Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-06-15

to tell YOU"
felt little curiosity. for the greater
matter moved me, but passed after
him into the berth.
well. Ardick." he began, ''to save
you guessing. will go straight to the
bowels of the matter. have fallen
heir to great fortune"
II congratulate you, with all my
SOUL" l cried. NO man in the world
deserves the luck better!"
"Avast! you over-exalt me-" he
laughed. But it is the strangest
thing in the world. To come to the
point, then, it is Torrycorn's letter
which has brought so much to pass.
First, certain cousin, that never
saw. died, and left me his entire great
possessions. He did it out of regard
for my mother. it seems, whom he
greatly loved. While dying he wrote
a letter to Mr.. Hope, his dear friend
and business agent, begging that he
be executor of the will, and sent the
letter to sea captain, who was soon
to sail for Havana. By mistake the
letter. went to Capt. Torrycorn, and
soon after Mr.. Hope himself sailed for
Panama. Having considerable bust
ness on the way he was deferred from
the first plan of his voyage, and
reached this point later than he had
expected. Yet still he did, arrive in
precise season to meet us, to receive
his letter, and to find at his very elbow
the man the letter concerned. Shall
you find the match of all this for
strangeness and the very whim of for
tune?'
Indeed" said I, much surprised, lit
passes all that I ever heard of. But
what is the amount of the fortune?"
"It is set forth in the letter to be
ninety thousand pounds sterling, but
may fall something short" he an
swered. ut is mainly invested in lands
about New York and in ships. 1t was
in the business of the last that my
cousin made his fortune. I mean in
the plantation. trade. 1t is bit
strange that never heard of him, but
then his ships piled mostly between
our easterly ports and New York, and
l had no great knowledge of matters in
those parts"
But here something gave me little
start. "Ships, then" said I, will cut
a considerable figure with you. Do
you mean to keep them or sell them?"
THAT l can answer better when
see them, and likewise come to some
determination as to the other prop
erty," he answered. But it may be l
apprehend you. You would like to be-
speak a berth?"
1T seems hasty and eager to men
tion it," I replied, little in depreca-
ton, but the fact is"
Say no more" he cried, clapping me
on the back. Can you doubt me?
Why, man, you shall be second mate
of my best ship. After that mate, and
then captain. Why not? And your
pay shall start with round sum, and l
not cheated, either, for you are worth
it. Sellinger at first shall be your SUI
perior-for l have him also in mind, to
advance his fortunes-and l think
you could not ask for better"
God bless you!' l cried. This is
more than you think!"
In spite. of me the tears came into
my eyes.
"Why, Ardick, man, you have some
thing behind the lighter!" he said,
looking at me sharply. Nay, out with
it and relieve your mind. much doubt
if you will find more sympathetic
ears"
THAT I know" I said. with sob,
"but, indeed, am but poor creature.
I think I have lost the little courage l
had. Yet here is the matter. since you
are foolish enough to consent to hear
it," And with no words spared and
many flounderings and pullings up
disclosed my secret.
"And So" he said with an odd kind
of precision. that is the thing behind
the lighter? A stirring enough little
matter, too. but not calling for much
dwelling on"
Sir" l cried, reproachfully.
NAY, but hear me- he said, waving
his hand. Eight years ago
l was young and was in love. thought
as you did, and was intoxicated in the
same fashion. l married after a
time"
''In two years my wife died, he went
on, his voice dropping and SOLDERING.
Those two years were happier than
all the time before or since. When
it came to the last I asked Margaret
to thank God for me that He had given
me the sweet loan of her. promised
that I would strive to join her some
day, notwithsta nding my many imper-
iections, which still l mean to do, yet
in chief through the merits of Christ.
blessed be His name! for He must
make up my lack. And now to your
matter, which you must think have
strayed from. Having been in this
way happy myself, conceive it a good
and sweet thing if might make you do
likewise. and this l believe l can do.
l have now neither kith nor kin
poor George Benther was surely the
last. as thought another was before
him--and it will be fitting if name an
heir. Why not you, Ardick, whom in
truth I love? I will adopt you, and
so at last shall have son. And now
do you think your matter worth much
dwelling on, for have we not found a
way to mend it? l trow my heir and
the agent of my ships, with good VEN
lures of his own and what not, may
aspire to this young woman's hand?
If not, let me know, and we will see
whether the house of Reginald lynn
has forgotten how to uphold its hon
or by the sword!'
Long before the end of this epilogue,