Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-06-30


closed on the slight figure, he went on his
way like one who has taken a new lease Of
life and hope. i9.53. 3dl
CHAPTER w. III if-l
Not more than ten minutes after John
Lynch had disappeared, an elderly gentle
man walked leisurely up the steps OF the
house into which Alice had just passed, and
let himself quietly in with his latch-key,
somewhat to the surprise of the staid old
servant, who had an impression that his
master was dining out and would not return
till late a4
''Draw the blinds in the library, Thomp-
son, and light my reading-lamp, and mark
Il am not to be disturbed for the next
hour unless I ring" ~ 4@. -it-1
He passed on, sure of prompt obedience
from the well.trained servant. A few min
utes later, the master of the mansion was
pacing the floor Of the library with his hands
behind him; a favorite attitude Of his, in
moments of profound mental abstraction.
"'Truly, this is pretty discovery for one
evening ; young John Lynch and my sisters
companion engaged to each other. And
then about this debt, which I had long since
crossed from my mind. Well, it is some
thing unique and out of the common run of
business But to think that it might have
been going on, and I should never have got
to the kernel Of the nut, if I had not CHANGED
to play eayes-dropper. A couple Of young
simpletons wait till they are gray and old
we shall see; but caution, for I doubt not
that young fellow has all the pride Of the
Lynches embodied in himself Daniel Read,
if you are man of money, it is to be hoped
that you have conscience" ,E
Time passed, bringing no visible change.
The banker, Daniel Read, kept to himself
his discovery concerning the lovers, and no
apparent result followed his soliloquy in the
library. Alice lived her own quiet life in
the orderly old house, every day making
herself more necessary to her invalid mis-
tress and John Lynch worked steadily on
to the fulfllment Of his purpose. His heart
grew lighter in anticipation, when he found
himself prepared to meet the second pay.
ment Of his debt.
| 1t wanted only few days to the time he
udu HAUL, VuCu uC Wuo olot t1Oo Wy tuO AO-
ceipt of an anonymous letter, addressed tc
him in an unknown hand, and enclosing
bank-notes that more than covered the
amount due to Daniel Read. There was nc
writing, only slip of paper on which had
been hastily scribbled in pencil: "From
one who holds himself indebted to Johr
Lynch" .-. -..- .-..
This unexpected stroke Of good fortune
was like the sudden uplifting of burden
from his shoulders. The sequel may be
guessed. Not many hours later, the young
man was standing in Daniel Reads private
office, awaiting his receipt for the debt pait
in full, not to the cashier, but the banker
himself, tall, old man with grave, linet
face and clear, candid, gray eyes, that look
ed as if they could detect deception unde
any mask. He wrote out the receipt, bu
kept his hand upon it, and said, looking at
tentively at the young man
$50 you are John Lynch, and this is tn
end Of the debt which you took upon your
self to pay for your father; and with thi
bit of business paper suppose our connec
ton is to end. You expect nothing but
receipt for your money!"
! John Lynch was SO thoroughly mystife
about his meaning, that he only looked a
him in blank perplexity, and said nothing
He was still moro bewildered when tn
banker abruptly disappeared into an inne
room, and, after few seconds, came out
leading Alice.
Here is my receipt in another FORM" h
said, holding out the timid little hand
'sKnowing your regard for each other-n
matter how came by the knowledge
prepared this surprise for you both. Alic
Leigh being an orphan, I claim to be he
guardian, and give her to you, with a dow
ry of five thousand dollars, payable on he
| wedding-day My only reproach is, that
shall be doing my poor sister an i'll turn
: robbing her of ALICE o-rSs 1aitsa's'
ssOh, sir?" broke out John, in choke
voice, ''that anonymous letter-those ban
notes-I see it all now" a, a9 =
"No matter what you see, young man
don't try to betray me into making comics
: sions. I shall say nothing, only that al
indebted to John Lynch, father and son
for showing me that there is so much hig
honor and principle among men"
The rest is soon told. Alice Leigh an
John Lynch were married, the good oil
banker giving away the bride, and his sis
ter, MSS Sarah, providing the weddin
breakfast, though she did find it hard t
reconcile herself to the loss of her favorite