The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-10-23


COPYRIGHT aY AMERICAN PREss ASSOCIATION. 1891
Continued.
certainly, dear. she doesn't know
any one. to be sure. and would probably
dress like an antediluvian. But people
wouldn't think anything Of that if it
was whispered around that she was lit
erary and peculiar | think, on the
whole, It would be a good plan to ask
her l can give her a few ideas as 70
how q nobleman should be handled"
Precisely" answered.
Accordingly Aunt Helen and | each
wrote d most urgent letter of invitation,
and after some further correspondence
my efforts were rewarded with the pres
ence IN my house OF my fathers sister
For the first twenty-four hours, despite
my cordial welcome, feared every mo-
ment lest she should announce her inten-
ton OF going home again. Her manner
was so stiff, and Aunt Helen's so airy, that
was apprehensive of a catastrophe. But
at last, by the display Of tact and by
carefully humoEing their respective pref
udices, drew them gradually together,
and when at last | was taken apart by
each Of them successively one evening,
70 be told that save for certain unfort
innate peculiarities her rival was an un-
commonly sensible woman, l felt that
could safely retire and leave them to
their day dream of making me Duchess
OF Clyde
Duchess or no duchess, it would be
an admirable connection" said Aunt
Agnes.
s.And there is no shadow of doubt
that his wife viii be duchess" added
Aunt Helen.
One day, shortly after we had re-
turned 10 town. the news reached Us
that the Honorable Ernest Ferrou was
In New York. and as consequence there
was great excitement among those who
had been told of his projected visit to
our city. In her wish TO make the young
nobleman comfortable Aunt Agnes haa
yielded TO the circumstances of her for
mer enemy as to the necessity of reno
waiting her house, and accordingly was
absorbed by plumbers, upholsterers and
decorators, who, under the general su-
pervision of Aunt Helen, undermined
this new friendship. The last touches
were being put to the improvements, and
complete harmony reigned between the
two establishments To think of Aunt
Agnes dropping in on Aunt Helen, or
Aunt Helen drinking tea with Aunt
Agnes!
Ittherefore happened that I was taken
Of
and was free to indulge the sweet cur
rent of sentiment, of which they were
so bEssfully unaware, to my hearts con-
tent. The power of love and the power
of money! How, when united, did they
each illumine the other-they, the two
greatest forces Of the world.
On the morning following the day on
which we heard OF Mr.. Ferroll's arrival
IN New York saw statement in the
daily paper which made me start vio-
lently It was the announcement of the
failure Of Roger Dale, banker and
broker. with liabilities of three millions
and estimated assets ofless than one hun
bred thousand. fastened to get ready
to cali on Mr Chelm, but before leaving
the house 1 received message from him
which read as follows: francis Prime
is IN town, and have made an appoint
ment with him for twelve o'clock You
viii please come TO the Office at once, if
possible"
What mas happened. 3lr. Chelm?"
asked, as I entered the room where he
was sitting tried to seem calm and
Indifferent
''Sit down, Miss Harlan. am sorry
to say that your friend Francis Prime
has got into difficulties. Roger Dale, a
rather prominent banker, has suspended
payment, and Mr. Prime happens to be
one of his largest creditors.
HAS Mr.. Prime failed also?'
Not Yet. But l see no escape for him
on his own showing The circumstances
are peculiar and Indicate deliberate
fraud on the part of Dale; but, as Prime
says, he can't let his own customers sui
fer
'.This is all 4 riddle to me. said,
little ilnpatiently You forget that |
do not know the facts yet"
1.-The facts are simple enough, and The
whole difficulty. it seems, is Indirectly
the result of having anything TO do with
men who take improper risks. As told
you the other day, young Prime has been
agged on by the large sums he has seen
made in a few days by others to 20 Joint
account with this man Dale. who has
had the reputation of being very shrewd
and successful. and who, by the way,
comes from this city. The speculations
turned out very well, especially this last
one, which our friend tells me was tt
have been his last.
Eyes. ! am sure it was. | answered
excitediy.
Mr. CheIin looked at me with Il blank
SORT OF gaze Very likely. he Cd
served. with a dry smile. We'll. as !
was saying, this, like the others, was
profitable, and Prime not only had en-
riched himself but some of his Gus
TONERS VINO had taken the risk with
him. The money was paid to him and
he made reports of the same to his Gus
toners. But the same day Dale came
In and asked Prime to loan him over
night the sum ne had just paid IN as a
personal favor Prime says ne hesi-
tated, not because ne suspected any
thing. bnf on rounds of common pru-