The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-09-06
A SUBSTANTIAL DREAM.

practice. He had proposed for Alice
Howard, but had no hope that her
father would overlook his poverty.
One night while lying in sort of
delirium a man came into his room
who introduced himself as a LAWYER
from London and told Julian that his
uncle had died and left him $500, 900.
1 must leave in half an hour for
New York, he said, "but you may
expect me in week or so, and then
the necessary arrangements will be
completed for placing you in posses
sion 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.
"Was it dream % he cried as he
dressed himself. "No. 1t is impos-
sible. There is the chair the man sat
in. remember his features distinct
ly and every word he said and even
the tone of his voice. Thank God, it
was no vision ! 1t was a reality"
Julian found after making his toilet
that he was still little feverish, with
a strange fullness in 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
a brief interview with one of the
bankers of the town he walked out on
the streets with $500 in his pocket.
A sudden doubt struck him as he
reached the sidewalk. Had he made
a mistake in telling the banker ofhis
good fortunel If the whole thing
was only dream, as he sometimes
he had done a very bad
thing.
'Pshaw," he said to himself, "I
am sick and nervous How can it
be a dream?"
By degrees his confidence was re-
stored, and later in the day, when he
saw Mr.. Howard, his manner was
well calculated to impress the mil
lionaire. He 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 afianced.
One morning the young lawyer
arose, cool and clear headed, with
out trace of fever. He looked back
upon the events of the past week in
He no longer had any
belief in the visit of the man from
London. It was dream and moth
l am IN a olSgracetuI hx 7, he
groaned. ''I have lied to Mr.. How
ard and to Alice. l have borrowed
under false pretenses. Moth
ing will ever convince people that I
am not swindler."
x x X X X
The card in Julian's hand bore the
address of Henry Morely, 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.. More
1y to state his business.
my young friend" he said rather
pompously, "it is a genuine pleasure
to me to be the bearer of good tidings.
1 have been two weeks in the coun-
try looking you up. Your uncle,
John Blair, died recently in Liver
pool, where he left a large estate,
and there is half million for you. Z"
''Is it another dream?" whispered
Julian.
II don't understand" said the
somewhat mystifed.
"This is no dream. 1t is business. i"
Then he went on in his matter Of
fact way to make everything clear.
"You have never called on me be-
fore, have your" asked Julian.
Certainly not," replied the visi-
tor. "I have just found you, and it
was no easy matter, l can tell you.'
"All of this is very hard for me to
believe" I" replied Julian, "and it will
take time to convince me of its real
ity."
"Well, money ought to be tangible
enough" said the lawyer. eff you
feel like drawing for a few thousand
now, I'll arrange it for you.'
Such proposition was not to be
refused, and in the course of the day
Julian had $Io,o to his credit in
the bank.
And then he broke down under the
strain.
For long weeks he lay either un-
conscious or delirious, and the watch
ers by his bedside wandered at his
talk.
When he recovered, Julian, warned
by the tricks his imagination had
played him, lost no time in obtaining
his 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
debted to dream for his greatest
misery and his greatest happiness.
This was all that he could be in
duced to say.
He had passed through terrible
crisis, and during the remainder of
his life his greatest desire was to for
get all about it.
SOME CURIOUS THINGS ABOUT CORN.
A farmer says there are some Gu
rious things about corn, and one is,