Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-12-17
Saved From Disgrace
A SIeigh-ride .Extraor-
binary.
WHAT CAME OF TT.

Jonas Blenchford, with coat, hat
and gloves already on, heard the
tinkle Of sleigh bells, and arose to
go down, but when he reached the
door he felt a slight touch>upon his
arm, and heard the well-known
voice of his daughter.
"Pa, may I go p
"But am only going to the bank,
Grace"
'sAfter that, father. 1 will go
there and wait for you. It will not
take me five minutes to get ready"
"Well-well! Be spry, and I'll
wait,'' said the old gentleman, quite
merrily, land I will give you a
sleigh ride such as you never had
before-a sleigh-ride extraordinary.
You know l have the black before
the cutter"
$50 much the BETTER" said Grace ;
and she ran away to dress, but little
dreaming how well the promise
would be kept.
John Normandy stood by the
window looking out upon the busy
street, ever and anon glancing at his
watch, as though impatient for the
time to pass. And indeed he was.
He had no thoughts for what was
passing in the street below. He
saw Jonas Blenchford and his
daughter as they drove up to the
'bank, but forgot them the moment
they passed from sight within the
entrance He had weighty thoughts
upon his mind, that could not be
cast aside by any ordinary occur
renee. ..
He was somewhere about thirty
years of age, tall, erect, dignified,
and very plain of feature. He had
battled with discouragements and
poverty until his very face bore
marks of the terrible struggles, but
he had conquered. His motto had
ever been s'Onward and upward %
and never flinching, never giving
way, he had at last become cashier
of the tank of E., position
both honorable and lucrative.
Only twelve month had he held
position, but in that short time he
had won the confidence of the off
GERS of the bank, the regard of his
fellow employees, and was generally
liked by those doing business with
him.
Still he was unsocial. He lived a
life Of his own. He asked no COM
panions-wanted none. When the
bank closed for the day, he hurried
away to his lodgings, and was seen
no more until the hour of business
on the following day. Business
was his pleasure. He talked little
worked much; he was poor com
panion, but a good friend.
"Day-dreaming, Normandy p
81 have encountered so much re-
ality and there is but little of the
imaginary left,'' said he, turning to-
ward them, half reluctantly.
"Oh, fie! Normandy. Not quite
thirty, I should judge, and settling
down into an older man THAI, am.
What are you thinking about? 1t
must not be. Grace, can you do
anthing to show this practical old
man the error of his waysp I'll
leave you with him to try, while
devote few moments to business. :"
"Don't forget the ride, father"
"Never fear. You shall have it."
Normandy was really vexed to see
the old gentleman trot away, and
leave him to entertain the peerless
Grace Blenchford. Grace suspect
ed it, and she led him pretty race
of words that brought the smile to
his face in spite of himself, and pro-
voked some almost merry replies
that sounded strangely from his lips.
When Blenchford returned, he
found them quite sociable. Nor
mandy, leaning over the desk, list
ening to Grace's merry talk, and
occasionally putting in word that
showed how well he was enjoying
| it.
"Thawing by-smoke! !' ex-
claimed Blenchford in his surprise,
but his manner Immediately chang
ed. "Grace, we must postpone the
ride. Some very urgent business
keeps me here. Wait! Normandy
can take my place."
I should be pleased said he.
! Every good, Normandy; and re,