The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-24

hsge ana there in the world; and not too
oftsn.
His name. by the way, was not John.
sou. but II win answer all the purposes
of my story TO call him SO,
It was a name handed down through
many a generation of noble ancestors
that no had carried across the channel
when he was nearly nifty years of age.
together with the very small remnant
of fortune which remained after one OF
his friends had swindled him.
JohRson was exactly the person to be
swlndied. His trustful, generous heart
made him an easy prey.
II don't like leaving my native land"
he said to me a day or SO before his de.
parture. But the fact Is, / can no long
er afford to live In England; so must
avail myself of the Inexpensive. CONT
nsniai style OF existence. I am hound
for Paris. which. after all, will not ba
going very far away"
Johnson had been living abroad for
more than year, when I decided that
Il was about time should be looking
him up,
He was not good at correspondence,
neither was I.
We exchanged occasional letters which
seemed to be full OF nothing. so wanted
to see with my own eyes how he was
bearing his changed fortunes.
II was In the small ''entreBol" OF one
of the tall houses OF the old Latin quar-.
ter Of the capital that found my friend
established.
He declared that he was very Jolly, but
] did not believe him, Il was only sort
of dogged determination to look on the
sunny eide OF things In general that
made him say so.
How could q man, no longer in his
hrst youth DO folly" In a stufty little
lodging where bis head almost touched
the ceiling. ana where his frugal meals
were sent In by "traiteur7"
johnson was Just the fellow who ought
10 be the head OF an affiuent British
household. with sons and daughters
growing up around him. Or he should
have been wealthy bachelor uncle alb
solHtely adored by large contingent
of nephewB and nieces-solitude did not
seem the proper setting for him.
However. he took for his motto what
ever IL, is best" trotted me about Paris
with an air OF part ownership which waa
infinitely comic; in fact. did his level
best to make my fortnlghts stay q
pleasant one.
He would have Insisted on giving me
mp his bed. end migrating 10 an inlet
attic on the fith door. hut would not
hear OF It.
was Obliged TO pretend that should
certainly sufiocase In the small closet
he dignlfied by the title OF "chambre
n coueher," aud that / had engaged
quarters at one OF the nearest hotels on
my way from the railroad station, and
before foundihin out.
Though we Had known each other
during q good many years. 81 was only
when my stay In Paris drew very near
its close that JolHson-one evening-be-
came confidential.
am oct vary likely to forget that
evening ether. for had come out,rath-
er sick and decidedly shuddering, from
visiting ''fAe Morgue."
DeeiarAsg INTO be one OF the sights OF
the city. which . strong-nerved man
ought 20 see once Ia his life. had pre-
vailed on johnson to accompany me.
A group OF exetksd women and a man
or two were standing by the entrance;
they told % that the body OF a girl--R
Young and pretty girl-had been carried
in not long before. She had been found
hoating in<he Seine; case Of suicide,
no doubt
III think-I'll take your arm-my
dear feiiowl" stanDered Johnson. as
we came out from this CHASTITY spec
Iacle.
Then felt sorry I had urged him
against hls.wlll. for his face was as
white az chalk. and his manner was
that d. q u1an walking In dream.
at temindsd me-" he said, after we
had walked come little way, and he
seemed better. "of a girl who was
drosgnSd good many years ago. Per-
hapS IN tell 700 about II by and by"
did not question him. The little 70
nance OF his life came out quite mt
urally, as we sat together in the stuffy
"entresol." waiting for dinner.
81 am such a thorough fogy now"
remarked johnson from the depths OF
the big voltalrs chair into which had
forced him. that dare say, Frank,you
could hardly imagine me young, and
fairly good looking"
You forget" answered, that we
were both tolerably young when we
FIRST made acquaintance. And. in my
opinion, you are good looking now"
"Oh. yes. to you perhaps. But could
you imagine me man with whom q
girl-pretty and much sought after
would fail In loVe1 Yet so It was, and
4 think l shall feel better II tell you
about It this evening"
Tell me by all means" said. 81
never knew before that you were q man
with a story
He smiled rather sadly.
who has not story? Only we do
not happen to know IT, don't suppose
that we who have failed in life as re-
CARDS happiness are in the minority
Well. I too. had my dreams OF n wife and
a home. At first they were vague and
shadow-like; they only began to take
for mwhen I knew Alice Temple. have
called her pretty but think II was the
intelligence expressed in her eyes that
one noticed most--Or. perhaps. the swift
emile that came 10 her lips when she
spoke"
I waited patiently. Presently John.
son went on with HIS story.
I'VE were engaged. There was moth.
ing 10 wait for--I could afford 10 marry
md Alice had little money-not much
and was glad Of II. ! should not have
wished 10 be one OF those nj whom thu
world points as n man who. by marry
ing haB done well for himself"
MY dear friend I exclaimed. mo
one could ever Imagine you hunting NJ.
ter money. ] am afraid you have under.
valued II all Of your life. and win keop
up the habit TN the end"
johnson smiled.