San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-07


the west and in mines in New Mexico
your present income is some five thou
sand dollars. AS understand you, the
property is steadily increasing in value?'
1T has steadily increased thus far,
sir, and think it will continue to do so
for several years to come-in real estate
investments at least"
81 am glad of this, on your account as
well as hers, for Mabel has been reared
in comparative luxury. She has never
known what it was to want anything
very much or very long. She has been
educated on the suppos;ti0H that her
whole life would be equally free from
care or stint; and if l were to die to-
morrow, sir, she would be begyar."
And here, in great agitation, .ie old
gentleman rose from his chair and began
nervously pacing 1p and down the little
| room, wringing his white, tremulous
hands and turning his face away from
the silent soldier that he might not see
the tears that hung to the lashes or tho
piteous quivering of the sensitive lips.
For moment or two nothing more was
said. Then, as though in surprise, Mr.
Vincent stopped short
did you understand me, Capt. Lane?
do not exaggerate the situation in the
least do not know how soon the ak will
fall. We are safe for today, but know
not what the morrow may bring forth.
may be met en- route by kilograms saying
that the journey is useless-that we are
ruined-and the money hope to get in
| New York to tide us over would come
only too late. Next month at this time
the house i'll which Mabel was born and
reared may be sold over her head, with
every scrap and atom Of. its furniture,
and we be driven into exile. Do you rea-
lie this, sir? Do you understand that
if you win her affection and she becomes
| your wife have not penny with which
to bless her:'
"Mr. Vincent" answered Lane, 81
would hold myself richer than any man
in this world if could know that your
daughter cared for me and would be my
wife. Do not think that fail to sympa-
thize and feel for you and all who are
dear to you in your distress and anxiety
but am almost glad to hear that she is
not the heiress people said she was. 1t
is Mabel want, and here his voice
trembled almost as much as the old
mans, and his honest gray eyes filled up
| with tears he could not down-"and with
| her for my own could ask nothing of
any man. have your consent to see her,
then, at once if need be? You know l
am relieved from duty here and must re-
| join my regiment within ten days"
MY full consent, and my best wishes,
captain said Mr.. Vincent, grasping the
outstretched hand in both his own.
You have not spoken to her at alp
Not word, Mr.. Vincent; and / can
form no idea what her answer will be.
Pardon me, sir, but has she or has Mrs.
Vincent any knowledge of your business
troubles
My wife knows, of course, that every
thing is going wrong and that am des-
perately harassed; Mabel, too, knows
that / have lost much money-very
much-in the last two years; but neither
| of them knows the real truth-that even
my life insurance is gone. A year ago i
strove to obtain additional amounts in
the three companies in which had taken
out policies years ago. OF course a rigid
examination had to be made by the med
ical advisers, and the result was the to-
tai rejection of my applications, and in
two cases an offer to return with inter
est all the premiums hitherto paid. The
physicians had all discovered serious
trouble with my heart. Last winter our
business was at it lowest ebb. l had
been fortunate in some speculadons on
change in the past, and / strove to re-
store our failing fortunes in that way.
My margins were swept away like chaff,
and have been vainly striving to regain
them for the last three months, until
now the last cent that could raise is
waiting the result of this weeks deal
Every man in all the great markets
east and west knew three weeks ago that
a powerful and wealthy syndicate had
'cornered,' as we say, all the wheat to be
had, and was forcing the price up day
by day; and | had started in on the
wrsng side. Even if the corner were to
break tomorrow could not recover half
nay losses The offer the insurance COM
panies made was eagerly accepted, sir;
took their money, and it dribbled away
through my brokers' fingers. If wheat
| goes up one cent, we cannot meet our
obligations-we are gone. We have been
compelled to borrow at ruinous rates In
order to meet our calls; say we, for
poor Clark is with me in the DEAL and it
means ruin for him too, though he, luck