South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-05-14
The Doctors Strange Letter.

And Doctor Pomeroy stared, almost
vacantly. at the closely written sheet he
held In his hand. He read:
doctor Pomeroy. will not apologize
for the unparalleled service am about
TO ask OF you; suffice to say that have
heard OF your struggles TO maintain your
self and invalid mother, and realize how
hard task 1t Is for one so young in the
profession and without friends in the
great wilderness of houses called q city.
Also, permit me to add, have been in
formed of the cruel blow you received
from the hand OF one you loved. who
was unworthy of you; and yet am not
acquainted with you, nor you with me.
Indeed, we have never looked upon one
another's face. Nevertheless, I am a.
bout to request you to do me n great
fayor- VIII yoa como TO South Street
Church tomorrow evening at eight o..
clockf Come privately, unattended,
and never reveal that which takes place
there. Will you give me, n stranger, q
lawful claim to your name, and yet seek
not to know whom you marry? If you
will do so, will make over to you fifty
thousand dollars, payable to your order
at the City Bank, as soon as the cere.
mony is over. Trusting that the money
will be temptation to You, shall anx-
iously await you at the appointed time"
That was all. There was no sigma
ture-nothing to give any clue to the
writer's address or abode. Indeed, it
was so terse and so unfeminine in it's
details that he was tempted to believe
some of his male friends were PLAYING n
joke on him.
IL will not go-I will not be fooled !"
he said to himself.
He flung the missive down; then
picked it up. folded it carefully, and
thrust it in his pocket,
He remembered that he had patient
to visit, and went out f; but everywhere
the contents of that strange letter were
ringing in his ears. He then went to
see his mother. She was suffering even
more than usual, and n number of dun
ming bills had been left for his earliest
onsideration-hills which he had not
the most remote idea how he was to meet.
He threw them down, and buried his
face in his hands.
Poverty is n curse. mother :" he
groaned-"I do not know which way to
turn"
She tried to cheer him, but in vain.-
Everywhere he turned, hopeless chaos
seemed TO envelop him.
"Ah? If that letter were only real :"
he thought. Fifty thousand dollars
would make me rich pa
And so he fretted and worried until
the appointed hour came-ouc moment
vowing he would not go near the place,
and the next tempted to see the farce"
out.
Eight o'clock found him stealing in.
He saw two ladies, closely yelled, and
a gentleman, standing in the upper part
of the building, while the minister sat
in a chair.
There was but one gas;jet lighted, and
he could just distinguish the forms. As
soon as he entered. the gentleman spoke
to one of the ladies, and then she adj
vanced to meet him.
Are you DIR. Pomeroy?' she asked
in low tone.
Il am"
She led him up to where the gentle
man stood, and he extended his hand.
"lIow do you do, Pomeroy?" he said,
and Pomeroy recognized in him the Pres.
ident OF the City Bank. II am here by
the request of this young lady," point
ing to the one who had not moved or spo-
ken, "to inform you that if you agree to
her proposition, am authorized to pay
to your order the sum Of fifty thousand
dollars !"
Pomeroy tried to speak, but his voice
was choked, 1t was no fraud it was
reality-ho was TO bid farewell to pow
erty.
lie stood motionless for q moment {:
then advanced and offered his arm to the
silent lady. She took it without quiv-
er, and went with him to where the min
lister awaited them,
The ceremony was quickly performed.
Doctor Pomeroy registered his name,
and then looked with considerable curl.
osity NJ the bold signature. ELLEN La
tour which his bride wrote down. The
minister FASTENED to Gil out n certificate
which he had brought with him by re.
quest, and which the maid and banker
signed as witnesses. The bride took it.
kissed IL, and then thrust it in her bo-
7piis Cilt iilVuithb lNDlts Auu TIC TWO
glided away swiftly from sight,
Doctor Pomoroy then wiped the per-
spiration from his brow, and then asked I:
"Who is she?"
II do not know" said the minister
II was requested. by letter and paid to
perform tho ceremony. and keep il a
secret. 1t is perfectly lawful"
HAnd Z" said tho h,nlsor ssdid not
see the lady's face She deposited the
money with me, and requested my at
tendance here, TO assure Won that her
promise should he fulfilled"
The three men separated the gas
was turned out; tic curtain fell on the
first act.
The next day Pomeroy tried to real
ize what he had done. lie had sold his
name 90 an unknown woman. but he
thought that could not iniure him