The sun., 1893-03-02

gainsayed by any man whom forty
winters have chilled into wisdom. Abil'
ity and opportunity are fortune. Op-
portunity is not fortune; otherwise all
were fortunate. Ability is not for
tune, else why does genius slave? Why
But because it missed the opportunity
that fitted it?
What / have-wife, position indie.
| pendence-I owe to an opportunity for
exercising the very simple and unpre-
tending combination of qualities that
goes by the name of ability. But to
my story.
My father was a wealthy country
gentleman, of somewhat more than
the average of intelligence, and some
what more than the average of gen.
erosity and extravaganza. His young
er brother, Il solicitor in large practice
in London, would in vain demonstrate
as to the imprudence of his course.
Giving freely, spending freely, must
come to an end. 1t did; and at twenty
| was well educated, gentlemanly
pauper. The investigation or my
fathers affairs showed that there was
one shilling and six pence in the pound
for the whole of his creditors, ana, OF
course, nothing for me.
The position was painful. was halr
engaged to-that is, | had gloves,
| flowers, q ringlet, q carte de vislte OF
Alice Morton. That, of course, must
be stopped
| Mr.. Silas Morton was not ill-pleaSed
at the prospect of an alliance with MS
neighbor WestwOod's son while there
was an expectation of provision Tor
the young couple in the union OF estates
as well as persons; but now, when the
estate was gone, when l, Guy west
wood, was shillingless in the world, IL
would be folly indeed. Nevertheless
must take my leave.
"Well. Guy, my lad, bad job this;
very bad job; thought he was as safe
as the bank. Would not have believed
it from any one-not from any one.
| OF course all that nonsense about you
and Alice must be stopped now; Pm
| not q hard man, but l can't allow
Alice to throw away her life in the
poverty she would have to bear as
your wife; can't do it; wouldn't be the
part of father if I did"
| I suggested l might in time.
| '"Time, sir! time! How much? She's
nineteen now. You're brought up to
nothing; know nothing that will earn
YOU q sixpence for the next SIX
months; and you talk about time.
Time. indeed! Keep her waiting till
she's thirty, and then break her heart
by finding it a folly to marry at all.
| "Ah! Alice, my dear, Guys come
to say Good by he sees, with me,
that his altered position compels him,
rs an honorable man, to give UP any
homes he may have formed as to the
future" ,,,,,
He left us alone to say FAREWELL
"A word too hard to say at our ages.
| OF course we consulted what should be
done. To give each other up, to Oury
the delicious past, that was not to be
thought of. We would be constant,
snite Of all l must gain Il position,
ard papa would then help us.
Two ways We're open: a comln1s-
sion in India, a place in my uncles
offitc. Which? ] was for the corr
mission Alice for the Office. A IT,
spectable influential solicitor; posi-
tion not to be despised; nothing but
cleyerness wanted; and my uncles
name. and no one to wait for; no liver
complaints; no sepoys; no sea voyages;
and no long separation.
ooh. I'm sure it is the best thing.
| agreed. not unnaturally then, that
it was the best
"Now, you young people, you've had
time enough to say uood BY, so be
off Guy. Here, my lad, you'll need
something to start WITH and the oid
gentleman put into my hands note
for fifty pounds.
sT must beg, sir, that you will not
insult" ,, WV.
"God bless the boy! Insult! Why
I've danced you on my knee hundfeds
of times. Look you, Guy, and the
old fellow came and put his hand on
my shoulder,-''it gives me pain to do
what am doing. l believe, for ootn
vour sakes, it is best you should part
Let up part friends. Come now, Guy
you'll need this; and if you need lit
tie more let me know"
"Rut. sir. you cut me off from al
hone: YOU render my life a burden to
me. Give me some definite task; say
how much you think we ought to have
T mean how much I ought to have tc
keen Alice--I mean Miss Morton-in
such a position as you would wish"
Alice added her entreaties, and the
result of the conference was an under
standing that if, within five years from
| that date, I could show l was worth
f5OO a wear, the old gentleman would
add another $500; and on that he
thought we might live for a few years
comfortably.
There was to be no correspondence
whatever; no meetings, no messages
We protested and pleaded, and finally
he said
"Wen, well, Guy; I always liked
you, and liked your father before you
| Come to us on Christmas day, ant
you shall find a vacant chair beside
Alice. There, now; say Good by,
and be Off"
went off. 1 came to London tC
one of the little lanes leading out o.
Cannon street Five hundred yea
in five years! I must work hard.
NV uncle took little notice of me;
fancied worked me harder than tht
rest, and paid me the same. Seventy
five pounds year is not q large sum
I had spent it in a month before now
after the fashion of my father; now,
boarded; made clothes last; ate il
nusty, cheap, little cook-shops; ant
kept my enjoying faculties from abso
lutte rust by q weekly half-price to th
theaters-the pit
The year passed. / went down ol
Christmas, and for twenty-four hour
was alive; came back, and had ris
of twenty pounds in salary for the mex
year ] waited for opportunity, and
came not.
This jog-trot routine of Office worl
continued for two years more, and a
the end Of that time / was worth bu
my salary of fl35 per year-fl35! :.
long way from $500. Oh, for oppoi
tunity? / must quit the desk, and be
come a merchant; all successful me-
have been merchants; money beget
money. But, to oppose all thes
thoughts of change, came the memor
of Alice's last words at Christmas
"Wait and hope, Guy, dear; wait an
hope" Certainly; it's so easy to.
Governor wants you, WestwooC
He's sharp this morning; very sharI
so look out, my dear nephy."
"You understand little Italian,
think?' said my uncle.
"a little, SIR"
"You will start tonight for Flo
ence, in the mail train Get there Q