The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-02-21
A Romantic Love Story,


My clock on this occasion misled me,
and arrived at my hostess's at too early
an hour AS l went in / met young
lady preparing to go out. We exchanged
word or two and l gave her second
rapid glance to discover what it was
that made me wish that she would stay.
There was no beauty in one sense, but
piquance and grace and something else.
1t was a face that suggested events,
and I said to my hostess: "How
strangew she answered. will tell
you about her. You see she is young
and at this moment particularly sad
She has hardly footing, she says.
She is in half dream or world not
exactly real, as it is to the rest of us.
Two or three years ago well known
publisher in Paternoster Row, who for
many years had been very prosperous in
business, and deserves his prosperity,
failed through no fault of his own. The
ruin was so complete, save that his honor
remained untarnished, that he had been
obliged to take a humble situation,
and the older daughters of thefamily to
become governesses. The youngest
daughter, Alice, the young lady you met
in the hall, has been kept at school that
she might be educated to fill the place
of governess. Last year, when the an
imals which had been presented to the
Prince of Wales on his Indian journey
were exhibited at the Geological Gar
dens, this child with the rest of Lon
don, was anxious to see the Princes
pets. She went to the Zoo as it is
called here, and while in the crowd, OBJ
served thief pick gentleman pocket
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 if he relieves any one else of a
purse The lightfngered party pur-
sued his craft, and they on the watch
gave the alarm, and the thief was ar
rested. Alice started for her home.
The gentleman begged that she would
| give him her name and address, that he
might fttingly thank her, but this she
declined to do. He must have followed
her, for the next day he met her on her
way to school, and again asked for her
address, saying that without her testi-
mony it would be impossible to convict
the pickpocket, and she complied. He
called at her fathers house, made the
acquaintance of the family, escorting
Alice to the Magistrates Court, where,
on her evidence, the sharper was sent to
hard labor for two years. This new
made acquaintance continued his visits,
and was marked in his attention to
Alice. He gave her valuable presents
and begged that he might be at the
charge of her education. He took uE
the role of guardian in the most natural
way, and became the dearest friend ot
the whole family. He was an invalid
and travelled more or less during the early
seasons for his health. Not very long
ago he surprised them by coming to take
leave, saying that he was obliged to g
to San Francisco to take possession of !.
valuable property that had been lef
there. He wrote to Alice during tht
journey, and after his arrival; and the1
came the last letter saying that he wa
ill and must die; that he hoped to maxi
her his wife, and that by his will he hat
left her 9500 a year for life. Shortl,
after the receipt of this, Alice received
visit from his father, who Informed
her that his son had died few days
after writing to each of them, and tina
he had exacted pledge from him tha
he would see that the provisions of tn
will were executed. He himself wa
going to San Francisco to attend to hi
,, sons business there, and settle the estate
A few days ago on his departure, Alic
received from him a beautiful bouquet
! in which was a most tender note and
l diamond ring of the rarest value. Her
; the story pauses for the present. Late
1 on may be able to tell you whethe
. anything further comes of it. M
. friend has the idea that the father, VIII
r is widower, is as much pleased wit
D Alice as the rest of us!"