The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-19

| Wnat lie Calieu 50 mUCn I6SlSbiDS pOWtI d
exists in your frame. He asked me if yoI
were not of a long-lived race"
THAT is as people may judge" replied
my grandfather died at so, and my father a
"The doctor owned that you had won
derfuIly strong constitution"
"Who said hadn't ?" exclaimed the in
valid feebIy
"You may rely on it, you would pre-
serve your health better if you had not tht
trouble Of these vexatious dodgers. Have
you thought about the life annuity?" saiC
| Ramin as carelessly as he could, considering
how near the matter was to his hopes ane
wishes
"WBy, have scruples," ;" returned Bonelle
coughing II do not wish to take you ID
My longevity would be the ruin of you"
To meet that difficulty" quickly replied
the mercer, "we can reduce the interest"
But / must have high interest" placidly
| returned Monsieur Bonelle
Ran1in, on hearing this, burst into loud
| fit of laughter, called Monsieur Bonelle a
sly old fox, gave him n poke in the ribs
which made the old man cough for five min
utes, and then proposed that they should
| talk it over some other day. The mercer
4
that he felt as strong as a man of 40.
Monsieur Ramin felt in no hurry to con-
elude the proposed agreement. "The later
one begins to pay the better" he said, as he
| descended the stairs.
Days passed ON and the negotiation made
| no way. It struck the observant tradesman
that all was not right Old Marguerite sew
| eral times refused to admit him, declaring
| her master was asleep; there was something
/ mysterious and forbidding in her manner
/ that seemed to Monsieur Ramin very omin-
| Gus. At length sudden thought occurred
1 to him; the housekeeper, wishing to be-
come her masters heir, had heard his scheme
and opposed it. On the very day that he
arrived at this conclusion, he met lawyer,
with whom he had formerly had some trans
actions, coming down the staircase. Tine
| sight sent chill through the mercer's COM
mercial heart, and presentfment-oue OF
| those presentiments that seldom deceive
| told him it was too late. He had, however,
| the fortitude to abstain from visiting Mon
sieur BonelIe until evening came; when he
went up, resolved to see him in spite of all
| Marguerite might urge. The door was half
| open, and the old housekeeper stood talking
| on the landing 10 q middle-aged man in a
| dark cassock.
! the priests at him." thought Ranin, in
wardly groaning at his own folly In allow
ing himself to be forestalEed.
You cannot see Monsieur tonight" !"
! sharply said Marguerite, as he attempted TO
pass her.
ALAS is my excellent friend so very ill?n
asked Ramin, in mournful tone.
"Sir," eagerly said the clergyman, catch
ing him by the button of his coat, " if you
are indeed the friend of that unhappy man
do seek 10 bring him into more suitable
frame OF mind. / have seen many dy ing
men, but never so much obstinacy, never
such infatuated belief in the duration of
lifen
"Then you think he really is dyine?"
asked Ramin and, IN spite of the melan-
choly accent he endeavored to assume, there
was something so peculiar in his tone that
the priest looked at him very fixediy as he
slowly replied:
"Yes, sir, think he is."
"Ah!U was all Monsieur Ramin said; and
as the clergyman had now relaxed his hold
of the button, Ramin passed in in spite of the
remonstrances of Marguerite. who rushed
after the priest. He found Monsieur BonelIe
still in bed and in towering rage.
"Oh! Ramin, my friend" he eroaned,
"never take housekeeper and never let
her know you have any property. They
are harpies, Ramin, harpies! Such day as
l have had. First, the lawyer, who comes
to write down my last testamentary dispo-
sitions,' as he calls them; then the priest,
who gently hints that am dying man.
Oh, what day"
"And did p0u make your will, my excel
lent, friend 2" softly asked Monsieur Ramin,
with keen look.
Make my will" Indignantly exclaimed
the old man; make my will what do you
mean, sir? Do you mean to say am dy
ing?"
min.
Then why do you ask me if have been
making my will ?n angrily resumed the old
man. He then began to be extremely abu-
sive.
"My dear friend" at length said Ramin,
ON perceiving that the old gentleman had
fairly exhausted himself and was lying
painting on his back. you are indeed lam
entable instance of the lengths to which the
greedy lust of lucre will carry our poor hu-
man nature. 1t is really distressing TO see
Marguerite, a faithful, attached servant, sud-
denly converted into a tormenting harpy
by the prospect of a legacy! Lawyers and
priests flock around you like birds OF prey,
drawn hither by the scent of gold. Oh, the
miseries of having delicate health combined
with a sound constitution and large prop
erty!"
Ramin," groaned the old man, looking
inquiriugly into his visitors face, you are
again going to talk to me about that an
nuity-I know you are"
My excellent friend. it is merely to de-
liver you from painful position
i am sure, Ramin, you think in your
soul / am DYING" whimpered Monsieur
Bonelle.
absurd, my dear sir. Dying? 1 will
prove to you that you have never been in
better health. In the first place you feel no
pain"
Excepting from rheumatism" groaned
Monsieur Bonelle.
Rheumatism! who ever died Of rheum-
atisni? And if that be all o.
No, it is not ALL" interrupted the old
man, with great irritability; what would
you say 10 the gout getting higher and
higher up every day?"
"The gout is rather disagreeable, but if
there is nothing else
Yes, there is something else," sharply
said Monsieur Bonelle. There is an
asthma that will scarcely let me breathe,
and a racking pain in my head that does
not allow me moments ease. But if you
think l am dying, Ramin, you are quite
mistaken"
No doubt my dear friend, no doubt;