San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-15

L am compelled TO answer YES. NV
friend is a philanthroplst That may
make matters clearer"
1T is like fairy story, isn't it, lze?"
Let me rehearse the conditions again, SO
as to be sure am not dreaming. With
this loan, which | shall never be called
on to pay back unless choose, / am to
establish in New York the house of Fran
els Prime and Company. am to devote
my energies, first, to becoming abnor-
mally rich; and after that simple result
Is accomplished to carry out the theories
have Us to how one in that position
should live. Meanwhile | am to pledge
my word never to divulge the circum-
stances OF this interview, and on no pre-
tense whatever to seek to discover the
name of the person to whom / owe nv
good fortune. Have omitted any
thing?"
You have stated the case exactly"
"Humph! should like TO ask SIN
gle question. Is my benefactor a man
or a woman
Another question like that would
Justify Inc in withdrawing the offer"
answered Mr.. Chelm with gravity. MY
client wishes TO have no identity what
ever Come, sir, my time is precious.
/ await your decision"
The proposal is so sudden and unex-
the depths of despair to the summit of
hope leaves one trifie bewildered. But
you are right. have no claim on your
time. You want an answer"
He laughed again in a nervous man
ner and stroked Ike,
II do not wish to hurry you unduly.
have a letter to write which will take
me few minutes Think the matter
over until have finished.
Thank you. will. But since have
imposed upon your good nature so far,
do me one more kindness, Mr.. Chelm.
What is you own opinion in this natter
Do you advise me to accept"
listened eagerly for his reply. 1t was
in his power to spoil all
Really, feel embarrassed how to
answer. As have already implied to
you, the proposition strikes me, as a law
yer, as being the most preposterous piece
of extravaganza ever heard suggested.
| will tell you frankly that tried my
utmost to dissuade my client from max
ing it. 1t is thoroughly unbusinessike
and absurd. That is my view of the
matter from professional standpoint"
IL see," said Mr. Prime
But" continued Mr.. Chelm - and
here he stopped and gave an amused
chuckle-''it is a rare chance for young
man, a rare chance. My client will never
mind the loss of the money, and would
feel genuine disappointment, know, if
you were to decline. This being the case,
and feeling as do that you are in earn
est in your desire to succeed despite your
aristocratic tendencies, am tempted on
the whole to urge you to accept the good
fortune which is thrust upon you. 1t is
for my clients sake as much as for your
own that advise this, for can see that
she has set her heart
He stopped short. There was a dead
pause, for felt the blood rush to my
cheeks
"WellT he exclaimed, 81 have let the
cat out of the bag with vengeance this
time. A lawyer too. Pshawl 1t is too
badr
That settles it," said Mr.. Prime quiz
city; Il cannot accept now at any rate.
1t would not be fair to your client"
Not accept? Of course you will &C
cept. Nonsense, nonsensel 1t is all my
fault, and you shall have the money
now if have to pay 1t out of my own
pocket Besides. said Mr.. Chelm with
voluble eagerness, "there is very little
harm done after all, and to prevent
misunderstanding | may as well make
clean breast of it. My client is an &C.
centric maiden lady of sixty-6ye, with a
lot of distant relatives who bother her life
out while waiting for her to die. lam her
only intimate friend, but even | cannot
prevent her from doing all sorts of queer
things in her taste for sentimentality
You see, poor woman, when she was
very young she had lover of just about
your age (she wears his portrait perpetu-
ally in a locket about her neck, who
died. He was in business, and doing
very well. Several times already, on this
account, she has helped young men who
were in straits; and when told her your
story, and what you were ambitious to
do, she clapped her withered old hands
together and said: 4 will give him a
chance, Mr.. Chelm; will give him Il
chance! He reminds me of my Tom.
And that is how it came to pass There
is the long and short of the matter. Ac-
cept? To be sure you will accept. 1t is
all my fault. | will make it right with
her. 1t would break her heart if you did
not. So no more words about it. have
all the necessary papers ready"