The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-10-09

still Ia Jowil-I Il1 failed to tel her OF
his departure for the west about ten days
after she Jeff.
To n1ysletters to her, which were aec-
essarily lsconic, appended as an inva-.
riabie Postscript, Nor vet, by which
she would understand that he had not yet
put the decisive question, AID sometimes,
when | feared lest her patience might
be exhausted, would add, but / have
hopes. which was sure to reconcile her
for TIE time bsiog TO my staying away
little longer. To be sure, was lny own
mistress. bur was well aware. notwith-
standing, that Aunt Helen was fully
capable, OF coming on some fine day with
horse. FOOT and dragons. and putting a
summary end to my financial idyl.
began also TO put the question TO my
self, why | wished TO remain In New
York had accomplished all that was
possible. without revealing my identity,
in the way Of supervising th5 affairs of
Francis Prime ana Company. 1t was
clearer ID me thin ever chat fortune
could only be rlliis by slow degrees, AID
that Years must elapse doubtless before
my lrotege would attain his ambition.
The leItsgs forwarded by Mr. Chelm. and
my owa observations o. the spot, told me
that the affairs of the firm were only
moderately prosperous.
Especialywas convinced of the truth
of this last statement from the fact that
my employer had of late mixed himself
up IN certain speculations with Mr.. Dale,
from which he had made profits suffi-
cient to recoup his previous losses and
still show balance in his favor. But /
knew that he, as well as l, mistrusted
the souatlness of the firm across the
street, and felt that in yielding to the
temptation of following its lead he was
running the risk OF serious losses. Mr.
Prime confessed as much TO me, and de-
clared that after a single venture TO
which he had already committed him
self was terminated he intended TO have
no more transactions with Roger Dale.
1t was indeed difficult to say why /
still continued TO remain IN Mr.. Primes
employ Although, as have indicated,
put the question to myself sometimes,
| shTaalE from doing so, and felt disposed
to let the future take care Of itself pro-
vided | was permitted to enjoy the pres
ent unaiStnrbel But this was begin
ming to be more and more difficult.
There Eere interests at home which
could net. ba longer neglected without
my mourning blame. belonged to So
cieties and clubs at which myspresence
was acquired. Then, too, it would not
be many weeks before the Honorable
Eraest would return to pay his promised
visit to Aunt Agnes, and felt far from
sure that should not make mistake to
discourage his advances There was
wide difference between the sphere Of an
Alice Bailey and the Duchess Of Clyde.
But still delayed my return. How
well recall one Saturday afternoon IL
June, when as by a common instinct
( business men seemed to close their doors
earlier than usual, and Mr.. Prime and
set off taf enjoy a half holiday in our
usual fashion. He was at the height of
good spirits, for the affair in which he
was interested jointly with Roger Dale
was doing wonderfully well, and the
profits promised to be enormous. Alb
sorbed in conversation, we failed to no
tice the close proximity of rapidly
driven horse, from under the hoofs of
which escaped by a mere hairs breath.
1t was a trivial incident In itself, but
the exclamation which my companion
made and the eager, impetuous way in
which he expressed himself regarding
my safety, served to open my eyes to the
real condition of affairs between US.
Ito BE CONTINUED