The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-16
rRouEuARDrs RBvEN0R

.os on the pier NJ mo loot OF twenty -slNtn |
street. There il a little waiting room there not
bigger that a largo packing box. in which tho
miserable wrctchos who are waiting for the
boat 10 tako them to Biackwell's or RandalPs
Islnnd usually huddle to escape the rivor winds
in winter and the glare OF the sun in summer
Al this time II was empty. ! had Just missed
,he boat and would have 10 wait nearly an
hour
Willie I was growing 10 myself about 1t.
Irrpuchardt came in. | hardly knew him. For
seven years ! had lost sight Of him. and not
knowing II he were dead or alive, had ceased TO
think Of him. He had studied with mo for a
year. We had been quito intimate at school.
Ilo was bright. nervous, ambitious fell
low and had shown remarkable proficiency in
chemistry. had heard afterward that he had
driitcd into tho drug business and once or
twice vague in,imations reached mo that he
had contracted irregular habits Then, as
say, lost sight OF him and forgot him.
Now he stood before me. and when he made
himaelf known was astonishcd at the changes
seven years had wrought.
One fcols instantly. in such cases. the relative
condition Of companion l did not need to
ask him If he had suffered
He betrayed II in his thin face, his restless
eye. and his crushed expression. But was
upprcparod 10 hear that 1t was case of the
heart
You've got half an hour to whit" said he
after we had exchanged civil platitudes. sit
down on that box Of sonp. and I'll tell you
about II. It's only common justice to hear mo.
because you must have been more or less in
nuenced by the gross cxaggerations that have
reached YOU"
insisted that l had not heard q syllable
concerning his career or misfortune. He
looked fcrgivingly ncredulous. and said:
all a. 4 I'll.
know tho exact truth. and 1t will interest you,
Tor /, has never been told. In the first place.
tina, girl was not my mistrcss-a purer. more
honorable"
MY dear fellow. did not know that there
was girl in the case"
"oh. you must have heard Of the Prescott
AFFAIR. Everybody knew about it."
Ishook my head He went on:
The way It came about that got into the
Iresco, establishment was this l was looking
fora suitable opening for drug store, and see
ing that place on the corner Of Third avenue
md Eighteenth street advertised. l called there.
"A man Of the name Of Ellinghcr kept it. He
was a Prussian. l had talk with him and
found that he was only clerk that the store
belonged to widow who owned the building
md lived over IT, Her name was Prescott She
was an eccentric invalid. confined to her room
with rheumatic govt. and was anxious to dis
pose Of tie place 10 some capable man who
could pay half her price in cash. Eingher
thought II was q capital chance for me; the
business was a good one and could be doubled
In the hands o. a smart man. lie was very
anxious. | saw. 10 be retained by whoever
bought the store.
81 had saved about 1--WE hundred dollars and
Thought saw a promising opening. / hur-
ried round 10 the private entrance on Eigh-
ieenth street to see the Prescott. | rang the bell
Two or three times and waited nearly half an
hour; then heard q little feminine 'R-hem
over my head and looked up.
"A young woman was leaning upon the sill
Q. the open window. She was very pretty. and
she smiled in q most fascinating manner TO
me. That was my first meeting with Addie
preseot. AL the other accounts are pure rO-
nance"
Urquohardt said this with such an impressive
manner that hesitated 70 tell him again that l
had not heard any other accounts.
Now" he continued. Il suppose fell In
Ioyc with the girl then and there. but did not
know It az the time. / stated my business and
my desire TO soc Mrs. Prescott. whereupon she
came down and let me in. There was. imme-
dately opposite the front door. a little recep-
ton room. II was nm extemporzed affair and
nt some time must have been a prescription
room attached 10 the drug store. for there was
~ tulH Nli' tul} n bphIu phiAlAlOu StphihNihk ~
from the shop, and this had been papered over
and otherwise disguised.
THE young lady conducted me into this little
room. and before permitting me TO see her
mother. adroitly cross questioned me about my
purpose. l was very frank with her. for her
naive manner. her beauty. and her simple un-
affected character Won me. / said to myself II
will add very much to my happiness here to
have so sweet woman in the house.
We'll. sir, not 10 make my story too long, |
found the old lady every way agreeable. ] told
per exactly what my means We're, and what
hoped 70 accomplish She appeared to be IA
Morally impressed. and was even more commu-
incntiye than was myself. mad to listen to
hcr history and full recital Of all her troubles.
tho WAS anxious 10 get rid Of the store. for ever
einco her husband died Il had been m!sman-
hgcd
The young woman sat demurely In the room
Eurng the interview. listening. but saying
nothing. ! was delighted with the result. l
came AWAY. feeling sure that would get the
lace On my own terms. and that should have
plo trouble whatever with the Prescott The
Dast thing she said TO me was; Well young
man, come W and talk with me again to-mor-
Vow, when you have slept upon it, and the last
fhlng saw as left the house was the sweet
fmile Of the girl as she looked after me from
tbe door.
Do You know was fool enough 10 say to
myself that night. Urduehardt. that beauty has
lnade an impression on you. and, II the signs
Pre- worth anything. you are not dlsagreeable 10
1or'
The negotiations reached this conclusion
Tho next day was 10 give the Prescott a thou
fand dollars down. and the rest Of the money
Dhe would take in yearly instalments. imme-
dlatoly wrote 10 my mother IN Delhi, and she
promised to raise me the five hundred dollars
by mortgaging piece Of lund. But ! would
have 10 wait several weeks for the transaction
q be completed, told all this 10 the Prescott,
PM she said there was no hurry Whenever
got The money we couid consummate the sale.
IN the mean timo. If pleased, could take my
Hive hundred dollars and make the needed i'm
troycmeuts that had suggested. Knight con-
tider thgl q loan from her when We made our
Bargain"
:, And You didthatY ?"
Curses ON my folly. did. I was infatuated.
went every day 10 the house. ! played
frougAis with the Old woman. | listened 70 all
uef troubles. got 10 chattering with Addie On
We stairs. became intimate with Ellingher.
~ tor. . H N laN a nrWnaa