Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-06-15
VIRGINIA, FRIDAY. JUNE Is, 1877.

sion he sought, leaving Isabel to dismiss
him with sufficient breyity. But the self
conceit of the man! Seventy or eighty
thousand dollars is all he is worth. A pref
ty match for Isabel Van Vorstl'
Henry Seaton turned away to hide the
change which he knew must have come
upon his face. fla young and handsome
gentleman, of aristocratic family, with
moderate fortune was thus secuted by the
wealthy merchant on account of his pow
erty, what could be the hope of him who
never banked dollar on his own account?
The only money he had ever deposited had
been in q savings bank. subject to the Or
der of his mother.
That afternoon Henry considered long
and earnestly, and at length resolved upon
the course he would pursue. Not for the
world would he betray trust reposed in
| him by his kind and generous employer. 1t
| was an hour of agony, sharp and bitter,
and he looked for many more hours of pain
to follow; but he would do his duty, in
truth and honor. and pray to Heaven for
strength.
That evening, when the merchant, with
a package of papers in his hand, asked
Henry to accompany him to his house,
the latter said:
'sMr. Van Worst, if you will leave these
invoices with me 1 will reduce the cur
rency at my own lodgings. You shall have
no trouble with them"
The merchant looked sharply into the
young mans face.
''Henry, do you object to going to my
house?"
Seaton turned pale, and trembled from
head to foot. A little while so, and then,
with the blood rushing back to his face, he
answered:
''Mr. Van Worst, since the day I first
crossed this threshold I have never know
ingly deceived you. I will not prevaricate
now It is better that go no more to your
house,
A bright light cleaned in the mer-
chants eyes.
care you afraid of me, Henry?"
"Do not trifle with me, sir.''
II do not trife with those whom I love
and honor. Now tell me the truth. Why
this sudden whim?"
cit is not whim, sir?"
"Well, then, why this resolution? Come,
Henry, let me know the TRUTH
With great struggle the young man at
length spoke:
"Mr. Van Worst, to-day you denounced
for his impudence man who sought the
hand Of your aughter-denounced him
because he was worth only eighty thousand
dollars-a man of family, and of aristo-
cratic connections
"Well?"
"Well, sir. do you think 1 have no
heart? Do you think can have been so
long in the companionship Of one Sc pure,
so gentle-aa,--.~
Here the young man broke down, and
| bowed his head upon his hands.
The merchant spoke very gently, but
| with deep emotion.
''Henry, told you that eighty thousand
dollars was all that man was worth. Had
he been the owner of millions, it would
have been the same to me. You are worth
far more-very, very far. have watched
you, and I have studied your character. l
know your mother and your sister, and 1
know what you have. done for them. And
now, my boy, the way is open freely to you.
If you can win lsabel's heart and hand.
you shall have her for a wife. and on the
day of your marriage I shall, with the
greatest pleasure, and with sense Of re-
lief, make over to you half of my bust
ness"
1t took Henry Seaton long time to
realize it all; but it came to him at length.
and when the request was again made he
did not refuse to go home with his en-
nleyer.
Beyond this there were no shoals or
quicksands in the way of Henry's low e
| Isnbel's heart was all his own, and she
gave him her hand with JOY and gladness.
f. And Jacob Van Worst never had cause
Fto regret the estimate he had made of the
| true worth of the man he had chosen for
his son-in-law. :