The herald., 1896-10-28

shot-did everything man with &20, 900
o year can do. 1 was with him great
deal and tried to put check on some of
his excesses, but all to no purpose. He
lived very devil of life was never in
bed before in the morning, smoked like
chimney, drank like fish, and played
old Harry with his constitution generally.
1t was no good trying to argue with him.
If one did, his answer always was, Pm
only going to live for five years, old boy,
and mean to enjoy those years, can tell
you.
''For four years this life went on, and he
then woke up one morning to find he had
only got 10000 and one year Of life left
and-he was madly in love with woman.
She was q widow, absolutely penniless,
but as handsome as paint and as attractive
into the bargain. Poor old Jim became
her abject slave. He was always about
with her, loaded her with presents, and I
gradually saw less and less of him. Ono
day, however, he wrote to me and asked
me to come around to his rooms, as he had
something special he wanted to say to me-
I went and found him in q very excited
state pacing up and down his room like
madman.
"'I've been fool, he said almost as
soon as had closed the door, "a confounded
idiot. have been living like beast for
four years and q half, and thought was
enjoying myself / made an idiotic VOW,
and my moneys all gone bar 10000
Curse it, what fool I've beenp'
"'You know the proverb about split
milk Jim,' / said.
| "He sank into q chair with kind of
groan.H
" Yes, know, he said, but, hang it,
can't help crying over it! For I'm in love
with the best and loveliest woman in the
world, and she'd marry me tomorrow
only have wasted most Of my money.
All, old boy as told you four years ago,
it's funny world. I have made con-
founded mess OF my life, and 1 suppose 1
deserve what I've got, but It's hard, devil-
ish hard
"'Poor old boyp was all could say.
Jim squeezed my hand hard and sat silent,
staring into the glowing fire as if there he
might find some way out Of his porplexity.
I shall never in my life forget that hour
In his rooms can SEQ the whole scene
quite plainly at this moment-the cozy,
we'll furnished room, the pictures on the
walls, and Jim 8 sad face showing up dis
tinctly with the rcd glow of the freight
on it, tell you that scenes photographed
on my memory.
"I should think we sat like that for
close on half an hour, and then Jim. sud-
denly sprang up.
I" Il have it,, he shouted 4 know what
| I'll do. Look here. I've got e10,000 left.
Well, Pm going to try my luck on the
Stock Exchange. If things turn up
trumps, I'll marry and try and live de-
cent life If they don't, well, hang it,
I'll keep my vow and have done with it'll
They tell me revolver bullet doesn't
| hurt much. It's SO soon over'
"By the time left him Jim and had
agreed to go and see q very clever stock
! broker-a friend of mine-the next day
and ask him to do his best.
It's such funny world Jim said as
he shook my hand. Perhaps I may be
lucky, and then my vow can 60 to the
devil and my revolver into the gutter.
"Well, you know what queer jade
Dame Fortune is said to be, and in jim s
ease she lived up to her reputation. My
friend made money for him hand over fist
Every company he put money into seemed
as if it couldn't go wrong, and as thingf
were booming Jim made about $50, 900 or
$40, 900 in three or four months. But he
wouldn't be satisfied with that.
"'I'll go on, he said, till the day be-
and on that day, no matter what the con-
ditions Of the market, I'll sell every blessed
share I've got and then, if all goes well,
I'll be married the next week.
81 didn't see him much during the sue
ceeding two months, as 1 was very busy at
tho time, but he kept sending me notes
telling me all was going well, and know
ing what shares he held I could see on
reference to tho papers that he must have
made q pot Of money.
CAT last the day came on which he was
to sell every share he held. He came into
the club-this very club, by the way
| about Q in the afternoon, and could see
by his face that things had gone all right
with him.
Congratulate me, old chap, he said,
that's all" l wrung his hand hard.
when you've done squashing my hand,
old boy he said, Il went you to come
round to my place.
1--WE took cab and were soon there.
"Now,' said jim, I'm going to chuck
this revolver away, and then 1 shall feel
as free as a lark.
"He took the pistol from drawer, opened
one of tho windows and threw it far away
into the park below.
"'And there goes the last of my bad
luck, please heavenv he shouted gayly.
And tonight you and 1 and the future
Mrs Barham shall have dinner together
to celebrate tho event, and on this day
week I'm going in for matrimony.
"'And bliss, hope, l added laughing
ly.
"'I don't hope, old boy, know Jim
said.
1--WE three dined together that night,
and Jim was in the best of spirits. He
seemed to have taken new lease Of life,
and could see that the woman he was GO.
ing to marry really cared for him. She
seemed, too, as good Us sho was lovely.
"Jim and 1 won't on to the club after
ward and sat up late talking.
"'Do you remember this day five years
ago. he said as we parted ON the doorstep.
nodded.
"'Weil, ism it devtlish funny worlds'
he answered, laughing.
He was right, poor, dear old chap.
And it was evon funnier than he expected,
for that very night tho Three Sisters held
q consultation over him, and before dawn
broke Atropos had cut in two the thread
Of his life."
at say, it is late," Vernon broke off,
and his voice was rather husky. "You go
my way, don't you? Well, come on; I'll
drop you. "-Exchange.