The Portland daily press., 1868-09-19
selected story.


from the New Orleans Pcayune.l
at was just before the war;" said the de-
tective, that queer trick was played me by
a young fellow accused OF forgery"
''How was it? Let me hear the story"
swell, have no objection but don't inter
rupt me with questions"
The reporter promised silence, and ne s, de-
tective elevated his feet TO the table ana 'huS
proceeded:
1.-the Chief called me into the ONCE one
morning, and told Inc that cheek lor T4'oOo
had been drawn by the coniidentiaI SleIh vi
wel-known commercial house, anu hdu peen
cashed aft the bank where their funds were
denosited. II was a forgery, and the clerk
had left as soon as the money was obtained.
HIS name was Henry Harding, his parents
lived in one of the interior parishes and it
was supposed he had gone there before set
ting out elsewhere. / could only learn that
me was young and OF rather etieminate appear
ance.
This was all the description / could ascer-
tain. The affair had not been blown abroad,
and the Chief directed me 40 work up the
case" You know that S. and 1 always
work together. | called him and we had
consultation. He prosecuted researches here,
while went to the country. This arranged
was soon on my way. ] had found out
where the family OF young Harding lived, and
hoped to reach the house before night, but
III this was disappointed. Long before dusk,
dark clouds began TO form along the verge of
the horizon and climb rapidly to the zenith.
The thunder and lightning came at intervals,
and was soon assured that one of those
sem-tropic storms. which are so frequent in
The summer, would ere long bursG upon me
in its fury. | hasteIed forward. there
tore, looking eagerly around for some
place of shelter. l had proceeded but
little distance when / saw just before
me woodman's hut. / got into this as
soon as possible. | had hardly got comfort
ably sheltered before gentleman and lady
dashed up to the door and disnounted. Like
myself they were seeking shelter from the
Storm. The man was middle aged, and eX-
hibned IN his person the strong athletic frame
TIE open DrDW, and genial pleasant face of
the Southern planter; but there was in his
countenance now touch of sadness, seem
lnSiy extreme sense of sorrow, strangely out
oil keeping with what the man should have
been. His companion was young glrl of eX
quiSite beauty, with dark, soulful eyes, and
hair black as night She looked, indeed 4
daughter OF the tropics, and the tall, splendid
form was regal in its majesty. She was such
q woman as nau could wish to live for, and
il need be, die for. They were both in tay-
cling costume, and from their conversation l
Judged they were father and daughter, Just
setting out on a journey, and endeavcring to
iNstSh ttiS l4NCl III bltilc ICI all ui8Oi3
er. Shortly after their arrival a negro boy
drove up in cart containing trunks. On
one OF these was the name of Miss. Harding,
La" You may readily conceive that my
eyes were wide open, now, and my ears too.
Here was something that | must needs OBJ
serve. L walked out OF the hut and went
around TO where the negro was standing
10y, where's your young master?" ] asked
the question abruptly, looking the negro in
the eye.
''Golly, massa, dis chile dunno; haint seen
him for mos a year" My resolution was
taken on the ipstant. | would follow thee
people. L was satisfied that they We're in
search of Henry. He could not come to
them, aud they were coming to HIM The
whole matter was as clear as day. did fol-
low them to the river, where the daughter
embarked on an upward-bound boat. and the
fatber returned home. | took passage on the
same steamer. l would not lose sight OF the
gill | was satisfied she was going to her
brother. L inslDuated myself into her pres
ehce ana At last got INTO conversation was
hali IN love with Der already betore we reach
st. Louis was wholly SO. l learned that she
was going to New Y DIRK for some object she
GA not reveal. thought [ knew what the
object was but it had become of secondary
Importance now, for L was deeply, unmista-
bly, in love. Had her brother stood before
me, and she had asked me TO forbear, it is |
doubtful il l would have arrested him. could |
not exist out OF her presence. She had be- |
come the one object necessary to my happi- |
dess. At last we reached New York. could |
contain myself no longer. L sought an oppor- |
tunity and told her OF my love-teld my |
name, occupation, and present object-I re-
vealed everything; only asked to share her
affection. She seemed greatly agitated, and |
asked that would leave her until the next
day. This was the forenoon of Monday
Tuesday afternoon called for my answer.
The servant who answered my summons in
formed me that the young lady had lett the
evening previous ON steamer tor tie West |
Indies; but she had left note. tore open
the letter eagerly. It contained these words:
SIR-For your preference, 1 am much
obliged; but the law forbids gentleman mar
r.inS each other. BY the time this reaches
you, will be on board the West India steam
err.
Very respectfully,
HENRY HARDING.
1t took no more to show what a trick had |
been played on me. You may believe have
seldom told that love story.