The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1894-11-01

W iiiiiis plib uOW-
Well, such was the way of the
world.
"Uncle, can I speak to you for Il
minute?"
Mr.. Segrist, setting away the piles
of dusty papers in his library, started
at the sound of the soft, bell-like
| voice.
my child, I thought you and Cora
had gone to the ball."
"Cora has gone, Uncle; but I
thought I would rather remain at
home. Uncle" And here she paused
and hesitated.
"Well, child, what is it?"
"You are my guardian and trustee,
uncle, >" she went on, as if forcing her
self to speak. "Will you tell me how
much. money Cora and 1 have each
got?"
"About ten thousand dollars, Lisa I"
"And can l do as 1 please with it?"
"That depends on circumstances.
Probably yes"
"Well, uncle, want to lend it to
Mr.. Kirkwood to help him get into
business again"
''Child, for what?"
because he has no friends left, un-
cIe. becausa T fool so SORRY for hin, -
said Lisa Segrist, with deepening col
or and downcast eyes. "And, uncle,
he must not know who let him have
it,
"Why not?"
"Oh, because I couldn't bear to
have him know. It could be managed,
couldn't it?"
eyes, suppose. But are you real
ly in earnest, Lisa?"
eyes, uncle.
"Well, we'll, child" said Uucle Sc
grist, smiling, though he was in real
ity deeply moved. "You shall have
your own way"
The next week Mr.. Kirkwood's law
yer informed him that ten thousand
dollars lay at his banking house, sub
ject to his draft or order at any time
"Ten thousand dollars!' cried poor
Guy, quite overwhelmed. 'Who
would lend me ten thousand dollars?"
"That is what l am not at liberty to
inform you," said Mr.. Jessup.
And it was in vain that Guy Kirk
wood, marshalling in his memory all
his probable and improbable friends,
tried to fix the benefit upon one or
the other of them. He could not
place it; he must just accept it in the
spirit in which it had been given.
"And 1 will try to prove to my un-
known friend" he said in choking
voice, "that the favor has not been
bestowed in vain. Upon this founda-
ton will build up the beginning of
more prosperous career.
Kirkwood's words proved almost
prophetic. Five years from that time
he had not only regained his former
position in the commercial world, but
he had shot beyond it; and Cora Sc
grist, who in the meantime had in
dulged in several futile flirtations and
broken off two engagements, began
seriously to consider the propriety of
once more spreading her net for the
bird she had let fly so long ago.
Because l really am getting quite
middle-agedl" said Cora demurely;
"and Mr.. Kirkwood is certainly more
charming than ever"
GUY Kirkwood came often to Sc
| grist's mansion; but Cora, disposed
| though she was to take the most favor
able view of matters, could not but
see that it was more on her sister ac-
| count than ner own.
"Does he really care for her, Won
der?" thought Cora; ''or is 1t only 10
revenge himself upon me for the man
ner in which l dismissed him hve
years ago? Nonsense Lisa lSh
half as pretty as I am, and she never
was. I shall win this battle yet.
Mr.. Kirkwood had just posted let
ter-a missive whereon hung his late
directed to Lisa Segrlst. for he
had learned to love the shy' geh'ie
| girl, and, lacking courage to tell hef
so in words, he had put the substance
of his heart hope on paper
From the post office he went direc'-
lv to old Jessop's law sanctum'
"Have you paid back that ten thou,
sand dollars, according to my orderS'
he said