Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-04-21

philanthropst talks Of fibbing rs if it
were the most simple thing in life. No,
madcmuiselle, we lawyers never tib If |
we are ever obliged to forsake the mar
row pathway Of truth we tell square, |
honest lie. But this is positively my |
last interruption"
"You are to tell him that this friend |
OF yours was very much interested in his |
crdcayors TO find something to do, and
sympathized with his determination to
wear n smile on lis face and avoid baggy
trousers to the last. That II mean, of
course, the frend--am willing to give
him the chance for which he asks to
prove hius If a man by placing in your
hands sufficient sum to found a bank.
ing house of undoubted solvency, lie is
to have complete control of this money,
on which he may pay interest if he
chooses, in order to satisfy your business
scruples, Mr.. Chelm but he need never
pay 1t back unless he wishes to do so,
the particulars Of which you will under
stand how to arrange better than J can
tell YOU. Some day in the dim future,
when re has realized his ambition--for
don't imagine for an instant, Mr.. Chclm,
that | expect him to make IL fortune all
at once-hc may return the original loan
! if he sees fit. | snail be an old woman
then, and should, it may be, have less
objection to being known as his bene-
factress than at present. Let me see; is
there anything else to say? AS to the
name Of the firm, it ought to be Francis
Prime and Company, presume; but the
company must be man of straw. He
is to receive no outside help, not even
from you. There, | think | have made
my wishes sufficiently plain"
"You do not desire him to give secur-
ity for whatever you may advance? Not
very businessike arrangement. But
as for that the whole scheme is the most
utopian [ ever heard Of These women,
these women! 1t makes a prudent man
tremble to think what would become of
the universe if they had full sway! But
must submit, | suppose. have given
my word"
Il fear he has no security to offer I'M
less it be Iko-tho beautifully ugly Ike;
Ike the imperious. Do you suppose he
would part with the animal? | took
rather a fancy to him, didn't you, Mr..
Cheln;'
Nay; there | shall put down my foot.
l will have no dogs in this office. Love
me. love my dog is a maxim to which
could not subscribe, even III your case.
No. Unbusinesslike as it is, | prefer to
make the loan without security"
1t may be easily imagined that during
the next few days | was on tiptoe with
expectation. Let 1t be said at once that
was quite aware that | was about to
commit what might fairly be considered
a folly by prudent minded people. The
chances Of my goose proving swan
We're altogether too slight to Justify the
Extravaganza | proposed. But despite
this | never once wavered in my resolu-
ton nor suffered doubt to mar the mir
ror Of fancy in which chose to behold
my protege fulfilling the ample measure
Of his ambition in the years to come.
What an absorbing interest it would be
to me TO watch from behind my mask
the progress he made! If he proved sue
ces5ful | could feel that part of the Gre
atlng power was mine; for had | not
trusted him? Let man realize that
there is some one who has faith i'll him
and the battle is half won.
Even suppose he We're to prove the
recreant and inpostor predicted the
world would not he able to jeer at me;
7 could mug my wretchel secret and
none would be the wiser. Decidedly
? was to be envied in the acquisition OF
= this new interest. 1t would be almost
o like having a double self, for was not my
L hero DondcHng over the same questions
s that were constantly III my thoughts
= how a rich man was to spend his money
= With this difference, however: His ideas
t were already settled, whereas mine were
in process of formation. was to share
y with him my fortune, and he would en-
g tighten me in turn. Perhaps also there
$ was shade Of irony in my reflections
), and was eager to see il he would fine
e the role of a merchant prince so easy tC
g play a. lie seemed to fancy. Then, too
l. there was delightful element of IN
IS certainty and mystery about it all.
It WAS original: was not copying ever,
g one clt" Although Of Mr. Prime in
st personal sense scarcely thought at all
it there WAS II romantic flavor to the cpl
g sode that stirred my imagination.
st So sayaul Iisht nearteidil | feel tina
/ Aunt Helen noted it, and alluded to til
&. fact with pleasure as we sat together %
l. the Friday evening previous to Nj
II Primes return.
II 81 have good reason to be. | feel yer
Is happy tonight. / could dance unit
$ morning, or DO anything equally friyD
IT lous and erratic, | answered mysterou,
L ly She looked up with an anxious eA
&c expression, No, Aunt Helen dear,
1t am not engaged. 1t i+nothing so drea(
n ful as that, II is merely that think
may have found my mission at last"
H. mission! What does the child meal
20 Don't tell me" she cried with a sudde
is excess Of horror ''that you are going OF
p to convert the Indians, or to do an
y peculiar thing like that. That would |
the last straw"
Of Try again." said, laughing.
&c "You gave me scare, Virginia! YC
st are such strange girl that, though yo
Il. 800,