The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-17
HEARTS BEFORE PURSES; OR,
CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.
BY WALTER HERNR.

.tWell, nice situation this, for a
young man! Twenty-three years
old to-day. and a nice birthday pres
ent I've got Leave of absence
from Blake's store for an indefinite
period F.; its not my fault, that's one
comfort, its Mr.. Blake's, for having
a son, and that sons fault for being
expelled from college, and forcing
his father to take him i'll his store at
once, in order to keep him under his
own eye. So here | am, with moth
ing to do, no expectations, fifty dollars
cash capital, my board bill fortunate
ly paid one week in advance-and-
a new suit of clothes to be paid for.
The man will be here to night by ap-
pointment. ! meant to pay him but
as his bill would leave me with only
twenty dollars, I'll have to put him
off. / hate to break my word, but /
can't help it. When promised, l
had a salary of fifteen hundred a
year, enough for quiet fellow like
me, and now! But heigh-h0 Hal
Chester don't despair, that's what
your father used to tell you, and
don't forget it now, just because you
in fog. 1t will clear off soon."
Hall Chester, as his numerous
friends loved to call the honest, gen.
iel fellow, having come to this phil
osophieal conclusion, ceased to
pace his little room, and throwing
himself upon the sofa. gazed thought
fully into the CRATE as though he ex,
pected to find in the dancing flames
y solution to all his difficulties.
If such was his object, he was not
very successful, Judging from the ex.
clamation that rose to his lips.
"Yes, l am in a fix No situation,
no money to speak of, and bill to
pay and that's not the worst of ii
after all Pm in love too. By jove
a nice fellow you are to pop the ques.
ton. What would you take that
darling little May from her rich faith.
er's home, and bring her to yours :
Yours? Why you have none, and
no money to buy one either. No, no,
Hal, have patience, little May loves
you, and will wait till you can gain
Ter fathers consent, which twill not
be until you can support her /; 30 &c
to work. Be up and doing" A few
moments more, and the young man
was acting upon his own advice, he
was up and doing. With Mr.. Blake's
letter ofrecommendation in his pock
ct, he entered store after store, Office
after office.
Evening came, and he returned te
his lodgings, feeling jaded, weary
and well-nigh disheartened, for al
his efforts had been in vain. $50 nc
one wants a clerk" he muttered
swell, / mast do something. Tomor
row l will try for drivers or a por
ter,s situation, anything so its hon
est" Tie tea bell rang, so he went
down to the table. Contrary to hil
usual custom, he returned to his owr
room after the meal was concluded
instead of adjourning to the parlol
with the rest of the boarders.
Removed from observation, ht
again threw himself upon the sofa
thought profoundly for ten minutes
and hen,-dropping off into a ligh
slumber, in which dreams of his gen
tie May "filled his heart with JOY"
From this blissful state he wal
rC used by a knock at his door, ant
but half awake to the realities around
him, he admitted his visitor.
"Well, sir" said the latter smiling
blandly, "Ive brought my little bill
as you told me, not that l am in ,
hurry for it, but you see l always d.
as / am told"
"To tell you the truth, Badger,
said the young man, the color mount
ing to his cheeks, for he was not il
the habit Of "putting Off creditor
"To tell you the truth, / wieh l hat
not told you. l can only pay yol
ten dollars on your bill just now.
have lost my situation since 1 saw
you, and must husband my little
stock until" His explanation wa
suddenly interrupted. The trades
man to whom he spoke, had neve
before supplied him with clothing
] aud experience having taught hin