Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-09-05
sUBsTANTIALYDREAM

| Ahtuer Would overlook his poverty.
One night while lying In a sort OF
delirium man came into his room
who introduced himself as a lawyer
from London and told Julian that his
uncle had died and left him 100000.
II must leave In half an hour for
New York." he said. ''but you may ex-
| pect me In week or so, and then the
necessary arrangements will be COM
pleted for placing you In possession of
your Inheritance"
With this the stranger vanished. and
Julian Blair, as he raised himself on
his elbow and looked about the room.
asked himself whether he was awake
or dreaming.
A sudden drowsiness overcame him.
and when he again opened his eyes it
was morning. fi
WAS II a dreamr' he cried as he
dressed himself. mo. 1t is impossible.
There Is the chair the man sat in. L
remember his features distinctly and
every word he said and even the tone
Of his voice. Thank God, it was no
visioni 1t was reality"
Julian found after making his toilet
that he was still little feverish, with
strange fullness I'm his head, but a
glance at the mirror showed that he
was looking unusually well.
One thing startled him not little In
the course OF the morning. After n
brief Interview with one Of the bankers
of the town he walked out on the street
with $500 in his pocket.
A sudden doubt struck him as he
reached the sidewalk. Had he made q
mistake in telling the banker of his
good fortune? II the whole thing was
only dream, as he sometimes suspect
ed, he had done very bad thing.
"Pshaw," he said to himself. 'I am
sick and nervous! How can it be a
dreamT''
By degrees his confidence was re-
stored, and later in the day, when be
saw Mr.. Howard, his manner was we'll
calculated TO impress the millionaire.
BE told the story OF his legacy, and
the rich man took him by the hand
and told him that no man in the wide
world would suit him better as a SON.
in-law.
A week passed away delightfully."-.
Blair found himself the lion Of the
town, but he spent most OF his leisure
time with his affianced.
One morning the young lawyer arose.
cool and clear headed, without a trace
OF fever. He looked back upon the
events of the past week In amazemeut
He no longer had any belief In the
visit of the man from London. 1t was
a dream and nothing else.
Il am in a disgracefuI fxv' he
groaned 81 have lied to Mr.. Howard
and to Alice. have borrowed money
under false pretenses. Nothing will
ever convince people that am not a
swindler,"
The card in Julian's hand bore the
address of Henry Merely, solicitor.
Middle Temple, London, and as the
owner OF the card was ushered into
the office the young lawyer looked at
him In blank surprise.
1t did not take long for Mr.. Morelv
to state his business.
My young friend" he said rather
pompously, lit is n genuine pleasure to
me TO be the bearer of good tidings.
have been two weeks in the country
looking you up Your uncle. John
Blair. died recently in Liverpool, where
he lief; large estate, and there is half
n million for you"
us it another dreamT" whispered
Julian.
~ don't understand" said the Eng
lishman, somewhat mystined. This is
no dream. 1t is business"
Then he went on In his matter OF
ract way to make everything clear.
"Hou have never called on me be-
fore, have your asked Julian.
Certainly not" replied the visitor.
i have Just found you, and it was no
easy matter. / can tell you"
"All OF this is very hard for me to
believe" replied Julian. "and it will
take time TO convince me of its real
ity."
We'll. money ought to be tangible
enough" said the lawyer. "If you feel
like drawing for a few thousand now,
I'll arrange II for you"
Such proposition was not to be re-
fused, and in the course of the day
Julian had $4,000 to his credit in the
bank.
And then he broke down under the
strain.
For long weeks he lay either uncon-
sclous or delirious, and the watchers
by his bedside wondered at his talk.
when he recovered, Julian, warned
by the tricks his Imagination had
played him. lost no time in obtaining
MS legacy and converting it into sub
stantial investments,
When this was done, he led sweet
Alice Howard to the altar.
Once he said to her that he was in
deDted to dream for his greatest mis-
cry and his greatest happiness.
This was all that he could be induced
TO say.
lie had passed through a terrible
crisis, and during the remainder of his
life his greatest desire was to forget
all about It,