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

for the coming party on New Years Eve.
! With tears in his eyes, the youth pressed
her hand enthusiastically to his lips, exclaim
ing -. tg @ atf +. {-#
"God bless you for this and if my life il
spared, every farthing Of it shall be repaid
The word of Howard Knowlton was never
broken ~ - ,,,,...... st
He spoke proudly, as though feeling tht
consciousness of truth in his soul and bow
ing his head upon his breast to conceal the
moisture in his eyes, he passed hurriedly
from the house. s,'s 10 7at'g nr uaa Il al
| tB5eG aFea sd q, ------- .gff5n. H. i,ffG stFe
Four years fed away into the past; and
the great financial storm Of 81 swept the
mercantile world Houses, which but Q
few months before were good for hundreds
of thousands, could not now obtain dollars
credit and fortunes, for which lifetimes had
been toiled away, tottered and fell |! Million
aires Of yesterday were beggars to-day; and
the fine lady, who rolled by the poor sewing
girl, in her luxurious carriage, last week,
was reduced to level with the lowest de-
pendant, by this stroke OF fate. b. ,.....t
Frank Warle came home one night pale
and agitated.a He threw himself on a sofa,
covered his face in bis hands, while strong
spasms Of agony shook his frame. Lucy
knelt down by his side, and, with her cheek
against his, said - ~gi g
"My dear brother, only tell me what it is :
am prepared for the worst y te.rs ~
He put his arms around her, and drew her
up close to his breas,. The love which this
brother and sister bore each other was a
beautiful element in the characters of both.
Would that there were more of it J. slasas
"Lucy, our fortune is lost In three days
the firm Of Warde & Co. are obliged to meet
heavy payment, or yield up all The
first it is impossible to do and the last is in
evitable! Sister, we are but little better
than beggars; for your fortune was, as you
well know. invested in the concern! Lucy
Lucy can you bear it now? p l,r !. er
She pushed back the hair from his damp
forehead, and looked fondly into the dark,
anxious eyes upraised to hers.
'My brother, can bear it all. We can
work the world is wide, and while we are
left to each other we cannot be unhappy -
"Ah, Lucy God bless you for the comfort
your words give me! But my child, it will
be so hard |! For myself dread not, but for
you? How think you young Farnsworth,
with his aristocratic notions, will receive this
intelligence g'' -..l ... s..... .-...
Lucy's face grew strangely hard and stern,
as she said - f#
''If it makes any difference in his regard
for me, shall never cease to thank God that
we are penniless Better be that thousand
times, than welded to man base enough to
sell his love for gold!"
Spoken like my own true sister ~ respon-
ded Frank, warmly. "And, Lucy, shall he
wait until the fact of my failure is heralded
in the newspapers, or viii you write him an
account of it beforehand?" ,'.. a.. ........ ...-
81 will write," said she, after moment s
thought; ait win be better"
The next morning, a young man, lounging
in an easy-chair in luxuriously- furnished
apartment, received note, which opening,
he read aloud -
"EDwARD FARNswoRTH, ESQ, =
"Dear ir:-It becomes my duty-in con-
sideration of our betrothal--to inform you
that the importing house of Warde g. Co.,
will, in a few days. be declared bankrupt.
My own fortune, invested by my brother in
the business of the firm, is of course lost with
the rest. 1t is for you to decide whether our
relations to each other continue the same as
heretofore. e
"Yours, with unchanged regard,
f~ .!ss m ''LucY WARDE.'.
The elegant young man dropped the splen-
didly-bound volume of poems with which
he had been trifling, and sprang to his feet.
Bankrupt and Lucy's fortune gone also
Humph! Quite reasonable of her to give me
chance to slip out of the engagement! Oh
course, can't think Of marryinga pauper
Fortunate for me that this crash came before
the wedding! Ned Farnsworth, you were
always lucky dog! Miss Grimshaw is just
out, with cool hundred thousand in her
own right. Fine girl, that Must make
myself agreeable to her. To tell the truth
Lucy is too sensible for chap like me she's
too apt to lecture against the harmless fun
of young fell"ws--cards, wine, etc. I'll
write her my decision"
He drew towards him sheet OF perfumed
paper, and wrote as follows:-- = -
"MIss Lucy WARpE -
My Dear Girl IL sympathize with you
in your ill-fortune very deeply wish it was
In my power to help Mr.. Frank, but II is Inn
possible! My father is engeged in the mer
camille business, and I am partner. Il
would not do for me to endanger the credi
of our establishment, by indulging in any
intercourse with bankrupt firm. Consid
sidering all circumstances, must respect
fully beg leave to absolye you from all ale
gience to,
"Yours, &c,
| EDWARD FARNswoRru."
4 AZ =