The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-29

would win for their own, far from the hustle
of city life t5 .,ss,r .sast..,r. u-~.
i She was disturbed by quick, imperative
ring at the street door; and directly the
servant admitted tall man, wrapped in a
heavy cloak, and wearing hat slouched
over his face, so that nothing save pair Of
dark, brilliant eyes was visible. 9ss s',s5tr
] Frank started up at the apparition, and
Lucy made o gesture to leave the room.
The stranger motioned her to seat - III
"Stay, madam-my business concerns
|you both. Slr"-to Frank-'T am told that
tomorrow certain notes signed by yonr firm
become due, and that you have no means Of
meeting these liabilities swra ea' agd
! 81 am not in the habit of confiding my
private affairs to strangers, ,sirv' returned
Frank, shortly. iltl fgog iaa -. bas -ts
"Hush! don't get angry am your friend
remember that. Now, ifyou please, state
to me freely the amount of your indebtedness.
Name the sum that will amply free you
| from embarrassment" g g3e aafsHa
| Twenty thousand dollars" replied Frank;
for, in spite of himself, the words and nm
ner of the unknown won upon his confidence.
The stranger put his hand into his breast
pocket, and drew out a roll of bank-notes,
which he threw upon the table, saving -
~There is the amount use it, and save
the credit of Your house."
Frank was stupified with amazement, but
Lucy sprang to the strangers side. He was
leaving the room, but her hand upon his
arm detained him. ...' n s'.. 49,. ...'' ... Z.
'Stay, sir; security must be given you
for this. My brothers. assets are sufficient
to pay, but confidence is lost among men,
When the crisis is past, you shall receive
your payment ,s no ef.r .....-. ~. IN. !.
Security ?"--the leep, earnest eyes of
the unknown searched her face-''security !?
| ask none! Payment have had already.
Lady'-he held her hand, now-''do you
remember the beggar-boy to whom, four
years ago, you gave fifty-dollar note9-
| Then, he told you that the generous loan
| should be cancelled--to- day, he stands here
to fulfil the promise p ~ a. ss asaaaa ..u.
He let the cloak fall back, and cast down
the slouched hat upon the carpet. A tall,
finely formed, athletic man of twenty three,
or thereabouts, with the features of the
runaway boy changed and perfected, lofty
expression Of honor stamped upon his brow,
and the CLEAN Of sturdy integrity in his calm,
dark eye. .fs~ 7 r....
Lucy wept very softly, and Frank took
both Mr.. Knowlton's hands in his own.
''My FRIEND" said he, "before touch one
farthing of what you have so nobly offered
to lend me, must ask yotr pardon for the
wrong | did you, once, in my heart! /
laughed at my sister for putting confidence
in the word ola boy adyenturer; and many
time have joked her about the annuity
which, by-and-by, her fifty dollar investment
would resolve itself INTO. Forgive me!''
Knowton pressed the young merchants
hand warmly, as he responded - af
"You were not to blame it was natural.
Mans faith is not equal to woman's trust
Your sister instinctively felt assured of my
truth-and / would have been a wretch in.
deed had deceived hertz a8
That was a happy company assembled
round the cheerful fire in the parlor of the
Warde mansion. Frank Warde, Howard
Knowlton, and Lucy sat together until
long past midnight, talking of the great
change which had come over the fortunes of
the whilom beggar-boy. Knowlton revealed
to them, frankly, every particular of what
had befallen him during the four years since
he had partaken of their bounty and we
will give the circumstances briefly in our
own words. H6 u8g Cat#
After leaving the Wardes, Knowlton had
proceeded to Boston; and there for many
days he had sought vainly for employment.
He grew weary and disheartened under re-
peated disappoints, and began to regret his
temerity in coming to the city on mere
impulse His little stock of money was rapid
ly lessening, for he must have food and lodg-
ing /; and he felt that very soon he should be
without the means of procuring bread. But
Fortune, hitherto so chary Of her gifts, at
length favored him. Returning to his room
one night, after day of weary ill-success,
he was attracted to back alley by the cry
ofsome person in distress. He FASTENED to
the spot, and succeeded in rescuing an old
| uepflpman from tho hands nc !. ,,, Ca, ,xho