The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-02-28
A Romantic Love Story,

" My clock, on this occasion misled me,
and I arrived at my hostess at too early
an hour. As went in, I met young
lady preparing to go out. We exchanged
a word or two, and I gave a second rapid
glance to discover what it was that made
ME wish she would stay. There was no
beauty in one sense, but piquancc and
grace, and something else. 1t was face
that suggested events, and said SO to my
hostess. "How strangc!" she answered.
II will tell you about her. You sec she
is young, and at this moment particular
ly sad. She has hardly footing, she
says. She is in half dream or in world
not exactly real Us it is to the rest Of us.
Two or three years ago a well-known pub
Usher in Paternostcr Row, who for many
years has been prosperous in business,
and deserved his prosperity, failed through
no fault of his own. The ruin was so
complete, save that his honor was unfair
nished, that he has been obliged to take
an humble situation, and the older
daughters of the family to become gov
crnesses.
The youngest daughter. Alice, the
young lady you met in the hall, has been
kept at school, that she might be edura
ted to fill the place of a govcrness. last
year, when the animsls which had been
presented to the Prince of Wales on his
Indian journey where exhibited at the
Geological Gardens, this child with the
rest of London, was anxious to see the
Princes pets. She went to the Zoo,' as
it is called here, and while in the crowd
observed a thief pick gentleman peck
ct and get off with his stealings. As soon
as she could, she touched the gentleman
on the arm and pointed out the thief. The
gentleman said, Let us watch and see il
he relieves anyone else Of purse The
light-ingered party pursued his craft;
and they on the watch gave the alarm,
and the thief was arrested. Alice started
for her home. The gentleman begged that
she would give him her name and address
that he might tittingly thank her. but
this she declined to do.
lie must have followed her, for the next
day he met her on the way to school, and
that without her testimony it would be
impossible to convict the pickpockct, and
she complied. He called at her fathers
house, made the acquaintance Of the fam
lily, escorting Alice to tho magistrate's
court, where, on her evidence, the sharper
was sent to hard labor for two years
This ncw-made acquaintance continued
his visits, and was marked in his attcn.
tions to Alice. He gave her valuable
presents, and begged that he might bt
at the charge Of her education. He took
up the role of guardian in the most nat
ural way, and became the dearest friend
of the whole family. He was an invalid
and travelled more or less during the early
season for his health. Not very long age
he surprised them by coming 10 take
leave, saying that he was obliged to go te
San Francisco to take possession of val
liable property that had been left to him
there.
He wrote to Alice during the journey
and after his arrival; and then came tho
last letter saying that he was i'll and must
die; that he hoped to make her his wife
and that by his will, he had left her $500
a year for life. Shortly after the receipt
of this, Alice received visit from hi!
father, who informed her that his son h;a6
died few days after writing to each Of
them, and that he had exacted pledge
from him that he should see that the pro
visions of the will were executed. liz
himself was going to San Francisco to ut.
tend to his sons business there, and set.
tie the estate. A few days ago, on his dc.
parturc, Alice received from him mag.
niticent boquet, in which was a most
tender note and a.diamond ring of the rar.
est value Here the story pauses for the
present. Later on Imay be able to tell
you wheather anything further comes OF
it. My friend has the idea that the
father who is a widower, is as much
pleased with Alice as the rest of U.S.
London Corr Hortford Conn. Couront.