The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-07-31

embarrassed air.
"Nothing wrong with the brokerage
business, I hope?" says tie old man,
kindly.
sNo, sir. The business exceeds my
expectations, F" replies the young man.
"And yet I could wish it were fifty
times its present proportions.
'That's a rather ambitious wish, my
boy" says the older man. "Why this
display Of grasping greed?"
because, sir, it might win me
more favorable consideration at your
hands"
"And why are you so anxious to win
my favorable considerations
The young man hesitates.
s'You are the man, sir he slowly
answers, sswhose good will value
above all others. If I had wealth and
position I might approach you in
far different spirit; but, as l have
neither, r.
"Tut, tut, my boy" says the older
man. "Never mind what you haven't
cot. What do you want? By Jove,
YOU are the second person who has
limited at some mysterious favor with
in the past half hour" And he smiles
at the recollection.
"What I want" says the young
man hurriedly, sis an inestlmable
) treasure. It is yours to give or re-
; fuse. I feel my own unworthiness,
sir, yet Iboldly ask this gift at your
hands. II hope you understand
+ me, sir?"
y sIthink I d." says the older man,
kindly. "But really I didn't know
n that you had ever met"
- "It-it wasn't right, sir" says the
= young man, hurried!y. II met her
g first at the seashore quite by accident
- there was little accident, in fact,
~ but she said she wouldn't distress you
w about it. And our acquaintance
IS rapidly ripened. When she came
~ back to town, I met her at various
= places, sometimes quite by accident
Il andlater on by-by appointment. 1t
wasn't right, sir, but II was very
ID deeplyin love-"
70 's!lhe little Mink" cries the older
,e man. "Why, she never breathed q
word Of this"
!, $50 she told me, sir, and that-and
, that makes my present task all the
IN harder"
n "Well, never mind that. You arc
y. not her dearest friend-and yet I sup
ID pose you think you are. Come, are
you sure she loves you!"
n. II have her word for it, sir. Sh'
m sent me to you"
Ks "Well, we'll, and so quiet and de
mure."
u "Wh-what did you soy, sir?"
II say, why didn't Helen tell me?'
" "Because she wanted to keep it
n secret"
: a "And she was in it too?'
"Sir?"
o. "Well, we'll, she is good girl an
Mt you must make her happy"
7st The two men shake hands solemnly
on the younger mans face beaming wit
ID delight. Then Mr.. Tinsley rises all
VS. goes to the safe that stands in col
20 ner. From it he take large envelope
" "She'll not come to you exactl
he empty-handed, Torrance, he says c
ION he looks the contents Of the '.:>veloi
over. ''I've put asiae FROM time
IT'S time certain securities for her, and
, T see that they now amount to somethin
like $4,000. OF course when I lea1
hs there'll be more"
ne He puts the envelope in the safe ar
comes back to his desk.
ur- "She is very good girl" he CO.
our tinues, "a sweet tempered, duff
4 q girl. Really, I couldn't think more
his her if she were my own child"
"Not your own child?" gasps Il
the young man.
ssts "Certainly not. She is my broth
can Edward daughter When herparen
an died ten years ago took charge ofhe
t. I've brought her up like daughte
No. but she is my niece. You look su
ing prised."
fter 81 am, replied the young man.
you I thought-she was your daughter
eow, 'sShe didn't tell you SO, did she?"
ood "Why IL think she led me to (
believe that such was the case. y -
ling "Astonishing And you've be
rain counting her all this time in the bel
that she was my daughter. Perha
as but, no, I won't say it. I belle
lust you are memorable man. You sure
ase. wouldn't wreck her happiness for t
lear sake Of the paltry dollars. No, L
she Tll-Tll add to that $4,000"
''Sir," says the young man, his ia
all aaame, II would marry your
lead your niece if she didn't have dollar
But, "Spoken like man" cries the {
is gentleman. ''I'll double that 500, 00(
The young man stirs uneasily in
the chair.
ms. ''Wait," says the old man. II ca