American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-04-12
THE REWARD OF MERIT.
A First Rate Love Story.
pY OLIVER OPTIC.

OF lido not start, reader,) twenty seven,
and yet remained in a state OF single
biessedness. Somehow or other She
had not fallen in love, as vet. sHad
she no offer e What a simple question:
Did you ever know half million
dollars TO go a begging2 Officers q
Yes, scores ofthem! 1t may be &C.
counted as one of the oddities, perhaps
but whenever the subject happened 10
be touched upon by her father, Annie
would say she wanted some one who
could love her for herself, and she must
have assurances ofthis. and how could
she in her present position Thus mat
ters stood when Auuie was led to form
and execute what will appear a very
strange resolution; but she was a reso-
lutte gill. We must now go back six
years.
One dark, rainy morning in Noyem-
Der, as our old friend was looking com.
posedly at the cheerful fire in tho crate
of his counting room, really induIging
in some serious reflections of the past
and future, and far future, too, gen
tleman presented himself, and inquired
for Mr.. Bremen. The ola man uttered
not word, but merely bowed. There
was that in his looks which said, Il am
he.' ..-.
The stranger might have been some
thirty years of age. He was dressed in
black, mourning weed was on his hat
and there was something in his appear
ance which seemed to Indicate that the
friend whose loss he doplored had re-
Gently departed. The letter of intro
duction which he presented to Mr.. Is.
was quickly yet carefully pursued, and
as it was somewhat uniquo, we shall
take the liberty of Submitting it to the
inspection of tho reader:
"-, II mo, 1S--.
FRIEND PAUL: This will introduce to
thee friend Charles Copeland He has
come to the ciiyin pursuit of ofbusiness.
have known him from youth up
Thou mayest depend upon him for aught
that he can do, and shall not lean as
on broken reed. Iflhou caust do any-
thing for him thou mayest peradventure
benefit lhyself and cause him to rejoice.
Thy former and present friend.
MIcHA LOOMS"
IL is not every one who can got old
Mlcha LOOMS endorsement on his
character said Paul Bremen to him.
self as he folded up the letter ofa well
known associate Of former days. Old
Micah IS good for quarter of million
or for anything clse---it will dol want
hm getting old business increasing
must have some more hel p now as
we'll as any time
The old gentleman looked at all this
as he stood gazing in perfect silence on
The man before him. AT leugth he o
Pened his lips.
'Mr. Copeland, you know all about
books T. 80. So. ..
Il have had somo few years expe.
rience.'
ANY objection to place here =
pretty close work--a thousand year
None in the world
When can you begin =
Now ...U .... ....
A real smile shone upon the old man S
face. 1t fingered there like the rays of
tho setting sun among clouds of even
ing lighting up those seeming hard fea-
turos
a stool vas pushed TO tho now com.
or, books were open, matters explained
directions given, and pen was dipped
IN the INK aud in short, before all hour
had passed away, you would have
thought that the old man and the young
man had known each other for years.
In reference to our new friend it will
be Sufficient toromark, tba! he had been
liberalIy educated. as the phrase goes,
and thonghhe had entered early in,o
business. he had not neglected culliva.
ton Of his mind and heart. He had
found time To cherish a general ac.
/ quaintance with The most noteworthy
anthors of the day, both literary aud re-.
| llgious, and with many ofthe past times.
Alter few years Of success, in The pur-
suits to which he had devoted himself,
tnisfntnpesc me thick and fast upon him
He found himselfIeft with scarcely any
property, and alone in tho world, save
his two lovely daughters.
AS year after year passed away, he
grew steadily in the confidence Of his
employer, who felt as if ho said it not,
that in him he possessed treasure.
Very little, indeed, was said by either
ot them not connected with the routine
of business, aud there had boon no in
Itercourse whatever between them, save
in the couulng.rOom. Thus six years
went by, towards the close of which pc.
riod old MIR. Bremen was found looking
with much frequency aud cafncstness
at tho younger before him. Something
waS evidently brewing 10 that old head,
| What could IL bel Aud then, too at
home ho looked so curiously..--
The ltieb servant was puzzled. Sure,
said james, something's coming.
Annie. too was somewhat perplexod,
for those looks dweIt much upon her.