The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-22

TO your little income. Not by les
sons, Ethel, darling; not by lessons.
| can't bear to see you working away
the pretty tips off those dear little
fingers Of yours with stunning
scales on the piano for lot of stupid,
gawky schoolgirls; it's by a much
simpler way than that; I know of a
perfectly safe investment for that
three hundred that you've got in New
Zealand -Four per Cents. Can you
not have heard that New Zealand
securities are in very shaky way
just at PRESENT."
Every shaky, Cecil?" Ethel ans
wered in surprise. "Why, Mr.. Cart
wright told me only week ago they
we're as safe as the Bank of Eng
landW
'Mr. Cartwright's an ignorant old
martinez" Cecil replied vigorously.
"He thinks because the stocks in
scribed and the dividends are pay
able in Threadneedle Street that the
colony of New Zealand's perfectly
solvent. Now, Pm in the Colonial
Office, and know a great deal better
than that. New Zealand has over
borrowed, assure you; quite over
borrowed; and a serious fall is GER
tain to come sooner or later. Mark
my words, Ethel darling; if you
don't sell out those New Zealand
Fours, you'll find your three hun
dred has sunk to hundred and fifty
in rather less than half no timer
Ethel hesitated, and looked at him
in establishment. "That's very queer"
she said, "for Mr.. Cartwright wants
me to sell out my little bit Of Mid
land and put it all into the same
New Zealands. He says they're so
safe and pay SO we'll"
"Mr. Cartwright indeed" Cecil
cried contemptuously. "What means
on earth has he of knowing? Didn't
he advise you to buy nothing but
three per cents, and then let you get
some Portuguese Threes at fifty,
which are really skies, and exceed
ingly doubtful securities? What's
the use of trusting a man like that, l
should like to know? No, Ethel, if
you'll be guided by me-and I have
special opportunities of knowing
about these things at the Colonial
Office-you'll sell out your New Zea-
lands, and put them into much
better investment that l can tell
you about. And if / were you, I'd
say nothing about it to Mr.. Cart
wright"
"But, Cecil, I never did anything
in business before without consulting
himl I should be afraid of going
quite wrong"
Cecil took her hand in his with
real tenderness. Though he was
trying to deceive her-for her own
good-he loved her dearly in his
heart of hearts, and hated himself
for the deception he was remorse-
fully practising upon her. Yet. for
her sake, he would go through it.
"You must get accustomed to trust
ing me instead of him darling" he
said softly. "When you are mine
forever, as Ihope you will be soon, you
will take my advice, of course, in all
such matters, won't you? And you
may as we'll begin by taking it now.
have great hopes, Ethel, that before
very long my circumstances will be
so much improved that / shall be
able to marry you'll hardly know
how quickly; perhaps even before
next Christmas. But meanwhile, darl-
ing, [ have something to break to you
that | dare say will grieve you little
for the moment, though it's for your
ultimate good, birdie-for your ulti-
mate good.
The Colonial Office people have
selected me to go to Jamaica on some
confidential Government business,
which may keep me there for three
months or so. It's dreadful thing
to be away from you so long, Ethel;
but if manage the business sue
cessfully-and / shall, know
shall get promoted when leone back,
we'll promoted, perhaps to the chief
clerkship in the Department; and
then we could marry comfortably
almost at once"
"To Jamaical Oh, Cecil How
awfully far! And suppose you were
to get yellow fever or something"
"But l won't Ethel; l promise you
won't, and I'll guarantee it with
kiss, birdie; so now, that's settled.
And then, consider the promotion!
Only three months, probably, and
when l come back, we can be actual
ly married. It's wonderful stroke
of luck, and l only heard of it this
morning. l couldn't rest till | came