Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-05-22
S@TRANsIENr BILLs-oAsH
returnad tn ms lettars.

"Upon my soul 70 said Van Worst, with .
burst very much like indignation "that young
gentleman does not lack assurance. Why
he had the impudence to ask me for the
hand of my daughter, or, permission to win,
the hand if he could. / think might safe
ly have given him the permission he sought,
leaving Isabel to dismiss him with suEciens
brevity.l But the selfconceiss Of the, man o
Seventy or eighty Thousand dollars is all hes
!. worth. A pretty match for. Isabel Van
Worst J"
Henry seaton turned away 10 hide the
change which he knew must have come upon
his face. II q young and handsome GENTLE
man, of aristocratic family, with moderate
fortune, was thus secuted by the wealthy
merchant on account of his poverty, 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 .
savings bank, subject to the order Of his
mother
That afternoon Henry considered long aud
earnestly, and ut length resolved upon tho
course he would pursue. Not for the world :
would he betray trust reposed in him by
his kind and generous employer. Il was an +,
hour of agony, sharp and bitter, and no
looked for many more hours Of pain 10 foi>
low; but he would do his duty, in truth and g
honor, and pray TO Heaven for strength.
That evening, when the merchant. with
package of papers in his hand, asked Henry
to accompany him to his house the latter said
"Mr. Van Worst, if you will leave those
invoices with me win reduce the currency
at my own lodging. 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" sgs'a y
Seaton turned pale, and trenbled 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 that I frst
crossed this threshold. have never know
ingly deceived you. will not prevarica,e
now. 1t is better that 1 go no moro to your
house." Bs Re-
A bright light cleaned in the merchants
eyes.
care you afraid of me, Henryr'
"Do not trifie with me, SIR
al never trfe with those whom love and
honor. Now tell me tho truth. Why this
sudden whim ?" 80
''1t is not whim, sir" sd
"Well, then, why this resolution Come.
Henry, let me know the truth"
With great struggle the young man al
length spoke:
"Mr. Van Worst, to, day you denounced for
his impudence man who sought the hand
of your daughter denounced him because
he was worth only eighty thousand dollars
n man of family, and of nristocratic conncc>
tions."
"WelI?"
"Well, sir, do you think have NO heart?
Do you think l can have been so long in tho
companionship OF one so pure, SO gentle" 81
Hero the young man broke down, aud
bowed his head upon his hands.
The merchant spoke, very gently, but with
deep emotion.
"Henry, 1 told you that eighty thousand
dollars was ALL that man was worth. Had
he been the owner of millions, il would have
been the same to mo. You are worth far
more-very, very far. have watched you,
and 1 have studied your character. know
your mother and yonr sister, and know what
You have done for them. And now, my boy,
the way is freely open to you. If you can
win IsabePs heart and hand, you shall have
her for wife and on tho day Of your mar
riage 1 shall, with the greatest pleasure. and
with sense of relief, make over to You half
of my business"
1t took Henry Seaton a long time to realize
it all but il came to him at length and
when the request was again made he did not
refuse to go homo with his employer. -lat..
Beyond this therewere no shoals or quick
sands in the way of Hepry's love. Isabel's
heart was all his own, and she gave him her
hand with joy and gladness.
And Jacob Van Worst never lad cause TO
regret the estimate he had made of the true
worth of the man he had chosen for his SON.
in-law