more as a business proposition than would have been possible a year or two ago, for I am at last in a position to pay interest promptly on a considerable amount of money.  To be more explicit, the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($150) is set aside monthly by the Record toward what Mr. Lawson calls my “building fund,” which sum the Record is prepared to guarantee and pay to anybody making me the loan of money necessary to secure the home I want.

I am very anxious for a habitation of my own.  The desire is one that gives me no peace, and I see no other way to its fulfilment than through the liberality of any friend, or friends, with money to lend.  Before setting my heart upon any locality, or upon any particular spot, it is wise that I should know whether and where the assistance I need can be had.  My first application is to you, and I make it timidly, for, as I have said, it is very distasteful to me to do that which may look like imposing upon friendship.  In case you found it possible and feasible to aid me, I should want you to come to Chicago and take a look over the field with Julia and me.

  We are fairly well.  With every cordial regard,

  Yours affectionately,

  EUGENE FIELD. 
  Buena Park, September 16th, 1893.

There had ever been but one response from Mr. Gray to such an appeal as this from his quondam ward, and Field was not disappointed this time.  But l’homme propose et Dieu dispose; and in this case there was no woman to intervene, as in the Spanish version of the proverb, to “discompose” the disposition of Deity.  Before the project contemplated in Field’s letter took tangible shape, however, he was laid on his back by a severe cold, which developed into pneumonia.  On his recovery, the doctor advised that he should go to California; and on November 8th he wrote to Mr. Gray, asking him if he and his niece could not be ready to accompany him about the 1st of December.  Concluding a very brief note, he said:  “Writing makes me very tired, so pray pardon my brutal brevity.  I send very much love to you and yours.  Many, many times have I thought of you, dear friend, during the last three painful weeks, and I have wished that you were here, that I might speak with you.”  Mr. Gray arranged to join Field on the trip, which the latter outlined in a letter to him December 4th, 1893: 

I shall probably be ready to start for Los Angeles the latter part of this week.  My plans at present are very limited, extending only to Los Angeles and San Diego.  At the latter point it will be wise for me to remain three weeks.  That will practically make me a well man.  It is said to be a lovely spot.  From there I shall want to go for a week or ten days to Madame Modjeska’s ranch, located ten miles from the railway, half-way between San Diego and Los Angeles.  It is a large ranch—­1,000 acres.  Madame Modjeska has put it at my disposal, and Lynch and you must