Chance Encounters, page 29
As the clock ticked down the minutes and the hands moved across the hour, they all eased into the strange situation, very much aware that although new, it nonetheless felt made-to-measure comfortable.
“Oh, by the way,” Chance interrupted the flow, pulling something wrapped in a handkerchief from his pocket. “This is something from our mine for you.” And he unwrapped a small bar of gold. They passed it around, admiring its shine. For its size it was heavy.
“How much is it worth, do you think?” Nathan asked.
“As of two days ago, exactly $3,174.”
Nathan whistled, “That’s a lot.” He looked at his wife. “We ought to give him something in return.”
“What?” young Emily asked, then she turned to Chance. “What would you like?”
Chance looked around the room and pointed to a good-sized Oriental carpet. “That.”
“You want a rug?” Nathan was astonished. “Whatever for?”
“I need it to kidnap somebody.” There was total silence in the room. Chance tried to look apologetic. “All my life I wanted to kidnap somebody, just once more.”
Emily started laughing until tears spilled from her eyes and flowed under her glasses. Chance joined in with his deep baritone. The two of them howled, then slowly subsided, only to break out again. The sound reverberated around the room, rattling the fine china in the sideboard.
The young couple was speechless. Emily looked at her mother in shock. She’d always felt that she knew her mother as well as any person could be expected to know another, but suddenly realized that she really didn’t. She could see that when her mother passed Chance a fresh glass of wine, her hand lingered on his. She also didn’t miss the shine in her mother’s eyes, nor the beam in Chance’s.
Later in the sitting room, Chance and Emily sat by themselves in the corner.
“You are not going to disappear again?” Emily asked, her voice quavering.
“No, I’m not,” he replied forcefully. Then giving her an appraising look, he ventured, “You’re not married now, are you?”
“No. And you?”
“Was once. Just two sons in Baton Rouge.”
“Yes, I saw them. Wonderful boys.” They lapsed into recollections, weaving their lives together.
On the other side of the room, having tea, Emily the younger, kept an eye on them. The two had their heads together, smiling and laughing in midst of an animated back and forth. She was astounded how her mother sparkled and how Chance radiated satisfaction. They both looked so young. It was unbelievable that the two knew each other and shared such deep feelings. It was going to be interesting to get used to such unexpected developments. She examined the bottom of her cup, the arrangement of tea leaves there, muttering, “Why didn’t you alert me?” But then she remembered her dream last night, something about expecting the unexpected... Well, this certainly qualified.
Emily thought hard. What had Chance said in the gold field? Something about not really looking for gold, that he was looking for his life. Emily had the feeling that he had finally found it. She looked into her cup again, and smiled, the tea leaves couldn’t be wrong.
The End
Postscript: Folded in the family Bible, the following letter was found and treasured throughout the years.
My dear Neelys:
First let me report that I finally have a permanent address. I have bought a fine house in Toronto, large enough to hold three families, furnished with the best appointments and latest conveniences. It comes with a full staff and I find it hard to get used to being served, but I’m told it is expected if I want to live in “fine” society.
As I reported in my last letter, Providence has rewarded me with riches beyond my expectations in the Omicron gold fields that you no doubt have read about in the newspapers. I’m a partner in a mine that continues to produce rich yields. How long it continues is again up to Providence, but let me reassure you that that I’m rich enough already, far more than I can use in two lifetimes.
To express my appreciation for your fine care of my boys, please accept the enclosed bank draft for your use. Should you need it, there is a lot more available. It is my avowed intent to share my good fortune with all my relatives. To this purpose, I ask that you forward the second draft to my esteemed in-laws, the Sutcliffes. I intend to write to them soon with full details of my state and happenstance. Presently I find myself very engaged with both business and personal matters.
I’m still busy turning my new house into a home. I am also setting myself up in business, funding a lab, researching the exciting field of electricity. I am helping to design machines driven by steam, to generate electric power to be transmitted over copper wires. Mark my words, within our lifetimes we will be able to light our homes, our streets and factories with this wonderful new invention.
Now to the main point of my letter. I’m soon to get married to a wonderful woman who has been in and out of my life for years. Emily is an amazing person with fine ideals and proper sensibilities. I know Anabelle would have liked and approved of her. She has grown children, a son in England and a daughter living close in Toronto. She is well off in her own right and spends huge sums on charities and endowments for worthy causes. She is an active member of the hospital board and the university.
In two weeks we will be conducting the marriage ceremony, but intend to have another such event in the summer which I hope you’ll both be able to attend with the boys.
Regarding Adam and Gage, I would very much like to have my boys with me, but on Emily’s advice, based on their tender age and obvious love for the two of you, a move would likely be premature for them, no matter how much I wish it. All the more I urge you to come and visit us in the summer where they and I can get properly reacquainted. I hope to share their company more fully in the coming years.
It would please me immensely if you could perhaps move to Toronto into a fine home I would be happy to provide. I confess that the climate is not as benign as in Baton Rouge: winters are cold but the summers are glorious. There is wonderful country to the north where we have a lakeside property the boys would enjoy. Closer to the city we also have a small farm, with horses and dairy cattle, again a healthy surrounding for growing boys.
So please consider my proposal seriously.
With gratitude and thanks, your friend and relative, Chance Percy Fraser.
Written January 23, 1872, Toronto
Paul Telegdi, Chance Encounters
