The New York herald., 1879-02-04
THE REWARD OF FRIENDSHIP.

A TYPO FALLS HEIR TO SEVEN HUNDRED AND
FIFTY THOUSAND DoLLARs-sINGULAR STORY
OF TILE MYSTERIOUS AND DIssIpATEp AN
TOME.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERAID1
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 8, 1879.
strange story has just come to light in this city,
Ten years ago dark skinned young man came to
Port jefferson, L. l.. who seemed to be some
thing different from wanderer.
He had winning speech and manner.
but sad face. and although given to
drink seemed desirous Of earning honest lveli-
situation as compositor in the office of the hdepe-
dent Press at a salary of s6 per week.
LOVE FOR DUsKY Maiden.
There seemed q settled melancholy about him, and
to kind friends who evinced desire to learn his his
tory he impaired the information that his name
Antoine Mercer. and that he had come from the
island of St. Thomas. There he had been in the
service of wealthy uncle the of vast estates.
who expressed the intention Of making him
his heir. But in unlucky moment he fell in love
with beautiful mulatto girl. whose charms capti-
waited him. and he had pledged to her his hearts
derest affections The attachment of Antoine for the
dusky beauty became known to the uncle and in
anger he forbade his nephew to pursue the matter
any further
DRIVEN HOME
Pcrsistn9 in his love affair. the stern and inexor-
able uncle drove his nephew from his doors, and
since that time he had been wanderer. almost
broken in spirit and in strange land He roved
reached the seauestered spot on Long Island
where this narrative finds him. But his propensity
tor drink overcame bis resolution. and it soon be-
understood that he was drinking again, for he
came to his work frequently state of intoxica-
ton. The kind employer who had given him work
bore with him until he felt that forbcarance had
strances discharged Antoine.
FRIEND IN NEED.
At this time there working in the same estab
lishment STRIPPING of fifteen. Antoine in his dis
tress. without money and without a home. appealed
to his young companion to afford him succor. The
young friend appealed to his parents and they took
the stranger in and housed him and fed him. His
young friend. now Mr.. John +. Skinner, of No. II
Ward street. in this city, was warmly seconded in his
efforts in behalf OF the stranger by his mother, who
touched by the appearance of the stranger and
the story of his life, told with q pathos and evil
dent honesty which carried it home to her heart
But Antoine behaved badly that at last he was
sent away as incorrigible The wanderer carried
away with him the best suit of clothes belonging to
Mr.. Skinner, Sr. Days. weeks. months, years
rolled away. and no tidings of Antoine came
years after Antoines departure they split up an old
trunk which he had left with them containing a
pile of letters which were burned to get them out of
the way.
BREAD on THE WATERS.
Recently paper came to Mr. Skinner with o
marked article from the home of his wife Patchogue,
L. l. 1t was copied from West India paper.
and announced that Antoine Mercer, of St.
Thomas. had died and left his large fortune.
amounting to S75OOOO i'll American money,
to his old friend, John Z. Skinner, who. .had be-
frcnded him at Port Jefferson. L. L.. mark of
gard and appreciation OF his kind acts toward
him. The first two years interest of the
money to be devoted to the benefit
of Mercer's town. then the principal to his
friend Skinner. The article stated that Mercer s
money fell to him from deceased uncle. Mr.. Skin
is taking steps to what seems to be u
splendid fortune and has written to the American
at Thomas Skinner q n tor
in the Office of the Journal and Courier of this city,
and continues work usual.