Squatter sovereign., 1856-04-08
flisfellalreous.
THE REwARD OF HERIr.
A FIRsr-RATE LOVE STORY.

Annie had arrived at the mature age of
(do not start, reader, twenty-seVen, and
yet in state of single-blessedness. Some
how or other, she had not even fallen in
love, as yet. Had she no ofers2' What
simple. question: Did you ever know
half million of dollars to go begging
Offers Yes, scores Of them! 1t may
be accounted as one of her oddities, per-
haps, but whenever the subject happened
to be touched upon by her father, Annie
would say that she wanted some one who
could love her for herself, and she must
have assurance of this, and how should
she in her present position? Thus mat
ters stood, when Annie was led to form
and execute what will appear very
strange resolution-but she was resolute
girl. We must now go back six years.
One dark, rainy morning in November
as our old friend was looking composedly
at the cheerful fire in the grates of his
counting-foom, really indulging irssome
serious reflections on the past and the fll-
ture, the far future, too, gentleman pre-
sented himself and inquired for Mr. Bre-
men. The old man uttered not word
but merely bowed. There was that in his
looks which said, L am he."
| The stranger might have been some
thirty years or so, ,of age. He was dress
ed in black, mourning weed was on his
hat, and there was something in his ap-
lpearance which seemed to indicate thai
| the friend whose loss he deplored had re.
Gently departed. The letter of introduc.
tion which he presented to Mr.. B., wa:
quickly yet carefully perused, and as j
was somewhat unique, we shall take ths
p liberty of submitting it to the inspection o
e the reader:
Il -, i 1th mo-, IS.
: Friend Paul This will introduce IL
2 thee, friend, Charles Copeland. He ha.
come to thy city, IN pursuit Of business
l have known him from a youth up. Thol
) mayest depend upon him for aught that ht
can do, and shall not lean as upon a bro
ken reed. II thou canst do anything fo
him, thou mayest peradventure benefi
thyself and find cause to rejoice.
I Thy former and present friend,
MIcAH LOOMS"
cit is not every one that can get oil
Micah LOOMS endorsement on his char
) acter,'' said Paul Bremen, to himself, a
he folded up the letter Of well-knowl
associate of former days. e Old Micah i
good for quarter of a million, or for any
thing else--it will dol want him-get
lting old-business increasing-musr hav
some more help-now as well as an
time"
The old gentleman looked at all this. a
he stood gazing in perfect silence on tn
man before him. AT length he opene
his lips:
"Mr. Copeland. you know all abou
& have had some few years. expe
rience."
Any objection 20 place herea Pret
ty close work-only one thousand year.
"None." rss -
"When can you begin 9"
"Now." +"
! A real smile shone on the old man
face. It fingered there like, the rays {
4 the setting sun among the clouds of eve
ming, lighting up those seemingly hard
dark features.
A stool was pushed to the new conner
books were opened, matters explained, di
recuons given, the pen was dipped iu tn
ink, and in short, before an hour had pass
ed away, you would have thought that til
old man and young man had known eacl
other for years.
In reference to our new friend, It vii
be sufficient to remark that he had beel
iiberally educated, as the phrase goes, an,
though he had entered early in business
he had not neglected the cultivation of hi
mind and heart. He had found time 4
cherish general acquaintance with III
most noteworthy authors of the day, bot
literary and religious, and with many c
| pas. times. After few years of success
lin the pursuits to which he had devote
himself, misfortunes came thick and fas
| upon him. He found himself left wit
scarcely any property. and alone in th
world, save his two only daughters.
/ As year after year passed away, b
grew steadily in the confidence of his en-,
picyer. who felt, though he said it net, tha
i in him he possessed treasure.
Very little, indeed. was said by ei.he
of them. not connected with the routine Q
business. and there had been no inter
I course, whatever, between them. saEe il