The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-01-31

walter " cried Agnes, i'll terror,
"wbat has happened ?"
"He's sick," muttered Noah Bren-
nan, without looking around.
mo, no; not Sick" returned the
young man, starting up, "but am the
victim of miserable tri1ing."
"Eh, how ?" asked old Noah, now
turning in his chair.
"I'll tell you," said Walter, with a
spasmodic effort. 81 had some long
entries to post this evening, so re.
mained in the counting room after the
rest had gone. l was still at work
when Mr.. Osgood came in and placed
some papers on my desk, saying, as lie
did so: Here, Walter, these are yours
And then he went out. When had fin
ished my work l opened the papers.
The first was q sort of inventory Of
what Osgood had owned in the business,
and footed up, in round numbers,
forty-nine thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five dollars. The next paper
was deed conveying the whole vast
property to me, and making me part
ner in the concern upon equal footing
with the other two"
"Well," said the old man, humping
his foot upon the carpet and keeping
time with his hands. 81 don't see any
thing very bad in that"
"But 1 do," said Walter. ut is
cruel to trifle with me thus"
"There was som mething In Noah's eye
again, but he managed to get 1t out,
and he spoke thus:
"Walter adams, when young men
used to hover about my child, be.
lieved the same of you. l knew of
nothing but this love of money that
could underlie human action. My heart
had become hardened by it, and my
soul darkened 1t was for my child
to pour the warmth and light into my
bosom. 1t was for her to keep before
me the image of the gentle wife whom
] had loved and lost, but, alas who oc-
cuped a place in that love second to my
gold. 1t was for my child to open
gradually, but surely, the fount of feel
ing which had been for a lifetime
closed up. ! heard her pray for me-
pray that she might love me-that she
might have help from God to love me;
and that was after had refused TO let
her be your wife. saw her grow pale
and sorrowful, and knew had done
it--and she loved me still. Still she
prayed to God to help her--help her
what q? Help her love her father /
was killing her, and she tried to smile
upon me. One evening / heard you
both conversing in the old hut. My
child chose misery and duty to her
father, rather than break that duty in
union with a man she loved. And you
uttered prayer. You prayed that 1
might be pe1niless. Stop hear me
through You would then show your
disinterestedness. / walked away and
pondered, Could it be that had found
a man who would love an old wreck
like myself, with no money. If.it were
so, then that would break the layer of
crust from my soul. l determined to
test you. l had gained a glimmering
of light, my heart had begun to grow
warm, and l prayed frequently that l
might not be disappointed.
al went to the bank and drew out
fifty thousand dollars In bills. That
night my miserable old hut was set on
on fre-or-a--caugh fire. shall al
ways think twas my candle did it. But
the old shell burnt down, and room was
made for a better building. l eout
with the wrong trunk, and the other
trunk was burnt up. But the money
wasn't in it. No, no. had that
stuffed into my bosom and deep pock-
cts, and all buttoned up, and the next
day I carried it back to the bank, and
had 1t put with few thousands more
which / had not disturbed. And so
my experiment commenced, and | found
the full sunshine at last. Aye, Walter,
found you the noble, true man | had
prayed for. You took me into your
home and loved me when you thought
me penniless, and you took my child to
your bosom for just what God had
made her, And, now, my boy, I've
paid Mr.. osgood fifty thousand dollars
cash for his share of the business, and
1t is all yours. And let me tell You one
thing, my boy, IL your two partners
can raise fifty thousand more toinYest,
lust tell 'em You can put In five. and
twenty thousand more at twelve hours
notice. Tell 'em old Noah amt quite
ashore yet Tell 'em he has found a
heart, my toy. Como here, Agnes.