The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
THE DooroR's STRANGE LETTER.

TIE DoCrOR'S STRANGE LETTER.
"By Jove! what can this mean
Is this stupendous fraud, trick, or
what?"
And DR.. POmeroy stared, almost
vacantly. at the closely written sheet
he held in his hand He read;
"Doctor Pomeroy, | will not apol-
ogize for the unparalleled service |
am about to ask of you; suffice it to
say that | have heard of your strug-
giles to maintain yourself and invalid
mother, and realize how hard a task
it is for one so young 10 the profess
sion and without friends in the great
wilderness of houses called a city
Also, permit me to add, | have been
Informed Of the cruel blow you re-
ceivcd 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 anoth-
er's face. Nevertheless, | am about
to request you to do me a great ia
yor. WIN you come to South Street
church tomorrow evening at eight
O'Clock? Come privately, unattend-
ed. and never reveal what takes place
there. VIII you give me, stranger,
a 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, paya-
/ bic to your order at the City Bank,
as soon as the ceremony is over.
Trusting that the money viii be
temptation 70 you, / shall auxiously
await you at the appointed time"
\ That was all. There was no sig
nature-nothing to give any clue to
the writer's address or abode. H.
deed. it was so terse and so unfemi-
nine in its details that he was tempt
ed 10 believe some of his msle
friends were trying to play joke on
I him,
81 will not go-I viii not be fool
ledF' he said to himself
( He flung the missiye down; then
( be picked it up. folded it carefully,
Iand thrust it into his pocket.
He remembered that be had pa
tient to visit, and went out; 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 a number Of dunning bills had
been left for his earliest considera-
tion-bills which be had not the
most remote idea how he was to
meet He threw them down, and
buried his face in his hands.
Poverty is curse, mother !" he
groaned. II DO not know which way
to turn"
She tried to cheer him, but in vain.
EverYwere be turned hopeless chaos
seemed to envelop him.
"Ah if that letter were only real p
lhe thought. Fifty thousand dollars
would make ne rich"
And so he fretted and worried un-
til the appointed hour-one moment
yowing be would not go near the
place, and the next tempted to see
the farce" out.
G Eight O'Clock found him stealing
in. He saw two ladies, closely veil
ed, and gentleman, standing in the
upper part of the building, While the
minister sat in the chair.
i There was but one gas-jet lighted,
and be could just distinguish the
forms. As soon as he entered, the
gentleman spoke to one Of the ladies,
, and then she advanced to meet him.
"Are you DR.. Pomeroy ?" she ask
ed in low tone.
Il am"
She led him up to where the gen.
tleman stood, and he extended his
hand.
How DO you do, Pomeroy :" he
said, and Pomeroy recognized il him
he President of the City Bank II
. am here by the request of this young
, lady" pointing 10 the one who had
not moved or spoken, "to inform you
that il you agree to her proposition,
| am authorized to pay to your
order the sum Of fifty thousand dol
lars.
Pomeroy tried to speak, but his
voice was choked. 1t was no fraud ;
it was reality-he was TO bid farewell
to poverty
He stoed motionless for a moment
then advanced and offered bia arm to
the silent lady. She took it without
a quiyer, and went with him 10 where
the minister awaited thenn
The ceremony was quickly per-
, formed Doctor Pomeroy signed his
name, and then looked with consid-
. cradle curiosity at the bold sigma
ture, ellen Latour," which his
bride wrote down. The minister
hastily filled cut a certificate, which
be had brought with him by request
and which the maid and banker siga-
ed as witnesses. The bride took it,
kissed it, aud then thrust it in her
5osom. One moment more, and the
two glided away swiftly from sight.
Doctor Pomeroy then wiped the
perspiraiion from his brow, and
asked:
who is she 2"
Il do not know said the minis
ter. Il was requested, by letter,
and paid to perform the ceremony
and keep it a secret. 1t is perfectly
, lawful"
And l." said the banker, did
not see the lady's face. She deposit
ed the money with me, and requested
; my attendance here, to assure you
that her promise should be fulfilled. "
The three men separated; the gas
|. was turned out; the curtain fell on
o the FIRST act
The next day PomeFOy tried to
realize what be bad done. he had
sold his name to an unknown woman,
!, but be thought that could not iniure