Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-01-05

panion from boyhood, one who owed him
many kind acts in return for past ones.but
he was beggar now! True Walter Fos-
ter was man who had won bis way to q
moderate competency in the face of pow
crty. toll and obscure origin, who had OBJ
tanned his present position as salesman in
q large Wholesale house through Raymond
interest with the proprietor, but-and here
the revery was again interrupted.
Are you i'll, Ray, or is it the moonlight
makes you look SO ghastly. You are not
in trouble p
IL am beggar, Walt. My uncle has
cast me off, and am pcnniless You had
better pass on" he said bitterly, as his
companion started back
"Pass on !" Ray, you know me better
than that Come to my room, old boy,
and tell me about it."
1t was a relief to pour it all forth. a
comforRhspeakablc to tell the sad tale to
such a aympaehizing listener. The "wec
sma' hours of the night had crept in be-
fore Raymond stretched himself to sleep
upon Walters sofa, sure of one friend
whose love had no place for a thought OF
him save for himself only.
A whole year rolled away, and again
must ask my reader to look into Stephen
Wharton's library. The room is filed for
it is but short hour since the master of
that stately house passed from its portals
to his narrow grave. Upon every face, as
these mourning relatives and friends now
collect in groups, there is look of abso-
lutte amazement, while two of the company
those most interested, are pallid and grief
stricken. Slowly the mOurners disperse,
until these only are left. One, our old
friend, Raymond, stands by the mantle
piece, silent and absorbed, his eyes fasten-
cd to the ground, his face full of moarnful
thought. The other, far away at the cx-
trcme end of the room, crOuched down
on low stool, and sobbing with pas
sionatc grief, is young girl of sixteen,
whose black drapery hardly matches the
shadows of her raven hair and large dark
eyes. Slight in figure. sallow, and with
tear-staincd, swollen features, she is not
aD attractive object as she means out in
her sorrow-"Oh, what shall | do. What
shall do -
Suddenly seeing that all the guests were
side Raymond y
lie looked down at the little figure.
- Raymond. | am SO sorry. | begged
him on my knees. indeed did. not to do
this-but he has Oh if | could give it
to you, would: but Mr.. Saines says
have no power until am of age. unless
She paused Il moment, and then said
Twill you marry me, Raymond -
lie started Us if stung.
Il know am ugly and dark" she said
pitcously. .hut Mr., Saincs says that it is
the only way can give you the money.
You may go away, 0r will as soon as We
arc married. if You don't like mc--but oh.
Raymond do let me give you your own.-
1t is yours. Your uncle had no right to
leave it all to me!''
1t was not in human nature to withstand
the pitiful pleading in the dark eyes and
sob broken tones. Raymond sat down and
drew the little figure into his arms.
"Iola, dear" he said tcnderly, '.you
must never think blame you for my un-
cles harshness. You know why he seut
me away p
mo, he never told ne. lie only for
badc me never to mention you. But | did
Ray. told him he was cruel and hateful,
and begged him a thousand. time to send
for you. Then he said you had left the
city"
Yes, am in New York, in business.
am clerk for l. e. Co..
"Iou were. You will come here now.
You will marry me, Raymond p
Child, you don't know what you are
talling about II | were to take advant-
are of your innocent, generous proposal
| should he a wretch so base that would
be uncomfortable even unto yourself. No,
lola. All that my uncle left is yours, and
| must win my own way"
but, RAYMOND, can You not come here
again, and be my brother rs you were be-
fore
"No, little one"
81 shall be SO lonely" she walled. Mr.
and Mrs. Sanes will be here, but l don't
know them or care for them. Oh, Ray.
have hurried everything ever loved, and
now you are going too"
"Shall write to you !"
"Oh, will you! Long. long letters.
very often That will be next best to see
.Yes. and you will write. too ~
"You know | will Now tell me how
You came to be clerk 7"
at is very simple. / had to carr.
money to live, and Walter Foster taught
me book keeping and then found Inc Il
a position in New York"
There was Il long, long conversation fol-
lowed before the young man left his uncle's
house, to return tie New York, his heart
full OF tender gratitude for the young
hciress who had filled his place. And lola
went to her room with this resolve upon
her lips.
"Hc won't marry me. but when l come
of age will give him back his own.''
lola Hayilurst was one of those women
who are apt to be called cnigmas by the
unthnking, simply because they are 50
essentially womally and candid. Not
many days had passed since the death OF
Mr.. Wharton, when she told her plans to
ner astonished guardian. As it was I'M
possible for her to return to Raymond at
once, the fortune she considered justly his
own, and as he had rejected her innocent
proposal to become her husband, she had
resolved to return it as soon as she had Il
legal right. With a strange thoughtful.
ness for one SO young and impulsive, she
began to fit herself for earning her own
bread. The language in which she had
chatted from infancy as bird sings, she
now began to study by rule, while her
music aud the solid branches of thorough
English education filed most of the re-
mainder of her time. Mr.. and Mrs. Saines
shrugged their shoulders, called her odd
and let her have her Own way. A strange