The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-09-08
BOB AND ALICE.
The Story Of Mr.. Heath's Last Tel
Thousand Pounds.

AA0 5GOIy vi N1T. I10ttGQ LdSG len
Thousand Pounds.
PART 7.
On wet, gloomy afternoon in the April
of 1S7- Mr.. James Heath sat in a house in
Adam street, Strand, and in the curiously,
furnished apartment which he called his
office. The very dirty window curtains of
The room were of the richest silk. The
costly Turkey carpet was covered with dust
Ind Uttered with bundles of old law papers
and newspapers, besides letters and other
documents which, having been torn up, had
evidently lain ON the floor untouched for
weeks or months. On the walls of the room
were hung number of valuable oil paint
ings, water colors and engravings. Madon-
mas and Holy Families of the early Spanish
and Italian schools, pets of the ballet and
the prize ring, Dutch Doors, landscapes, por-
traits and racing scenes-mingled as they
were without the least regard to style or
subject, the general effect was altogether
novel and surprising. About the chamber
were number of chairs and couches,
mostly of antique patterns, but all of them
made of the most costly materials, and COW
cred, like the carpet, with dust. In the
corners of the room were piles of well bound
volumes, and two massive side boards-one
Of oak, the other Of ebony-were piled with
miscellaneous heaps OF books, glasses and
silver plate. Every thing about the cham
oer in short, was dirty, costly and incon-
gruous.
Finally, muffled up in thick overcoat,
and with his back to the fire-plac in which
there was no fire, sat Mr.. Heath He was a
rather stout man Of about sixty, with keen,
gray eyes, white hair and very rubicund
complexion. On the table before him stood
among a number OF papers, bottle of
brandy and tumbler, and he was engaged
N reading long letter, which was written
IN rather sprawling, boyish hand.
"Dear Sir" the letter ran, 81 must have
e5OO by Monday, and I want at least $500
besides. This, with what | owe you at
present, will make $4,000. l propose in
consideration of that 9l,0OO which l now
ask you to advance, to assign to you the
whole Of my life interest in the 9l5OOO per
cent. consols, together with the whole in
.erest under the policy of assurance for the
e3,0O0 The premiums on the policy only
amount to e200 per annum, so that the e450
odd which accrues from the consols will
cave balance of about $50 per cent. in
crest on the f4,0J0 until the policy falls in
In other words, for "a, 900 you get an abso-
ute reversion in gl0,0OO, together with e25O
ayear until the reversion is realized. l am
aware that could do better than this, but
want the money at once and am ready to
submit to the sacrifice for immediate paw
ncnt. l shall call on you to. morrow after
aoon at four O'clock when hope you will
et me have check. Yours, faithfully
'RoBERT OSWALD"
Mr.. Heath read the letter very ca refully
through two or three times, after which he
aid it on the table and poured out nearly
half tumbler Of brandy. Having mixed
This with very little water, he drank it off
and leaned back in his chair, while he in
aulged in q soliloquy which he muttered
talf aloud.
"Yes," he said, "the terms are good
enough. The young fool is in consumption
already, though he's barely twenty-three,
and this season will kill him Chapman
says his right lung is nearly gone-lucky ]
got him to insure for the big sum at once.
Wants the money, l suppose, to meet his
losses on the City and Suburban What 5
he going to do, / wonder, when he has
parted with his interest in the gl5OOO? Fall
back on his mother, suppose. She's sup
posed to be wealthy, but her money is all in
American stocks, they say. and if report is
true she knows how to keep it. The widow
Of Scotchman who made a fortune in
America, they came back to England abou,
live years since to get into society and nut
young hopeful through Oxford. The father
died three years ago, and the mother has
been lcadinga rather retired life since 80
they say. But, nonsense, what has all this
TO do with me! Young Mr.. Oswald, who
has got himself into consumption through
dissipation, is practically Offering me 9lO,.
WO for further advance of el,0OO. Even
III 1 fnx - ,
enough. But he hasn't twelve months life
in him. Three months more, at the rate he
lis going at present, ought to finish him! And
then!'
Mr. Heath poured some more brandy into
his tumber. Having drunk it, he continued
almost aloud, and In an excited manner:
''rhen have made the RlOO,O0O which II
has been the ambition of my life to be
worth. This Is the Last ten thousand. With
this shall be worth almost exactly one hun
dred and two thousand pounds in hard cash.
besides the good will of this accursed busi-
ness, and all the things connected with it,
which | shall dispose of at once. Why,
ought to have nearly one hundred and ten
thousand pounds; but never mind, once
have hundred thousand pounds In hard
cash, shall give up. To that have made
mp my mind. And theni Well, shall 20
on the continent for time. I'd be pretty
well forgotten in the course of two or three
years, and my name is not in particularly
'good odor Just now-hasn't been for years
pas. Never mind that--when man has
four y" five thousand year, people are not
too particular about his antscedents. NAV
take PLACE little way out OF London-be
. sort OF county magnate for bit-and
wor.i my way into decent club. Let them
say what they like behind my back, they'd
be bound 70 be civil to my face, and that's
Ill that any one need care. Half the peers
IN England would 70 crazy II they only knew
Whst taeirservsns were saying about them.