St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-29

neved liStlessly through Europe, Egypt
and India. At last | found myself in
Calcutta and there [ met you. That is
all my history. / am afraid that you
are disappointed in it.'
mo, no." said he warmly. 81 was
interested in you before, and now l am
more so. You ought to take to the sea.
I'll be here a week, and then, if you
want to go to New York, come with me,
and | will talk up the sea to you" He
lighted a fresh cigar, shook hands with
me heartily and went out.
rang for waiter, who took me at
once to my bed room. l sat there in the
twilight for long time, deep in revery.
That had told the captain too much
knew, but his sympathetic face had led
me on. and when asman begins to speak
after many months of silence it is not
easy to stop. And yet / had not told
him all. My funds were very low and
L had no prospects beyond them. | had
quite made up my mind that my life
and my money should come to an end
together. l had taken this long sailing
voyage not from choice but because it of
fered cheap way of prolonging life,
although do not know why l cared
enough for life to try to prolong it. |
little of them | had ever possessed was
buried with my love for Mary Grafton
| thought of my position and tried to de-
termine upon some definite plan of
action or inaction, but | could not con-
centrate my mind. AT about 9o'clock
in the evening some one knocked at
my door. l opened it. 1t was waiter
who handed me card. 1t read as fol-
lows: Charles Wiley. Attorney at
Law, 90 Broadway, New York City,
L started with surprise, Mr.. Wiley had
been for many years my fathers and
uncle's lawyer. How had he CHANGED
upon me? l could not help wondering,
though my reason told me that it must
have been by accident. l told the man
to show him the way to my room. was
rather pleased at the expectation of see
ing him, for he had always been devoted
to my family, and he might give me
some palatable advice. In few minutes
he came in. | can see his tall, spare
figure now. His eyes twinkled under
his glasses and he seemed somewhat eX-
cited and out of breath as he strobe up
to me, shook my hand violently and
said:
"Well, Mr.. Wiley" said 1; show on
earth did you get here?"
Il have found you at last" he con-
tlnued, paying no attention to my ques-
ton. 'Why do you take such pains to
hide yourself from your friends and
your fOrtune?"
''What do you mean?" / asked.
Your uncle is dead,' he responded.
''Indeed," l replied, 1--WE did not part
on good terms, but I am not brute
enough to consider his death piece of
good fortune."
Wait minute" he answered, rub
bing his hands together. 'What if he
had left you all his property?'
do not chaff me, rejoined. 81 am
hardly the one to be preferred to my
cousin Henry"
"What?" said he. "You have not
heard about that? Poor Henry died
several months before his father. Sewer
gas carried them both off,"
"Are you in earnestf' l blurted out
"Hurry; say quickly what you have to
say" L was beginning to think that
yet L could scarcely believe it. "My
uncle turned me out of his house," |
added. ''Do you mean to say that he
has remembered me in his will after
that?'
II know all about it," he said. with
provoking deliberation. IF the old
gentleman had lived another week, you
would not have received a penny. He
had already given me instructions for a
new will, but he did not live to execute
1t. BE left will dated several years
ago. In it he gives his entire estate to
you In case of Henry's death, butt
"What!' | cried, jumping up, grasp
ing his shoulders and looking into his
face. ''Do not deceive me. My uncle
was rich man."
''Be calm," he said. 81 had not fin
ished. Do rot interrupt me again. He
has left you S250,000 invested in the
best real estate in New York, but there
Is a condition attached. l drew up that
will for him. He told me at the time
that you were too fond of gayety. He
wished you to marry well and settle
down, and he directed me to make your
devise conditional upon your marrying
with my approval within year of his
death. l am his executor, you know
You take care, Wiley. that he doesn't
throw himself away he said to me at
| the time"
l had listened in bewlderment ex-
| pecting to hear some condition that
| might poison my good luck. AS he
spoke, sprang up and seized his hand
'My dear Mr.. Wiley" l exclaimed
"What a delightful condition! must
| go to New York on the next steamer. ]
| will be married in a month. You can
not withhold your consent"
"You forget" he said slowly, ''that
| your uncle died OH the 30th of March
last, in the afternoon; year ago the
day after tomorrow. If you are Il bach
elor for forty-eight hours longer the es-
tate must go to the Union hospital"
/ sank back in my chair. you did
not tell ME when he died." 1 muttered
family, yet angrily. ''You have misled
me-"
"You speak rashly, my boy" he said
"Cheer up. l have still something to
: tell you. For nearly a year l have