Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-05-24

has been the result?
"Why, they were obliged to give
up their neat cottage year ago, and
sell off their best furniture at half
the original cost, tn pay off the heavy
expenses attendinp her first sickness,
and now they ocerpy three rooms in
the fourth story of third-rate tene-
meut house. And what makes mat
ters atlll worse, Charley has become
discouraged at his lot, and has lately
taken to drink.
This Mrs. Fulsome told me in
confidence, with tears standing in her
eyes and she furthermore assured me
that che very much feared he would
lose his situation in consequence of
it. Charley Fulsome, when he was
married, wss etrictly temperate, and
and looking forward to the future
with as much hope and confidence as
you are and yet, in little more than
two years, all his prospects in life
have been blighted through the
united and all-adyised Judgment of
| the thoughtless couple"
And with these clever arguments
Laura would effectually silence her
importunate lover for the time being.
Now it was great puzzle to every
body how old Jasper Flint, with his
penurious habits, could have died and
left his children so destitute. Some
suggested that he must have hidden
or buried his money: and every part
of the house, cellar and backyard
were carefully examined, but without
its resulting in any such discovery.
One day Fred Allston was sur
prised by the appearance Of Too my
at the Office, bearing a brief and
startling message from his darling
Laura. It contained just these words,
and they wers very suggestive, for
they were the first she had ever writ
ten him:
"DEAR FRED---Como to me quick.
LAURA"
When he arrived she met hin. at
the door, and he noticed that her
manner was very strange and excited
What is the matter, my poor
Laura What has happened?' he
exclaimed, painting.
Something very Odd has happen
Ell y was hex hurried and futterlng
answer. Il have Just made strange
discovery, and have sent for you post
haste to enlighten me
She led the way into the mousse,
and once inside she went directly,
ard without speaking, to an old bu-
reau in one corner and drew out
carefully preserved package of pa
pers and placed tlem in her lovers
hands.
Fred gazed al them for moment
IL bewildered astonishment, and then
exclaimed eycitedly : Good heavens,
Laura, what does this mean? They
are government bonds. Where did |
you get them? There are thousan ds,
too T.
"Ara yoa sure of that? Can there
be no mistaken" demanded Larra,
excitedly.
"No mistake in the world, ny
darling They are gonui ine govern
ment securities. But whera in the
name of all that is wonderful did you
get them2"
You remember the old desk with
ono broken leg in the room which my
father used to occupy Well, got
short of kindling good, and thinking
it nc longer an object either Of utility
or ornament, l ordered Tommy 10
take it to tho wood-she2 and cut it
up. He vent out with it, and be-
gan 70 hack it to pieces with his
hatcuet. In few minutes he came
running IN, bringing handful Of
these bonds with him. I guessed
from their appearance that they must
be valuable, ard 80 I sent Tommy
directly for you, thinking you might
be able, with your knowledge of
business, to see into this matter more
clearly than 7. / was almost sure
that 2uch important looking docu-
D4outs could 4ot DO worthless paper"
No, my sweet Laura, you wers
right tboreH cried Fred, glsefully
for he saw that with this unexpected
mine Of wealth in her possession, she
could no. reaaonably withh Did her
o9.sent longer to become his BRIDE
not If sac really loved MIN, as 5he