Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-06


account Luckily for himself, his tempera~
ment was sanguine, and he found Miriam's
sweet encouragement a sufficient antidote
against the demoralizing influence Of perpetual
disappointment In this manner q month or
six weeks passed, and the only result of this
lapse of time was that Claude Damien became
more infatuated than ever. He was even be-
ginning to feel q little depressed in moments of
solitude. when one day he was startled by re-
ceiving commissioning letter, addressed
In an unknown hand. and bearing an American
stamp. The sight of it caused the young man
an anxious thrill of expectation, for he immedi-
asely concluded that it was q reply from his
maternal uncle. to whom he had written many
h. broke the SEAL the following communication
met his astonished gaze:
o37 BLOCK A. PRrScKss Tows, KAIssAs COUNTY.
SIR ! beg to seSns quaint You that by the viii Of
Of which enelosel you are entitled as residuary leg
Of last month. Awaiting the honor of your instruc-
To Mr. Claude Dan,se,;. '' Jaw '
The young man fairly gasped for breath as
he read this amazing intelligence, and for
several minutes he stared blankly at the letter,
unable to realize that he was actually mil
ionaire. But as he grew calmer and proceeded
to read the viii of his deceased relative, he
grasped the situation sufficiently to jump into
| cab and drive straight to the Office OF Mr..
Ponsonby Walker.
Miriam's father received him with very scant
courtesy, but when he announced his good for
tune, and produced the letter of Mr.. Silas Blot
ting and the copy of his uncle's will, the finan-
cler's manner changed completely.
MY dear Damien" exclaimed Mr.. Ponsonby
walker, In an almost awe-strichen voice, this
is glorious news. / congratulate you"
Il love your daughter, SIR" murmured the
young man TREMENDOUSLY.
"A million sterling!" calculated Mr. Ponson-
by Walker, rising excitedly in his chair
1T belongs to Miriam" cried Claude, with
emotion.
My dear Claude, your constancy is touch
ing, said Mr.. Ponsonby Walker, quite over
come. GOD bless you, my boyr'
"Ihank you, sir, said Claude, wringing the
hand of his future father-in-law
Claude, my boy, regardless of your fortune,
IL VIII be better that you should have some
employment As start, therefore, 1 would
suggest that you should join the Board of the
Grand Eldorado Diamond Mining company"
cried Mr.. Ponsonby Walker, with sudden
Certainly, sir" said the young man
May put you down for hundred shares?"
inquired Mr.. Ponsonby Walker, in business
like tone.
''Pll take thousand" replied Claude. with
new and delightful sense of recklessness.
mo, no; you mustn't put all your eggs in
one basket The Grand Eldorado. however,
will be splendid thing-a splendid thing.
But hundred shares will be enough" said Mr..
Ponsonby Walker, rapidly filling up printed
form. There, my boy, sign that, and you will
discover that have given you princely we'd
ding gift
Claude Damien dashed off his signature in a
lordly manner and then started off in a state of
delirious happiness to claim his affianced bride
Then came a period of delicious excitement,
during which the young man was scarcely con-
scious of his own identity. His sudden eleva-
ton from poverty to extreme wealth almost
turned his head. Not only was he received
with affectionate Difference into the bosom of
the Ponsonby Walker family, but he was over
whelmed with congratulations and polite at
tentlons from every one. The fame of his good
| luck spread abroad like wildfire, and before
week had elapsed every newspaper in England
published paragraphs alluding to the event,
and also mentioning the happy circumstance of
his engagement. Mr.. Ponsonby Walker ex-
| pressed great annoyance and Indignation at the
| introduction of his daughters name into the
public prints but Claude could not help fancy
! ing that his father-in-law elect was not SO dis
pleased as he affected to be.
But Claude Damien had something else to
think OF besides ove-making and responding
| TO congratuatory epistles In the first place
1t was necessary to take steps to obtain possess
sion OF his property, and for this purpose he
| placed himself in the hands of firm Of solicit
| tors recommended by Mr. Ponsonby Walker.
! Geographic inquiries that the testators estate
consisted almost entirely of land and houses,
| which could not be converted into money until
| after the usual interval. This was disap-
pointment to Claude, for he longed to taste
the sweets of his inheritance, and. moreover
/, he had been applied to for the purchase money
| OF his shares in the Grand Eldorado Gold Min
| ing Company. Having no means of Meeting
this demand he had no alternative but to seek
the advice and assistance of Mr.. Ponsonby
| Walker.
what ridiculous situation" exclaimed the
fnancier, with hearty laugh, as he slapped
| his future son-in-law on the back Imagine
| an impecunious milionairer'
Its awkward all the same" said Claude.
laughing also.
Pooh! There need be no difficulty" re-
sponded MIR: Ponsonby Walker. I'm write
you a check. Stay, thought he added
thoughtfully. 81 think, on consideration, that
had better not. One can't be too careful in
these matters and remarks might be made if
1t should transpire that the money came from
me-"
Mr.. Ponsonby Walker wlnked conf dentially
as he spoke, and looked so knowingly at the
young man that the latter, without the least
understanding him, felt impressed by the wis
dom OF the fnancier's remark
II suppose not, acquiesced Claude doubt
fully; but where shall get the money from?''
You can borrow it from your solicitor, or
well, perhaps it is better to be independent,
ana you can afford the luXury-why not get it
from Benlevi?" said Mr.. POnsonby Walker
'By all means. But who is Benleyi?" in
quired Claude.
''Benlevi of Burlington street." replied Mr..
Ponsonby Walker, with another sagacious wink.
"A money-lender, but honest as they go. He
will make you pay for the accommodation but
what will that matter to you?"
So Claude, nothing loath, paid visit to Mr.
Benlevi. who received him very civilly, having
evidently read all about him in the newspapers
From this worthy the young man obtained, on
somewhat startling terms, sum of money
which enabled him to take up his shares and
left something over. Being thus in funds
Claude Damien did not scruple to launch out a
little by taking an expensive set of chambers
and furnishing them luxuriously He found
no difficulty in obtaining credit from trades
people, and having once set the ball arollIng,
he soon raised very considerable crop Of
debts, and began 70 live in a manner worthy Of
his enviable circumstances.
At the instance Of his future father-in-law,
who represented that he ought not to neglect
his own interests, Claude Damien attended one
or two meetings of the directors of the
Grand Eldorado Diamond Mining Com
pany, though the proceedings, and in
deed the company itself, rather bored
him. 1t was gratifying, however, to the
young man to learn that his connection with
the company had had a very good effect, and
that its shares were being eagerly applied for,
especially as he understood that in some mys-
FERROUS way the success Of the company was an
excellent thing for Miriam's father. Claude
was little puzzled at this, because Mr.. Pom
sonby Walkers name did not appear on the