The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-06-24


urge you to marry him but we will
have n further conversation with him
ifyou will E; and, from what you then
shall think it best to do, we shall con.
clude, and give our answer.
The time appointed for the inter
view arrived, and Mr., Job Lurkcr,
made up carefully for the occasion,
in dress. manners, and smiles, having
thoush,iully rchearscd for it, appear.
ed before the family, with renewal
of his proposition, The sight of the
beautiful and amiable young woman
stimulated his eloquence, and the re-
suit was as he wished--in conSidcra-
tion Of a written agreement Of mar.
riagc within six months, now signed
by Flora and her parents, job Lurkcr
at once restored TO her father all
claims whcd he possessed upon the
Lcmorn estate.
job WAS ovcrjoycd at the close of
this important meeting, and kissed all
their hands at parting.
"You shall have no cause TO COM
plain OF me, | promise you, either in
relation of husband, or Of son." said
he, and departed at such an elastic
pace, and with such a cheerful visage
that but few would have recognized
him,
1T may be all for the best thought
the parents, looking mournluIIy at
Flora
at shall be all for the best said
Flora TO herself, for reasons which
will appear.
In the office Of Mr. Job Lurker, scy-
cral years previous to tie time Of
which we have been speaking, was n
, Young man, who served him for a
time in the capacity Of 4 confidential
clerk. His name was Henry Bel.
mont; and the enterprise in which Mr..
Lemorn was engaged with LTkcr,
calling him often TO the office, young
Belmont became Familiarity acquain-
quainted with him, his family, and his
affairs. Bat Belmont did not long re-
main with his crafty employer. after
gaining an insight into his character.
He had too much honor to assist in
the nctarious schemes through which
| Lurkcr managed rapidly to amaSs u
large property. lie left him, with
scorn, for more honorable employ
: mcnt in another city yet still! pre-
served the friendly acquaintanccship
Of Mr. Lcmorn.
Ga the day preceding that closing
interview, by which the hand Of Flora
became pIiGhtcd to job Luricr, young
BeImont-on visit to the city--ac-
} cidcntaIIy met Flora in the street.
"You look pale and haggard," said
he. Are you i'll! or has any mslor-
the happened to your family"
In Il few words, she told him what
had been proposed the hold which
= Lurkcr had upon her Fathcr--the
extreme age Of her parcnts-lhe GER
lainty Of ruin, did she not comply
: with the request Of one to whom she
. had learned to be avcrSe, from remarks
: Of her father concerning his dupIlcity,
and, finally that she thought it was
her duty to comply, to save her Father
and mother from absolute penury.
The rrown which at first passed
over Bclmont's face gave way to Il
smile, as he replied:
Miss Lemorn, though you do make
=, the agreement, it cannot be iulliIlcC
on your part.
do not understand YOU
lob Lurkcr is villain. He has ;
wife already. You are surprised. But
let me assure you, it is so. Some
ten years ago, he was married i,
England; but, after a year or so, ht
Abandoned her, without cause OF
warning, and she was obliged to seek
her unclcs house for shelter. Lurkel
has tol me this himself, while | was
his clerk, years ago; and one day IN
communicative mood, though he may
have forgotten it, or thought had, Oh
!, was out OF his way, he showed me Il
letter of hers, sent to him when ht
, was i'm London, before he returned to
this country. OF his whereabouts shc
is probably ignorant. But rcmem
Der her addrcs>;i and, by your per
= mission, will write to her to interpose,
by either sending proofs Of her mar
riagc, or By coming, in person, TO put
a stop TO this iniquity, and coniound
u him at the proper time. That Lur-
y kcr was l,navc, | knew from his
: frauds upon others besides your faith
y cr. but | did not think that he was so
. daring, or so black a william, as this