Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-07
THE WARD OF MERIT.
A First Rate Love Storr


no offer What simple question, Did you
ever know half million of dollars to go beg
ging' Offers Yes, scores of them, 1t may
be accounted as one of her oddities, perhaps, 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 ex-
ecute what will appear a very strange resolu-
tion-but she was a resOlute girl. We must
now go back six years.
One dark, rainy morning In November, Us our
old friend was looking composedly at the cheer
ful fire In the CRATE OF his counting room, really
indulging in some serious reflections on the past
and future, the far future, too, gentleman pre-
sented himself and inquired for Mr.. Bremen.
The old man uttered not word but merely
bowed There was that in his looks which said
- / am he.'
The stranger might have been some thirty
years or 50 of age. lie was dressed in black, d
mourning weed was on his hat and there was
something in his appearance which seemed to
indicate that the friend whose loss he deplOred
had recently departed The letter of introduc-
tiOR which he presented to Mr.. Il. was quickly
yet carefully perused, and rs it was somewhat
unique, we shall take the liberty of submitting
il to the inspection of the reader:
-, llth mo, 1S-
Friend Paul:-This will Introduce to thee
friend Charles Copeland lie has come to thy
city in pursuit of business. | have known him
from youth up. Thou mayest depend upon
him for aught that he can do. and shall not
lean as upon broken reed. If thou oanst do
anything for him thou maycSt peradventure
benefit thysef and find cause to rejoice.
Thy former and present friend.
MICHA LOOMS y
II Is not every one that can get old Micha
Loomis's endorsement on his character, - said
Paul Bremen, to himself as he folded up the
letter Of the well known associate of former
days. old Micha is good for a quarter of
million, or for anything else-it will do want
him-getting old, business increasing-must
have some more help-now as we'll as any
time
The old gentleman looked at all this, a. he
stood gazing in perfect silence on the man be-
fore him At length he opened his lips
Mr.. Copeland. you know all about books
have bad some few years experience"
Any objection to place here Pretty
close work-only one thousand a year"
None"
When can YOU begin"
Now"
A real smile shOne on the old man : face 1t
fingered there like the rays Of the setting sun
among the clouds Of evening, lighting up those
seemingly hard, dark features
A stool was pushed to the new conner, books
were opened, matters explained, directions
given. the pen was dipped in the ink and in
short. before an hour had passed away You
would have thought that the old man and young
man had known each other for wears
In reference 10 our new friend. il will be suf
fcient to remark that he had been literally
educated, as the phrase goes, and though he
had entered early into business he had not
neglected the cultivation of his mind and heart
He had found time to cherish a general ac-
qualntance with the most noteworthy authors
OF The day, both literary and reli giOus and with
Of AZ sfnn ffgr ,f
cess In the pursuits 10 which he had devoted
hlllseif- misfortune came thick and fast upon
him. He found himself left with scarcely any
property, and alone in the world. save his two
only daughters.
A. year after year passed away. he grew
steadily IN the confidence Of his employer, who
felt, though he said il not, that in him he pos
sessed a treasure
Very little indeed was said by either of them
not connected with the routine of business and
there had been no intercourse whatever between
them, save IN the counting room. Thus six
years went by, towards the close Of which period
old Mr.. Bremen was found looking with much
frequency and earnestness at the young woma an
before him something was evidently brewing
IN that old head What could it be? And
then, too, he looked 50 curiously The Irish
servant was puzzled. - Sure said james,
e something coming Annie, too was some
what perpleIed. for those looks dwelt much ON
her
What Is it father? ," she said to him one
morning at the breakfast table. as he sat gazing
steadfastly in her face; - do tell me-
wish you'd have hin :" burst forth like
an avalanche. known him for six years-true
a. 4 ledger-a gentleman-real sensible man
don talk much-regular as clock wOrk-prime
for business-wOrth his weight in gold >
Have who, father What are you talking
about"
My head clerk. CopelanI-you don't know
him do-haven't seen anybody else worth
quill"
Annie was sPuzuled. She laughed, however,
Marry my fathers clerk What would pco-
pie say 30
"Humbug, child, all humbug-worth forty
OF your whiskered, lOunging, lazy gentry; say?
what they please; what do care2 what do YOU
care what's money, after all got enough Of
lt-Want sensible man-want somebody to
take care Of il. all humbug
What's all humbug. father ,"
Why, peoples notions on these matters
Copeland Is pOOr-so was / once-may be again
world full of changes-seen a great many
oi them IN my day-ean' stay here long-got
10 leave you, Annie-wish you 4 like him. y
Father, are you serious l''
Serious, child :" and he looked So
Annie was chip Of the old block; a strong
minded, resoluts girl. A new idea seemed 10
strike her
" Father, If you are really serious in the mat
ter. l. u see this Copeland; I'll get acquainted
with him. If he likes me. and like him. I'll
have him. But he shall love me for myself
alone, L must know it. Will you leave the
matter 10 me l''
- Go ahead, my child, and do as you like
Good morning.
Stop moment, father. I small alter Inv
name little i shall appear to be a poor girl
a companion Of friend Mrs Richards in
H street. She shall know the whole affair
you shall call me by my middle name, Peyton
1 shalt be relative Of yours; sho shall suggest
the business to Mr.. Copeland, a, you call him,
and arrange for the first interview. The rest
will take care of itself"
- see. see. - and one Of those rare smiles
illuminated his whole face. Ii actually got be-
tween his lips, parted them asunder, glanced
upon set Of teeth / ut little the worse for wear
and WlS resting there when he left the hOuse