The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-10-24

49, W BRAAANNAA AAAANA , \ VA
most forgot his existence.
"One morning, however, about tive
years later, when / was sitting over "a
late breakfast, my servant came in and
told me a rough, dirty-looking man
wanted to see me.
ST told him you were at breakfast.
sir West said, but he said that didn't
matter, he was sure you'd see him all
the same.
"sWhat name did he give2' I asked,
wondering who on earth my visitor
could be.
'Barham. I think he said, sir, my
servant replied.
Il jumped up and ran into the hall,
and there l found Jim sitting.
"'Come in, old man. I said, and
shook him warmly by the hand.
Jim followed me into the dining
room, and when / shut the door SIT
down at the table and cut off a great
chunk Of bread.
"'In. speak when I've eaten a bit. he
said, and broke into a laugh. Funny
thing, a man with 6 100000 being near
" starved!'
II looked at the poor chap a~nxiously,
thinking his head had been turned with
the trouble he had gone through. but
though he was in an ' e dirtier and
more ragged condition than when / last
saw him, be had no look of the mad
man.
when he had crammed the last
piece of bread into his mouth he jumped
up and seized me by the shoulders.
ct am not mad. old chap, or dream
ing, though you know you think 1 am.
Look at this letter, and then tell me
if you don't think this is a funny world.
Il read the letter quickly.
"'Good heavens, it's true!' was all /
could say.
Eyes said Jim, I'm the proud pos
SCISSOR Of g100.OOO, left me by an old
uncle who refused to give me a cent
six months ago. 1t is a funny world.
"He fell into a chair and burst into
a roar of laughter, and 1 couldn't help
joining him.
"'But look here. old boy Jim said,
suddenly growing serious again, this
is not all I came for. / came to tell you
that you've got to share this with me.
Well have a real good time with this
money. It's no good shaking your
head; you must join me. And I'll tell
you what I'm going to do with it. Tn
not going to invest it or speculate with
it or do any of hat nonsense. I'm go
ing to spend it. I've had a CHASTITY, aw-
full time of it for the last six years; I've
lived among people you'd scarcely care
to touch; I've been an o%utcast, a scum
of the earth. a sewer rat. And it's all
because of the lack of this %confounded
money. Now I've got it I'm going to
make it pay me back for some of the
ills its want has caused me. I'm going
to live for five years. Ishall have 30.
600 a year and you'll share it with me
and on this day five years hence. wher
the moneys all gone-as it will be-I'n
going to blow my brains outi'
HE stopped for a moment and bega1
to pace up and down the room.
1sDon't talk like that, { said: 'yor
eknoW you don't meanst4He,ean99.
fto.ma mt bs-A~ruQs On NY snouluSAs
aHd rocked me straight in the face.
"sOld chap he said, solemnly, ]
do mean it. I am going to live for five
years, and I sw.ear before God that or
this day five years hence | shall put {
bullet into my brain. l swear IT,"
Vernon broke off and looked at tbs
clock.
"I say, it's getting very late" h
said; 'Pn finish this yarn anothe
day."
"No, no; go on" I said.
"Well, Jim got his money all righ-
banked it and started to live. He wen
in for every kind of luxury, yachtet
; raced, shot-did everything a man wit
100000 a year can do. Twas with hi
! a great deal, and tried to put a chez
: on some of. his excuses, but all to I
purpose. He lived a very devil of
! life, was never in bed before in tt
: morning, smoked like a chimney, drar
] like a fish and played old Harry wit
I his constitution generally. 1t was /
good trying to argue with him; if OF
did his answer always a I'm on
going to live for five years, old boy, al
I mean to enjoy those years, I can tt
YOU
.For four years this life went on, al
he then woke up n morning to fiji
! he had only got 100000 and one year
life left, and-he was madly in love wi
a She was a widow, absolui
I " penniless, but as handsome as pain
and as attractive into the bargain. Pc
= old Jim became her abiect slave. ]
was always about with her, loaded h
with presents, and / gradually saw le
and less of him. Ono day, however,
e wrote to me and asked me to col
: around to his rooms. as he had son
!, thing special he wanted to say to n
/ went and found him in a very excit
.Sstate, pacing up and down his ro'
{ like a mailman.
~ "Tve been a fool he said, almost
~ soon as / had closed the door, a G
founded idiot. I have been living
II a beast for four years and a halt, {
thought ! was enjoying myself.
made an idiotic VOW, and my none
~ all gone, barring 10000. Curse
what a fool I've been!'"
ia "tYou know the proverb about s.
~ milk, JIM ! said.
DI