The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-10

his grief by communicating its cause TO
another No one know OF the quest
which occupied him, no ono felt the
fears that depressed him, and the soul
oil man no less than the tongue OF wO'
man longs to share its secrets with u
sympathizer. But he reflected that
Lechmere was almost stranger to him,
not likely to take any interest in the
statements he would make, and he
therefore RETAINED from speaking on a
subject concerning which he could have
heard more from this man than from
atiy other.
Whilst Ferrars ate his dinner they
chatted over mutual friends and ac'
quaintances OF their college days, but
when the meal was ended and Ferrars
had lighted an offered cigarette con-
versation became more personal.
"It's almost three years since we
met, said Virgil Lechmere.
Eyes, and Ihave been working pretty
hard ever since.
cat home or abroadpi
principally in Paris" answered Fer
rars. "PTenoh painters have knack
OF seeing and producing with such skill
aud naturalness as are unknown to the
English school.
~ have read Of your success from
time 70 time, and ielt glad you did SO
we'll" remarked Lechmere, good
naturally. "Your portrait Of Sardou at
the Salon last year made big hit"
"Yes," FeFrars replied, YEARLY,
thinking of the pride lie had felt in his
success, not for his own sake so much
as for Stella. To her he would have
brought all the honor and glory he had
gathered, and he had come with full
hands to an empty shrine. :;
II heartily congratulate you, con-
tinued Lechmere, little suspecting the
pain his words caused.
"Thanks, thanks" reioined Ferrars,
hastily, and then, to rid himself OF his
bitter thoughts, inquired, What have
| you been doing since you left Cam
bridgeg"
"Ihaven't had your luck"
"I'm sorry. You we're going in for
the law, believer
"My father wished me to become q
barristor, A few months after l lett
college he died, and l Inherited the re-
matna OF his fortune
"Thcn you are a rich man." said
Ferrars
'By no means. MY father had a tai,
ent for sqpandering money. He left
me merely five Thousand pounds.
"a decent sum to begin life with.
~ continued TO read ut the bar, and,
meanwhile, man advised me to specu-
late in q concern which ne believed was
going to make fortunes for the shape
holders | knew little about such
things myself, and feeling grateful for
the counsel, invested three thousand
pounds, Six months later the COM
pany was wound up, and my money
was lost"
allow unfortuuate!" exclaimed Fer.
rars, who now became interested in the
narration.
Rather; but that wasn't all. A few
months ago, at the suggestion OF my
FREUD"
"fhe same who advised you be-
tore?"
Eyes. At his suggestion ! bought
shares to the amount Of two thousand
pounds in the Tersea Mining Company.
He had invested big lot OF money in
the mines and had received private in
formation that it was going to be big
affair." Well, scarce week after l had
the shares allotted me the whole thing
went down with crash. Strange,
wasn'titW
Remarkably strange" replied Fer
rars, drily.
"some men are lucky, some are the
reverse, and it seems AN one OF the
latter"
'tYou are not good business man"
~ never was" answered Lechmere.
~ suppose you had solicitor look
into your affairs and sec that your
losses were genuine"
"Unhappily there could be no doubt
as to that"
lawyer would learn whether this kind
adviser Of yours was or was not a gamer
by your misfortunes."
"Why, he was moro upset by my
losses than by his own, which were con
siderable, and he would have made
them up to me, had it been in his
power, but the crash left him almost
| bankrupt, poor CuHp'
For all that l should have had en-
quiries made il l were you"
II couldn't do that; it would insinu
ate doubt about the dealings OF one
who is not merely my friend but my
cousin, almost the only relative have
in the world"
"My advice is, ask him quietly tc
show YOU tho accounts"
~ couldn't do that now even if ]
would"
"WhyP" asked Ferrars.
because be is abroad" Virgil an
swered, with smile.
Ferrars felt delicacy about pursuing
the subject, which was let drop:
Together they went to the Skates.
bury theatre, each being glad oil the
other at period when both FELT solitary
and depressed. A sympathy which
neither thought OF expressing exercised
Its influence; and during these few
hours they we're drawn closer together
than during the years they had seen
each other almost daily but had never
been brought into intimate intercourse
AT parting Virgil Lechmere said, II
hope We may soon meet again, old
1t hope so; don't know how long
may remain abroad, for my stay doesn't
quite depend upon myself; but when !
return should like to see you. am q
member Of the Oxford and Cambridge
club, and letter directed there will
always find me-"
"Then goodbye till we meet" said
Lechmcre, as they grasped each other't
hands warmly.
And so they parted, little suspecting
what would happen meanwhile.