Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-07-24

on,v savs thsnk you,' /" she added. "Before
/ explain myself however, I want TO know
what you have been doing, aud how 1t was |
that my inquiries failed to trace you after
The appearance of depression which Mrs.
Calender had noticed at the public meeting
showed itself again in Mr.. Lismore's face. |
He sighed as he answered her.
"My story has one merit" he said ait Is |
soon told. / cannot wonder that you failed
to discover me. In the first place was not
captain Of my ship at that time; was only |
mate. In the second place Inherited some
money, and ceased to lead sailors life, In
less than year from the night OF the hre |
You will now understand what obstacles |
were in the way of your tracing me. With |
nv little capital L started successfully IN |
business as a shp-owner. At the time l ma
| turally congratulated myself on my own
| good fortune We little know, Mrs Callen- |
| der what the future has in store for u.s.
He stopped. His handsome features har-
dened-as II he was suffering (and conceal
ing) pain. Before it was possible to speak to
| him, there was knock at the door. Another
visitor, without an appointment, had called |
the clerk appeared again, with card and a
| message.
He has something to tell you which is too |
| important to be delayed"
Hearing the message, Mrs. Calender rose
Immediately.
"It is enough for to-day that we under
stand each other" she said. "Have you any
engagement tomorrow, after the hours OF
| business ?"
"None."
She pointed to her card on the writing
| table. "Will you come to me tomorrow
| evening at that address am like the gen
tleman who just called; too have my reason
| for wishing to see you"
| He gladly accepted the invitation. Mrs
Calender stopped him as he opened the
| door for her.
"Shall / offend you," sue said, ''if ask a
strange question before go have better
| m mind
married?
| "No"
"Forgive me again." she resumed, ''at my
age, you cannot possibly understand me ;
| and yet"
She hesitated. Mr.. Lismore tried to give
| her confidence. spray don't stand on cere-
mony, Mrs. Calender. Nothing that you can
| ask me need be prefaced with an apology"
Thus encouraged, she ventured to pro-
! | coed.
"Iou may be engaged to be married ?''
| she suggested. "Or you may be in love ?'
! He found il impossible to conceal his sur
prise, but he answered without hesitation.
"There is no such bright prospect in my
life" he said ~ am not even in love"
She left him with little sigh. Ii sounded
y | like sigh of relief.
Q Ernest Lsmore was thoroughly puzzled.
What could be the old ladys OBJECT in sscer.
tanning that he was still free from matrimo-
nial engagement? If the idea had occurred
| to him in time, he might have alluded to hel
q | domestic life, and might have asked If sh,
Q had children. With a little tact he nigh
n have discovered more than this, She had de
4 | scribed her feeling towards him passing
the ordinary limits of gratitude but she was
y | evidently rich enough TO be above the impu
ie tation of mercenary motive Did she pro
he pose to brighten those dreary prospects tc
II which he bad alluded in speaking of his OWL
lite ? When he presented himself at hei
OF house the next evening, would she introduce
er | him to a charming daughter
rd He smiled as the idea occurred to him
annrnnrlafp N Isa L. inn of my
or chances OF marriage ~ he said to himself
sin another month may be a ruined man.
20 CHAPTER III.
The gentleman who had so urgently re
rt quested an interview was a devoted frie nd
is who had obtained a means of helping Ernes
ey | at serious crisis of his affairs
in | 1t had been truly reported that he was IN
position OF pecuniary embarrassment, owin
Do | to the failure Of mercantile house wit
" | which he had been intimately connected
?' | Whispers affecting his own solvency ha
followed on the bankruptcy of the firm. II
had already endeavored to obtain advance
:. OF money on the usual conditions, and ha
been met 10y excuses for delay. His frien
re- | had now arrived with alciter of introduction
au | to a capitalist, well known in commercia
~ | circles Tor his daring speculstions, and fo
'Se | his great wealth.
81 Looking at the letter, Ernest observed this
.y the envelope was sealed. In spite OF ths
ominous innovation OF established usage, /
=, >, cases Of personal introduction, he presente
i tDe letter. TN tlls occasion he was not pt
OIL with excuses The capitalist fatty d
- clined to discount Mr.. Lismore's bills, III
@'us @ less they were backed by responsible name
~ Ernest made a last effort.
~ ~ | Heapplied for help 20 two mercantile me
''i whom he had assisted in their dticultie
- and whose names would have satisfied I'll
nr' money-lender. They were most sincerel
el' sorry-but they too refused.
TO The one security that he could offer WI
W Wne open, it must be owned, to serious objection
i iie on the score OF risks. He wanted the a
u, vance OF twenty thousand pounds, secure
W ue on homeward.bound ship and cargo. Bt
IS. | the vessel was not insured aud, at thu
i.s stormy season, she was already more than
a. | month overdue. Could grateful colleague
ooh be blamed If they forgot their obligation
ba when they were asked to otter pecuniar
no no help to a merchant in this situation Ernes
a. "A, returned to his office, without money an
he without credit
IL man threatened by ruin is in no state
a. mind to keep an engagement at lady's tel
table. Ernest sent a letter OF apology to Mr.
:; Calender, alleging extreme pressure
IL business as the excuse tor breaking the OF
gagement
"Am i to wait Tor an answer, sir ?" III
so messenger asked.
ho "No; you are merely to leave the letter.
at CHAPTER ~.
ne In an hours time-to Ernest's astonisl
Is ment-the messenger returned with reply
N "The lady was just going out, sir, when
v. rang at the door," he explained, land too
" the letter from me herself She didn't al
pear TO know your handwriting, and sh
o. asked me who ! came from. AS soon as
rs told her l was ordered to wait"
Ernest opened the letter.
le "Dear Mr.. Lsmore- One of us mus
., | speak out, and your letter OF apology force
10 me to be that one. If you are really 8
proud and SO distrustful a. you seem TO be,
81 shall offend you. If not, | shall prove my
10 self to be your friend.
Al Your excuse is pressure OF business
70 The truth Gas have good reason to believe
W is want OF money ! heard a stranger a
that public meeting say that you wer
10 seriously embarrassed by some failure in th
& | city.
n NJ "Let me tell you what my own pecuniar,
ef position is in two words. / am the child es
widow of a rich man"
o Ernest paused. His anticipated discover,
ur OF Mrs Callenders "charminy dauphter
ne was in his mind for the moment aTba
y, little romance must return to the world O
Dreams" he thought-and went on with tn
se | letter.
10 "After what l owe to you, don't resar,
1t as repaying an obligation-I consider my
y self as merely performing duty when
u otter TO assist you by loan of money.
10 "Wait little before you throw my lette
50 in the waste paper basket
circumstances (Which 1t is impossible,
10 Tor me to mention before we meet) put /
=. out OF my power to help you-un less attacl
y. 10 my most sincere offer of service a very
nal