Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-08-07
SUBSTANTIAL DREAM

father would overlook his poverty.
One night while lying In sort OF
delirium man cane into his room
who introduced himself as lawyer
from London and told julian that his
nncle had died and left him 100000.
Il 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 Clair, 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 1t
was morning.
WAS il dream?" he cried as he
dressed himself. mo. 1t is impossible.
There is the chair the man sat in.
remember his features distinctly and
every word he said and even the tone
Of his voice. Thank God. ii was no
vlsionl 1t was Il reality"
Julian found after making his toilet
that he was still little feverlsh. with
strange fulness in his head, but
glance at the mirror showed that he
was looking unusually well.
One thing startled him not a 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 a
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. 81 am
sick and nervous. How can II be q
dreamY'
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.
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 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 afiianced.
One morning the young lawyer arose.
cool and clear headed. without n trace
of fever. He looked back upon the
events OF the past week in ama1ement.
He no longer had any belief I'm the
visit of the man from London. II was
dream and nothing else.
81 am in disgraceful fixT he
groaned. IL 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. AMI as the
owner of the card was ushcred into
the office the young lawyer looked at
him In blank surprise.
1t did not take long for Mr. Merely
to state his business.
my young friend he said rather
pompously, lit lis 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 i'm Liverpool. where
he left large estate. and there is half
million for you"
as il another dream" whispered
Julian.
Il don't understand" said the Eng
lishman. somewhat mystified. This is
no dream. 1t Is business"
Then he went on in his matter OF
fact way to make everything clear.
"You have mover called on me be-
fore. have you?" asked Julian.
Certainly not" replied the visitor.
IL 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. land it will
take time to convince me OF its real
ity.'
well. money ought to be tangible
enough" said the lawyer. III you feel
like drawing for IL few thousand now,
I'll arrange ii for YOU"
Such a proposition was not to be re-
fused. and ia 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-
scious 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 I'm obtaining
his legacy and converting II 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 mis-
cry and his greatest happiness.
This was all that he could be induced
to say.