The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-26


AS he burst into the Office carefully
dressed old gentleman wearing pair
of gold-rimmed glasses stepped forward
to greet him. This he did by nearly
shaking his arm off.
why, my dear George" he cried,
show glad l am to see you We
have been advertising for you all
over the country. How is it you
haven't seen our advertisement be-
fore?"
81 have been at sea-" said tho Wis
itor, with smile, Sin fishing
smack"
"Sca-fishing smackm gaspcd the
lawyer. You, George! Is it posi-
ble?'
In few words the young man told
his tale. The old solicitor listened
with much interest; then his face grew
grave.
$50 you have not heard the news,
my boy" he said. Your uncle is
dead"
"Dead!" repeated George Neal, sad
~. And we parted in anger merely
because l refused to follow the profess
sion he had chosen for me-"
IF we thought oftener of the king
of terrors there would be fewer quar-
rels," said the lawyer, kindly; "but he,
too, was sorry, George, though when
you hear the rest you may think he
took rather an odd way of showing it.
You know, of course, 1 was the
person most trusted by your uncle.
Besides being his confidential adviser
i was also his friend. Well, as soon as
you left i was called in to draw I'D n
fresh will
"At first, my dear boy, he wavered
between leaving his money to home
for cats and the founding of colony
for reformed pickpockets. These mad
projects, however, soon evaporated,
and, subject to one condition, he made
his property over to you"
With curious expression on his sun
burnt face the young man looked up.
"And that condition." he said.
Excuse me u moment" said Mr..
Furncss, looking at his watch IT ex-
pect lady here presently; let us step
into my private room"
The lawyer led the way, and in the
privacy of this apartment they both
sat down again.
And that condition." said George
Neal, firmly.
NOW, my dear boy" said the law
yer, don't fire up. You have had your
way; let the dead man have his. You
would not let him choose you your pro-
fession, but he would find you some
thing, so he found you Il wife.
"1n some little miserable seaport on
the cast coast your uncle had what
nearly every successful man has now
adays-n poor relation. 1t came TO his
knowledge that this poor relation had
died and left n daughter. This was
quite enough for your uncle, and ho
made it requisite condition that you
marry her.
Tho lady's name is"-
Stop" With his face expressing all
the bitterness he felt, the young man
rose.
Before you continue" said Mr.. Fur
ness. hurriedly, "allow me to say a
word. have confidence in you as n
gentleman, George. but put you on
your guard. The lady is here"
There was knock and the door was
gently opened. The clerk came first;
then the lawyer, with old-fashioned
courtesy, fastened forward to intercept
the visitor. He took her hand and led
her over the threshold.
"Miss Kate Perry" he said; land
this, my dear young lady, Is Mr.. George
Neal!"
All the blood that was in Meals BODY
rushed to his face He stood erasping
at the back of his chair, unable to ut
ter word.
Then the little hand that the lawyer
held started trembling so violently that
it attracted Mr.. Furness' attention, and
he hastily led her to chair. Next he
slyly examined the pair of them.
1T is possible" he said, 'that my
introduction comes trifle late. Am /
wrong in this surmise2"
81 L." stammered Kate. "Mr.
Smith," then she stopped, blushing
deeply.
"Smith?" said the lawyer, mystified.
Smith? 1t is a well known name,
but cannot say that up to the present
l have heard it in connection with this
case.''
At last George Meals tongue was un-
tied, and he fastened to the rescue.
II have met this young lady before"
he said, under very singular circum-
stances; we now meet under circum-
stances stranger still. An explanation
is due to her. and. if you will give me a
little time to explain"
Certain y, certainly" said Mr.. Fur
ness, rubbing his hands. "Take all the
time you require. 1 am quite content to
let Cupid take my place as mediator"
and, with beaming face, he bowed
himself out.
If the old lawyers clerk had any de-
sire to look into that room after his
master had left it, he WINS disannointea.