The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-07-05
Told in a Dream.

- ~ O,Ss~>~A'
"It WAS madness and follv!" And as Julia,
Blair gave utterance TO this exclamation h,
brought his hand down upon his desk will
tremendous force.
The Young man i'll his excitement rose from
his chair and paced the floor of his office.
81 made Il fool of myself he said, bitterly
"lierc am, young lawyer. without practice
III little country town. and with 10 hope o
lettering my condition. Instead of waiting
patiently for something to turn up have hat
the audarity to fall in love with the wcalthiesl
hcire,> in the place, and tonight forever dis
graced myself by asking her to marry me. To.
morrow am to see her father. There can be
but one result. Mr.. Howard is Il millionaire
lie will ask me about my property and pros.
poets. Well. have about So in my pocket
and owe $500. The old gentleman will regard
he AS fortune hunter and request me to dis
continue my visits. Yet. the Lord knows love
Alice and would devote my life to her.''
Blair looked around the Office and took Il sur
Ney OF his >canty possessions. A few articles
of furniture. and perhaps hundred law books
this was all. He sat alone until the town clock
struck the hour Of midnight and then retired
to his chamber adjoining his office. and made
an attempt to sleep off his trouble.
In the course of the night strange thing oc-
Cured. Just how it happened he did not UNI
der>tand, but he had Il late visitor, who intro
duced himself as a lawyer from London.
The stranger made profuse apologies for his
untimely visit.
''Mr. Blair" he said, IL will not detain YOU
with any preliminaries. You are the heir TO
the estate Of John Blair. one of your unces
-l,.,, Il
settled in Liverpool. Your uncle was remark
ably lucky. He found friends. went into busi-
ness and iii the course of time made Il fortune.
lie died month ago and left You s500,OOO."
Julian proceeded to ask for further nforma-
ton, but the London lawyer pleasantly remark
ed that good news would keep.
II must leave in half an hour for New York"
he said. "but You may expect me back in Il
week or 50. and then the necessary arrange
ments will be completed for placing you in pos
session of your Inheritance"
With this the strange visitor vanished. and
Julian Blair, rs he raised himself on his elbow
and looked about the room. asked himself
whether lie was awake or dreaming.
A sudden drOwSinesS overcame him. and
when he again opened his eyes it was morning.
Was it a dream|' he cried, AS he dressed
himself. NO. it is impossible There is tic
chair the man sat in. | remember her features
distinctly. and every word he said and even
the tones of his voice. Thank God! 1t was no
vision; il was Il reality"
Julian found, after making his toilet. that he
was still little feveri>h witha strange funesS
in his head. but glance at the mirror showed
that he was looking unusually well.
One thing startled him not Il little in the
course of the morning. After brief interview
with one of the bankers of the town, he walked
out on the >lreeI with $500 in his pocket
il sudden doubt struck him as he reached the
sidewalk. Had he made a mistake i'm telling
he Ian ken. nf his ,rnnl ho hall
thing was only dream, as he sometimes >u>-
pected. lie had done very bad thing.
"P>baw." he said to himself, IL am sick and
nervous. How can it be a dream:'
by degrees his confidence was restored, and
later in the dav. when he saw Mr. Howard, hi,
manner WAS well calculated to impress the mil
lionaire. He told the story of his legacy, and
the rich man took him by the hand and told
him that 10 man IN the world would suit him
better AS Il >on-in-law.
a week passed away delightfully."-, Blair found
himself the lion of the town. but he spent most
of his ea>ure time with his atlianced.
One morning the Young lawyer arose. cool
and clear headed. without II trace of fever. lie
locked back upon the events of the past week
in amazement. lie no longer hal any belief in
visit of the man from London. 1t was dream
and ncthin@ else.
II am in di>graccfu fix" he groanctl II
have lied to MIR. Howard and to Alice. have
borrowed money under false pretences. Moth
ing will ever convince people that l am rot Il
~windler.''
A. the days rolled ON Julian grew thin and
pale. lie could not bring himself to the point
of aronfc>>ion to Mr.. Howard and Alice Then,
too. some of his obligations were coming due.
There was apparently no way out of the trou-
bic. The thought of suicide took possession of
his mind and he began to nerve himself for the
deed.
Tia, a. rI in .Inli1n's hapI lora la a,1l of
Henry Morley. solicitor. Middle Temple. Lon
don, and as the owner of the card was lsiiered
into the office the young lawyer looked at him
i'm blank surprise.
1t did not take long for Mr. Morley to state
his business.
MY Young friend" he said rather ponpol.S-
ly lit is a genuine pleasure to me to he the
bearer of good ti1ings. | have been two weeks
III the country looking you up. Your uncle,
John Blair. died recently in Liverpool, where
he left Il large estate, and there is cool $780,
600 for you.'
as it another drcam:" whispered Julian.
II don't understand" said the En"i>hnan.
somewhat my N>titicd. This is no dream: it is
business
Then he went on in his matter of fact way to
make everything clear
You have never called on me before, have
Certainly not, replied the visitor: 81 have
Just found YOU, and it was no easy matter.
can tell you.''
''All this is very hard for me to believe" re-
piled Julian. land it will take time to convince
me of its reality"
''Wcll. money. ought to be tangible enough
said the lawyer. ''If you feel like drawing for
4 few thousand now I'll arrange it for YOU.
such a proposition was not to he refused. and
i'll lie course of the day Julian had $4,000 to
h> credit in the bank.
And then he broke down under the strain
For long weeks he lay either unconscious or
deiirioi!s. and the watchers at his bedside won-
dered at his talk.
His good luck turned his brain for the time,' -
said Old Mr.. Howard.
And this was the view people took of the case.
The sober business men of the town refused to
believe that a penniless young man, with moth
In@ to back him but dream. had secured al
most unlimited credit and Il rich heire>> in tie
bargain.
"Dream> don't pan cut that way" said one
of them and this was the general opinion.
But Julian, warned by the tricks his imagill-
alton had played him, lost 10 time in obtaining
his legacy and converting it into substantial in
VeStmentS.
When this was done he led sweet Alice
Howard to the altar. Atlanta Constitution.