Bagster, young girl of surprising beauty;
and before the night was spent we had both
as L had learned subsequently, in
love with her. Her father, like mine, was
poor clergyman. | had but little difficulty
in establishing myself upon footing OF in
timacy with her family; and often when L
visited them, Raven accompanied me-.
Mary. though she was, as l have said, in
eXpressibly lovely, was of somewhat cold
disposition. She was unenthusiaStic and
Self-contained to an unusual degree; and
yet. in her way, she was ambitious. She
desired to marry man who would make
his way in the world; and it was only after
some very flattering hints about ME and my
ability had been let drop in her presence by
her father, who evidently favored me, that
she consented to become my wife. Raven
was not at Mr.. BagSter'S house on that event
full evening. Next morning when l met
him at our chambers, l told him of what had
occurred. He changed cOlOr-whch at the
time [ attributed to the strength OF his
friendship for me-and then congratulated
me in a somewhat eXtravagant manner.
"'When are you going to be marriede' he
asked
- 'Soon,' replied. There is no reason
why we should delay. l could wish that
were little better off; but our misfortune
in that respect will, trust, disappear in
course of time. AS it is, we shall, think,
be able to do pretty WE'LL
g 4 wish you joyn said Raven, as he rose
to go into the chancellor's court, where he
had brief that morning.
II had then no idea that he also loved
Mary Bagster, and that he had determined,
even at that late hour, it not to wrench her
from me for himself, at least to prevent me
marrying her. His conduct toward me re-
manned, so far as 1 could see, exactly what
it had been previous to my engagement. He
was genial and friendly, appeared to take
an absorbing interest in all my plans for
the future, and actually accompanied me to
Brunswick square to look over a house
which was to be let and which l thought Of
taking and furnishing. found that the
place would be rather beyond my means,
and regretfully told him so.
Never mind, Jack, he said; you will
find something better perhaps. But l GER
tainly should like you to have the house.
TI,nr-
over the fire. 'Jackr he said suddenly,
we are old friends, and l want to give you
handsome wedding present.
'.He had, should explain, recently sue
ceeded to the baronetcy and the estates, and
was now rich man.
You are very good I answered.
Anything that you may give us will be
valued not merely for itself, but for the sake
of the giver.'
"'We have been in chambers together, he
resumed, for more than seven years I
shan't like losing your company; for of
course / shall be robbed of good deal of it
now. Be plain with me, Jack. Would not
money be more useful to you than mere
present? 1t usually is acceptable, I believe
in these cases.
81 thanked him feelingly for his fore
thought. TT would be particularly well
come 1 said. Without another word,
he drew his chair to the table, took his
check-book from drawer, and filed in a
draft. which, after he had carefully ex-
amined. he handed to me.
II took it and gazed at it with astonish-
ment-it was for thousand pounds! My
dear Raven gasped, forI was overcome
by this act of apparent and totally unex-
pected generosity, it is too much; it is too
good of you. cannot think of it,
"'You know that / can well afford it, he
said curly. 4 insist upon your taking it.
If you refuse we can no longer remain on
terms of friendship
" Nay, Raven cried, while my heart
seemed to rise to my throat. DO not misun-
derstand me. This is noble of you. I thank
hut