The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-11-13
her to turn. She saw nothing, and
concluded it was but freak of imagi-

concluded it was but freak of imagi
/ nation.
The time passed slowly with Nellie
and for year Gerald's letters came ey
cry two weeks with great regularity, an,
were as punctually answered. The
| they came once month, and SO on unit
at the end OF two years they ceased, will
an occasional stray missiye, inscribed il
q serawling hand. the opposite of Ger
AIDS plain, bold character.
During this time business made it nee
essary for Mr.. Hoskins to remove to I
-. He had altered in face. and per
sonai appearance very much in the pas
two years-a tinge of red on either side
and across the nose, undoubtedly
warned the wise. His clothing must now
be OF the most expensive material and
the latest styles. His business pros
pered unusually for year or two, and
then, by heavy drains, suffered a relapse,
gradually sinking lower and lower until
the panic cloud of 1857 hung upon the
financial and commercial horizon.
Nellie seemed to take an unusual in.
terest in her fathers business. During
her residence at L. she had made
many acquaintance, among them being
that Of Leroy Fay, wealthy young man,
and withal the man whom her father de.
sired her to marry.
The reason was obvious. Fay's wealth
would be powerful mainstay to the
rapidly failing business of Mr. Hoskins.
Nellie did not care an iota for LEROY
Fay, for to one the memory of seven
long years had not obliterated, she had
given her first pure leve. Mr. Hoskins
and Leroy both urged the latter's suit,
but Nellie was firm and intimated that
no argument or no consideration would
induce her to marry Leroy Fay.
Here was an obstruction which Mr..
Hoskins had not anticipated when he
promised Leroy his daughters hand in
return for the golden eagles he had re-
ceived from him.
Fay became importunate and insisted
upon speedy marriage, to which Mr.
Hoskins assented, and the nuptial
day was appointed without Nellie's con-
sent.
Preparations were made on the most
magnificent scale; guests invited from at
home and among Leroy's friends and
relatives abroad. 1t vas theme of
conversation at the clubs and at all the
fashionable afternoon gatherings.
This state of things continued the day
before the wedding when the city Of
II was astonished by the revelation
that Nellie Roskins was missing. Search
was Immediately instituted, and the
most experienced detectives tried in vain
to discover her whereabouts
Leroy Fay believed Mr.. Hoskins was
tricking him and was in full sympathy
with his daughter, and therefore Leroy
Fay informed Mr.. Hoskins that the re-
turn of the money he loaned him was
necessary. If the money was not forth
coming in five days he would institute
proceedings which would have thrown
Mr.. Hoskins in the abyss of financial
rum. Every resource was looked into
carefully and nowhere could Mr. Hoskins
see loop hole of safety. His last hope
was the bank.
On the morning of the last day he
called there to negotiage loan, and was
handed q packet by the cashier. Mr..
Hoskins opened it and discovered more
than fifty crisp, new bank notes of the
denomination of hundred dollars.
Across the face of the uppermost was
written in large bold characters, the fol-
lowing legend
This is but small part of fair COM
petence you demanded that shoul pos
sess seven years ago. In this, your di-
lemna, use it. GERALD DEAN.
Gerald Dean had returned, and send
ing the half of the souvenir to Nellie,
she ioyfully appointed place of meet
ing and informed him of her fathers
circumstances. Gerald Immediately de-
posted the money, and coming back to
Nellie, they went to the nearest clergy
man, and were married. They then i'm
mediately left for wedding tour, de-
termined to ask repentance when they
returned.
Mr.. Hoskins was much delighted.