The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-04-04

A London correspondent writes MY
clock on this occasion misled me, and
arrived al my hostess at too early an
hour. As went in met g young lady
preparing 90 go out We exchanged q
word or two and gave a second rapid
glance 30 discover what il was that made
me wish she would stay. There was Nd
beauty in one sense, but piquance and
grace and something else. II was face
that suggested events, and | said 90 10
my hostess. "How strange I" she an
swered ~ will tell You about her.
You Sec she is young and this moment
particularly sad. She has hardly foot
ing, she saws. She is in q half dream on
in a world not exactly real, as il is %
the rest Of us. Two or three yea ago
a we'll known publisher in Paternosteg
row, who for many years had been pros
perous in business. and deserved his
prosperity, failed through no fault OF
his own. The ruin was 90 complete.
save that his honor remained untarn-
ishei, that he has been obliged 10 take
an humble situation, and the older
daughters Of the family to become gov
ernesses. The youngest daughter, Alice,
the young lady you met in the hall. has
been kept at school, that sh@ might be
educated 10 dill the place Of n goyerness.
Last year, when the animals which had
been presented 90 the Prince of Wales
on hs Indian journey were exhibited at
the Geological Gardens, this child, with
the rest Of London, was anxious 10 see
the princes pets She went 10 the
Zoo, as il is called here. and while in
the crowd. observed thief pick a gen.
tleman's pocket and get of with his
stealines. As soon as she could, she
touched tire gentleman on the arm and
pointed out the thief. The gentleman
said Let us watch and see II be re-
lieves any one else Of a purse The
light fingered party pursued his craft,
and they on the watch gave the alarm,
aud the thief was arrested. Alice started
for her home. The gentleman begged
that she would give him her name and
address, that he might httIngly thank
her. but this abe declined 10 do. he
must have followed her. for the next day
he met her on the way 30 school, and
again asked for her address, saying that
without her testimony IL would be i'm
possible 10 convict the pickpocket, and
she complied. He called at her father s
house, made the acquaintance of the
family. escorting Alice 30 the mAgis-
trate's court, where, on her evidence,
the sharper was sent 10 hard labor for
two years. This new-made acquaintance
continued his visits, and was marked in
his attentions 30 Alice He gave her
valuable presents, and begged that he
might be At the charge Of her education.
He took mp the role Of guardian IN the
most natural way, and became the dear
est friend Of the whole family. He was
an invalid, and travelled more or less
during the early seasons Tor his health.
Not very long ago he surprised them by
coming 10 take leave, saying that he was
obliged 10 go to San Francisco 10 take
possession of valuable property that
had been left him there. He wrote TO
Alice during the journey. and after his
arrival and then came the last letter
saving that he was i'll and must die that
he hoped to make her his wife, and that
bv his will be had left her E500 rear
for life. Shortly after the receipt Of
this, Alice received o visit from his
father, who informed her that his son
had died few days after writing 10 each
Of them, and that he had exActed q
pledge from him that he should see that
the provisions OF the will were executed.
He himself was going 10 San Francisco
TO attend to his sons business there,
and settle the estate. A few days ago
on his departure, Alice received froEa
him a magnificent bouquet, in which
was n most tender note and a diamond
ring OF the rarcst value, Here the story
pauses for the present. Later on | may
be able TO ten you whether anything
further comes Of il. My friend has tho
idea that the father, who is a vidower
is as much pleased with Alice as the res
7 Of rs I"