People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-06-15
CHAPTER II.

The House in Twenty-Ninth Street.
The house in Twenty-ninth street
was a solid and substantial one which
could only be occupied by a man of
wealth. 1t was handsomely fur
nished, and all the appointments
were such as to confirm the impress
sion that its occupant was, to say
the least, in easy circumstances
financially. But it happens often
times that outward impressions are
far from correct 1t was fact that
Paul Morton, who had lived here for
ten years, was on the verge of ruin.
and knew that unless some help
should come he would be compelled
to leave his fine residence and sink
into poverty and obscurity.
he was a downtown merchant, but
lived by the hope of large gains, had
INDUCED in outside speculatious
which had slapped the springs OF his
prosperity and brought him face to
face with ruin.
just at this juncture, on reaching
home one day, jaded and anxious. he
found that guest had arrived whom
he had not seen for years. Ralph
Raymond was his cousin, and of
about the same age as himself. As
bows they had been sworn friends
and comrades, and each had promised
the other that if he died first, with
out family ties, he would leave the
survivor his entire property, what.
ever it might amount to.
When they became young men.
Paul Morton remained in New York,
but Ralph went, after few years. to
China, where he had spent his sub
sequent life with brief intervals. as
a successful merchant. Paul Nor
ton heard from time to time of his
success, and that he had accumulated
a fortune, and the thought occurred
to him, for earlier generous feelings
had been swallowed up in the greed
OF gain, IF he only dies first, | shall
be greatly the gamer"
When he met his friend. he found
him greatly changed. He was thin.
sallow, and to outward appearances
hadn't long to live.
You find me greatly changed.
Paul. do you not?" said Ralph Raw
mOnd.
Yes, you are changed, of course,
for | have not seen you for twenty
years, was the reply.
But | am looking very i'll, am /
not?"
'You are not looking we'll; but per-
haps it is the change of climate"
ut is something more than that
said Ralph, shaking his head. "Old
friend feel that | have not many
months to live. l have within nv
frame the seeds Of fatal disease.
which | cannot much longer stave
Of. feel its insidious approaches.
and | know that my weakened vital
powers cannot much longer resist
them Ihave one favor to ask"
What is it?"
MAY spend the short remainder
Of my life in your house? l shrink
from going among strangers. 1t will
be a great relief to me if can feel
that | am in the house of nv old
friend when the solemn messenger
arrives
Surely" said Paul Morton. u
hope you are mistaken in YOUR
gloomy representations; but, how /
ever that may be, you shall be well !
come here as long as it pleases YOU
to stay"
Thank you; l was sure you would (
consent As to my being mistaken, /
that is hardly possible. This time
next year | shall not be numbered .
among the living" /
Looking at his thin face and at
tenuated frame, Paul Morton felt 1
that his words were probably cor /
rect. and his heart glowed with ex-
ultation as he felt that Ralph Ray
mOnd was without family ties, and /