Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-29
UROUEHARDT'S REVENGE.

URQUEHARDT'S RkVENGE.
On my way to the island on purely pro
fessional visit encountered Urquehardt. l
was on the pier at the foot of Twenty sixth
street. There is little waiting room there
not bigger thana large packing box, in which
the miserable wretches who waiting fo
the boat to take them to Blackwelrs or Ran
dalps Island usually hudde to escape the rive
winds in winter and the glare of the sun II
summer At this time it was empty. hat
lust missed the boat, and would have to wal
early an hour.
While | was growing to myself about il
For seven years had lost sight of him, anC
not knowing if he were dead or alive, haG
ceased to think of him. He had studied with
me for year. We had been cutie intimate al
school. He was bright, nervous, ambitious
fellow, and had shown remarkable proficiency
in chemistry. | had heard afterward that he
had drifted into the drug business, and once
or twice vague intimations reached me 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 himself known was astonished at the
change seven years had wrought.
One feels Instantly, in such cases, the rcla-
need to ask him if he had suffered.
He betrayed it in his thin face, his restless
eye, and his crushed expression But | was
unprepared to hear that it was case of the
heart.
"You've got half an hour to wait" said he
after we had exchanged civil platitudes "Sit
down on that box of soap and I'll tell you
about it. It's only common justice to hear
me, because you have been more or less in.
fluenecd by the gross exagerations that have
reached you"
insisted that had not heard syllable
concerning his career or misfortune. He
looked for%ivingly incredulous, and said.
"Oh well, you're entitled as an Old friend,
to know the exact truth, and it will interest
you, for it has never been told. In the first
place,thc girl was not my mistress a purer
more honorable -"
My Gear 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.
"rhe way it came about that got into the
Prescott establishment was this: I was look
ing for a suitable opening for a drugstore
and seeing that place on the corner of Third
avenue and Eighteenth street advertised,
called there.
"a man of the name Of Ellngher kept it
He was a Prussian, | had talk with him
and found that he was only clerk; that the
store belonged to a widow who owned the
building and lived over it. Her name was
Prescott She was an eccentric invalid, con
fined to her room with rheumatic govt, ant
was anxious to dispose Of the place to some
capable man who could pay halfher price il
cash. Ellingher thought it was capita
chance for me; the business was a good one
and could be doubled in the hands of a smart
man. He was very anxious, l saw, to be re
tanned by whoever bought the store.
"I had saved about five hundred dollars ant
thought ! saw promising opening.
hurried around to the private entrance OF
Eighteenth street to see the Prescott. rang
the bell two o. three times and waited nearl,
half an hour; when I heard little feminine
'a-hem' over my head and looked up.
"a young woman was leaning upon the sill
of the open window. She was very pretty
and she smiled in very fascinating manne
rescot. All the other accounts are pure 70
nance"
Urquehardt said this with such an impress
sive manner that hesitated to tell him agail
that had not heard anv other accounts.
"Now," he continued. II suppose fell il
love with tie girl then and there, but die
not know it at the time I stated my bust
whereupon she came down and let me in
There was, Immediately opposite the from
door, little rcception-room. 1t was an ex
temporzcd affair, and at some time mus
have been prescription room attached t.
the drug store, tor there was at this tim
only board partition separating it from tn
shop and this had been papered over AM
otherwise disguised.
"The young lady conducted me into this lit
tie room, and, before permitting me to see he
mother, adrotly cross-questioned me abou
my purpose. was very frank with her, TO
simple unaffected character won me. I sal,
to myself, 1T will add much to my Happiness
here to have SO sweet woman in the hou se.
Well, sir, not to make my story too long
found the old lady every way agreeable.
what hoped to accomplish. She app appears ire
to be favorbly impressed, and was even mor
communicative than was myself. l had t
listen to her history aad a full recital Of al
her troubles. She was anxious to get rid c
the store, for ever ince her husband died j
had been mismanaged.
"The young woman sat demurely in tn
room during the interview, listening but say
ING nothing | was delighted with the result
came away, feeling sure that would gre
the place on my own terms, and that / shout
have no trouble whatever with the Presco
The last thing she said to me was: 'Wel
morrow, when you have slept upon it, an
the last thing L saw lett the house wa
the sweet smile of the girl as she looked afte
me from the door.
DO you know was fool enough to say
myself that night: 'Urquehardt, that beaut
has made an impression on you, and if til
signs are worth anything, you are not dis
agreeable to her.
The negotiations reached this conclusio
the next day. l was to give the Prescott
thousand dollars down, and the rest of tn
money she would take in yearly installments
Immediately wrote to my mother in Delhi
and she promised to raise me the five hundre
dollars by mortgaging piece of land. But
would have to wait several weeks for tn
transaction to be completed I told all tn
to the Prescott, and she said there was n
hurry. Whenever got the money we coul
consumate the sale. In the meantime, If
pleased, l could take my five hundred dollar
and make the needed Improvements that
had taal5 s% 9 a might consider that loa
And you did that?'
Courses or my folly, I did. was infatuat
ed, | went every day to the house, I plaYe