The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-19
Tho viii was finished by $50 ana de.

iho VIA WAS uulSlleu ny I.oO duQ de-
posted in the safe. They shook hands,
and Sydney said YEARLY: You'll ex-
ouse me not lunching with you to-day,
won't you? / don't seem to have any APP
petite. And you'll excuse my silence,
too, for the present You'll know all
there is to know pretty soon, expect /"
And no sided out of the door without
looking back.
Il wonder what's up?" muttered the
lawyer us he went back to his desk.
He certainly looks very i'll. Some en-
tanglement? Half his property to Sylvia
Bulpett. who will have plenty of her
own when the old curmudgeon of IA
ther of hers dies. shall know pretty
soon, shall 1? Poor old Cartwrightl'
I'm tho midst of life we are in DEATH"
muttered Sydney as he strolled through
Lincoln's Inn Fields, with the carefully
regulated step Of an invalid. He wished
the sun would not shine SO brightly and
the children scream SO loud. 1t affected
his nerves. Sydney had nerves now. He
wanted only to hide away and die in
peace. Was there anything left to do?
Stayl He thought it would DO the prop
er thing tosay goodby to his elder broth
or, whom he theoretically hated but
who was the only near relation he pos
sessed. To his brothers. grim offices in
East India avenue Sydney now slowly
betook himself
I'm fey, he thought, with wan
smile. He'll think I've come to beg of
him
Tho prosperous merchant was ell
gagged, but would be ut liberty i'll few
rtt1fn Sx-1,
watching tho half dozen busy clerks
Not seldom he had blessed his stars that
ho was not clerk. AT this moment he
would have changed places gladly with
the very Junior, who was copying letters
and solacing himself meantime with
: surreptitious acid drop. He had at least
a future.
Suddenly the door opened, and the
merchant came forward.
Very sorry, Syd,' he remarked.
'Tho fact is I've got three or four men
In my room wrangling over some syndi-
cate business, and they may be ever so
long"
1T doesn't matter in tho least cx-
claimed Sydney, much relieved. 81 had
really nothing to say. only called as
was going by to Gsk how you werc''
The merchant stared. Ho was not
used to these little attentions
II may be going for a journcy-a
longish journey-before long don't
know yet, remarked Sydney
Rather sudden. eh?" replied his
brother. "Whcre are you going?"
That's just what isn't settled yet, {"
observed Sydney, with faint smile.
Nothing is decided. But you necdn t
be surprised if you hear-I'm gone.
may have to so all i'll minute at last
Remember mo ut home, will you?
There's a sovereign I've been going to
give to little Sydney for the last two
months. Do you mind taking it? Good
by"
Ho rushed away, feeling he had mado
an ass of himself. But soon they would
know the reason of his altered Clemo:nor
and make allowances for him. He re-
turned to his chambers. His" cham
bers! He had just taken them for an
other year. n month would probably
- have been quito long enough.
He heavcd sigh and looked mochau-
ically i'll the box for letters. There was
the brown envelope of telegram, and
his heart beat wildly, dangerously, om-
inously. He must really cultivate calm
ness
Everything changed Cancel all ar
rangements. Come at once to Sylvia "
The room swan round him, and the
windows waltzed madly for q few sec
onds Then, instead of dying, as no ex-
pectetl. he found himself pretty we'll
What had happened to change every
thing? Was Sylvia's father dead? Had
she met with an accident? The thought
of this last possibility had made his
heart beat dangerously again. In half a
minute, quite forgctful of heart disease,
he was driving as fast as a hanson
could take him toward Mr.. Bulpett' s
house i'll Hampstead
There all was commotion the very
footman who opened the door was in
tears. ''Old Bulpetts not dead then, ~"
was Sytncy's immediate deduction.
"Who is dcad:' asked Sydney of a
numbering maidscrvant. - 49,
Neither Of them yet, sir REPLIED
she, and SO hardened was Sydney to
mortuary reflections that her remark
seemed quite natural Here comes moor
master
Sydncy's heart jumped, as it always
did at sight of his tyrant.
Forgive me, my boy; I've done you
injustice, sobbcd tho old gentleman.
ut was all pridc-all internal pride.
I'm dying man, and beg you to for
give me-
"Wherc is Sylvia? Is she well?" ex-
claimed Sydney.
Bulpett burst into tears. ''She's very
Ill, very ill-dying, too. we arc afraid \,