Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-08-16
UROUEHARDTs REVENGE.

URQUEHARDTs REVENGE.
On my way to the island on purely
professional visit | encountered Urque-
hardt 1t was on the pier at the foot
of Twenty-siXth street. There is a lit
tie waiting-room there, not bigger than
large packing-box, in which the mis-
cradle wretches who are waiting for
the boat to take them to BLACKWELL $
or Randall's Island usually huddle to
escape the river winds in winter and
the glare of the sun in summer. At this
time it was empty. | had just missed
the boat. and would have to wait near
ly an hour.
While was growing to myself about
it Urquehardt came in. hardly knew
him. For seven years had lost sight
of him, and not knowing if he were
dead or alive, had ceased to think OF
him. He had studied with me for a
year. We had been quite intimate at
school. He was bright, nervous, am
bilious fellow, and had shown remark.
able proficiency in chemistry. l had
heard afterward that he had drifted into
the drug business, and once or twice
vague intinations reached me that he
had contracted irregular habits. Then,
as l say, l lost sight of him and forgot
him.
Now he stood before me, and when
he made himself known | was aston
ished at the changes seven years hat
wrought.
One feels instantly, in such cases, the
relative condition of companion.
did not need to ask him if he had suf
fered.
He betrayed it in his thin face, his
restless eye, and his crushed expression.
But was unprepared to hear that il
was case of the heart.
"You've got half an hour to watt
said he, after we had exchanged civi
platitudes. "Sit down on that box OF
soap, and I'll tell you about it. It's
only common justice to hear me, be.
cause you have been more or less influ'
enced by the gross eXaggerations that
have reached you"
/ insisted that l had not heard a syl-
liable concerning his career or misfort-
une. He looked forgivingly incredu-
lous, and said:
"Oh, well, you're entitled as an old
friend, to know the exact truth, and il
will interest you, for it has never been
told. In the first place, that girl was
not my mistress-a purer, more honor
able"
"My dear fellow, 1 did not know that
there was girl in the case"
"Oh, you must have~heard of the
Prescott affair. Everybody knew about
it."
l shook my head. He went on:
"The way it came about that l got
into the Prescott establishment was this
was looking for a suitable opening
for drugstore, and seeing that place
on the corner of Third avenue and
Eighteenth street advertised, l called
there.
"A man of the name of Ellinghel
kept it. He was Prussian. had {
talk with him and found that he was
only clerk; that the store belonged tc
widow who owned the building and
lived over it. Her name was Prescott
She was an eccentric invalid, confined
to her room with rheumatic gout, anC
was anxious to dispose Of the place tC
some capable man who could pay hal
her price in cash. Ellingher though
it was capital chance for me; the bust
ness was good one and could bt
doubled in the hands of smart man
He was very anxious, saw, to be re,
tanned by whoever bought the store.
81 had saved about five hundred
dollars, and l thought saw a promis
ing opening. l hurried around to thu
private entrance on Eighteenth stree
TO see the Prescott. rang the bell two
or three times and waited nearly hal
an hour; then heard little feminine
'a-hem' over my head and looked up
"a young woman was leaning upoT
the sill of the open window. She wa
very pretty, and she smiled in mos
fascinating manner to me. That wa
my first meeting with Addie Prescott
All the other accounts are pure ro
NANCE"
Urquehardt said this with such al
impressive manner that / hesitated Il
tell him again that had not heard an
other accounts.
Now" he continued. 81 suppos,
fell in love with the girl then anC
there, but / did not know it at tn,
time. i stated my business and my de
sire TO see Mrs. Prescott, whereupon sh,
came down and let me in. There was
Immediately opposite the front door,
little reception-roOm. 1t was an ex
temporized affair, and at some tim,
must have been prescription-room at
tached TO the drug store, for there wa
at this time only board partition
separating it from the shop, and thi
had been papered over and Otherwis
disguised.
"The young lady conducted me int
this little room, and, before permitting
me "a see her mother, adroitly cross
questioned me about my purpose.
was very frank with her, for her naiv
manner, her beauty, and her simple
unaffected character won me. j sal
to myself, 1t will add very much /
my happiness here TO have so sweet
woman in the house
"Well, sir, not TO make my story TO
long, found the old lady every wa
agreeable. I told her exactly what m
means We're, and what / hoped to aC
complish. She appeared 10 be faVora
bly, impressed, and was even more CON
municatiye than / was myself. ha
10 listen 10 her history and full recita
of all her troubles. She was anxiou
10 get rid of the store, for ever sine
her husband died il had been mismar
Rged.