Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-06-14

sNothing-nothing!' he murmuret
as he refolded it. "Ah, what curse il
there like the curse of poverty"
He then referred to the other letter
the receipt of which he had almost for.
gotten. Breaking the seal, he read with
surprise, its contents, which were as fol-
lows:-
"To DocroR GRINEs-DEAR SIR:-
Please call, as early as possible, a,
Messrs. L-& B-'s, Mo- Wal
street New York; where you will hear
Of something to your advantage.
"What can this mean!" exclaimed the
doctor, as he hurriedIy persued the letter
again. Scan j. be possible that rela-
tive of my father, in England, has died
and left US properly! Yes. il must be
so. Several members of his family
there are in good circumstances. Oh, il
it should be thus, how timely has relief
come. For your sake, my dear sister,
more than for my own, will be thankful!
But how am togo to New York!
have not dollar in my pocket, and will
receive nothing for week or two."
The only resource was in borrowing.
and TO this the doctor resorted with con-
siderable reluctance. From gentleman
who had always shown an interest in
him, he obtained FIVE dollars. In an
hour after the receipt of the letter, he
was on his way TO the city. The more
he pondered the matter, the more likely
did it seem to him that his first conclu-
sion was the true one. There was an
uncle of his fathers miser, reputed TO
be very rich, from whom some years be-
fore the family had received letters and
it seemed not at all improbable that his
death had occurred and that he and his
sister had been remembered in the will.
This idea SO fully possessed his mind by
the time he arrived in the city, that he
was already beginning to make, in imag-
nation, sundry dispositions of the prop
erty soon to come into his hands.
"Can see one of the gentleman be-
longing to the frm!" asked the doctor on
entering the store of Messers. L., &
B.
"Here is Mr.. L., said the individ-
ual he had addressed, referring him to a
middle-aged thoughtful looking man,
with something prepossessing in his
face.
The Doctor bowed to Mr.. L.. and
then said
"My name is DR.. Crimes"
"Mr. L. bowed in return, remark
ing as he did SO,
"Will you walk in!'
The doctor was rather disappointed
at the manner of his reception and ex-
perienced slight depression of spirits
as he followed the merchant back into
one of the counting rooms attached to
| the store.
"Will you take a chair, sirl" said
the merchant.
Both gentlemen sat down. About
L. there was an air Of expectancy,
which the DIR. did not fail to remark.
"My name is doctor Crimes" said he
repeating his first introduction.
II am happy to see you DOCTOR" re-
turned L., bowing again.
II received letter from your house.
this morning" said the victim, for such
he really was, "desiring me to call, as
you had some communication to make
that would be TO my advantage.
"There's some mistake" replied the
merchant. "No letter of the kind has
emanated from US"
'Are you ccriaini asked the disappoin-
ted man in voice greatly changed; and
he drew forth the letter he had received.
L. looked at the communication,
and shook his head.
"There is no truth in this, sir. re-
grct TO say that you have, most probably,
been made the victim Of an idle. repre-
hensible jest. To-day, you are aware.
is the First day OF April"
.Can il be possiblel" exclaimed the
doctor clasping his hands together, while
his face become pale and overcast with
disappointment. "Who could have been
so unkind--so cruel!"
Sand is the disappointment very
great!" said the merchant, touched with
the manner OF his visitor, which showed
more pain than modification at the cheat
practlced upon him.
With an effort nf self-command, Doc
tor Grimes sregained, to some extent, his
lost composure, and, rising. remarked,
as he partly turned himself away
"Forgive this intrusion, since ought
TO have been moro on my guard
But an interest having been awakened
in the mind of Mr.. L. he would moi
suffer his visitor to retire until he had
some farther conversation with him. In
this conversation he learned through del
icaiely asked questions, even more o.
his real condition in life than the latter
meant to communicate; and he still fur.
ther learned that the mother of DR.
Grimes had been one Of his early friends.
"Would you be willing to take the
place of Resident Physician at the
Hospital! finally asked Mr.. l..
"To one like me, !" replied DR.. Crimes
"that place would be exceedingly desira.
ble. But do not suppose | could ge
IT,"
"Why mott"
~ am stranger here T"
stCan Won hrino testimonia1s aa tf