The Osceola times., 1881-05-21
ROMANCE OF A POCKET BOOK.

ROMANCE OF A POCKET BOOK.
/ was just twenty-five when first mal
Alice Thorne, the daughter and hoirea
Of Geo. Thorue, tie great banker.
| fell desper tely in love with the
charming girl, knowing well that such
love was utter madncss
Her father was reported to he a very
proud ambitious man, who would look
high for q son-in-law. ! felt that he
would not so much Js give hearing 10
my suit, and, as 10 winning her, without
his consent, that Would bring her TO
misery. had nothing which 10 repay
or compensate her for the sacrifice of i
marriage with my poverty.
So We babe goodbye without word
of explanation, though ! knew she read
the anguish in my heart, and tears were
in the soft eyes avertod from me. ]
kissed the trembling hand She plgccd in
mine, and turned away, and babe fare
well to her and hope together
Scarcely had got back TO town, ana
WIS striving earnestly TO drown vain
regret in the hustle and interest # bust
ness, when q terrible misfortune fell
].
q check for $4,000, desiring me To- 20 TO
the bank and get il cashgd. Having
executed the commission and returned
imagine my horror ON discovering that
the pocketbook containing the money
was gone.
Whether stolen by some villain, ol
lost by my own carelossncss, what mat
tered iR 1t was gone and WAS utterly
ruined.
What suffered during the next few
hours God only knows; and when, afieI
being dismissed. | returned TO my own
room, ! was very nearly desperate; not
only had | lost a lucrative position, but
my future appeared TO be irehievahly
blasted, for there are suspicious which
are as fatal TO man morally, as would
be physically the wound of a ride bali.
But | was young, and Of a hope aI na
ture, and ! began to realize that / had
been leniently dealt with. On recalling
all that had happened af.er nav leaving
the bank, and the utter impossililiy Of
the pocket-bo0k tciug taken from the
breast pocket of my coat, ] came TO the
conclusion that ! must have dropped it
and thcrcunon ! resolved TO have re
course 10 all means in my power g.
recover thV money.
/ had saved during ihe last few year-
q considerable portion of my salary, aud
determined now TO devote II 10 the rut-
pose | had In view. I advertised dlily
in all the prominent journals. not cfltr-
ing the customary reward, but describing
my unfortunate petition, my honor llsi
and my fortune bigaied.
For two weeks | kept my loss before
the public, and had almost begun to
despair Of any "a C,able result WHeu
one morning, Il stranger came 10 me-a
tall, dark. stem looking man, wto re
gardcd me with a paii Of kindly brown
eyes, that had something familiar about
them.
The stranger declined the seat offer.
cl to him, and began nt once speaking
Lrusquely and to the point.
Il have beard Of your loss" said he
q have read your advertisement Ia the
papers, and fec deeply interested lI lt
for YOU. | have Just left your late em'
pluycrs, and aGcr the Satisfactory man
ner in which AN my iuuuIr',s. v,rr g..s
Wered, became your security for the
100000
WHAT"
| sprang toward him in the widest
excitement.
"Oh, sir,' began; but he stopped me
let me hnish,' said he. 1--WE done
this because I'm convinced that you are
an upright, honest man; and the greatest
proof Of my confidence that can give
YOU is, that am about to offer you the
osi.iol Of cashier in my banking house.
NV name, s,r is George Thorne."
George Thorue the father Of Alice, the
giIl that loved! An, the mystery was
solved! 1t was of her his eyes had re-
minded me; it was to her ! was indebted
for this help.
Fifteen Years had flown since the day
| lost the pocket. book. | had now be-
come a prosperous man, surrounded by
all the luXures which wealth affords.
| had found in Mr.. Thorne more than
Il patron. | found a friend; under q
brusque manner he had heart Of gold.
From the first day of our acquaintance
he had cyiuced toward me the liycliesi
interest and affection.
/ was soon made partner, and when
on q certain blessed day, | became the
husband of Alice. and his son-in-law, he
presented me with a receipt for the
$4,000 be had paid TO Messrs. Oyerton
fOI MY loss
So lime went on. The banking house
known as The firm Of Ihorne q Ws.lace
was in thriving condition.
had beautiful wife and two lovely
children, and yet, with all the sources OF
happiness, | was not quite contented-
there was a crease in the rose leai.
For some time past, | had Been yainly
endeavoring to account for tie extraor-
dinaTy interest which my father.in-law
had FIRST taken in me, because | discov.
cred as grew older, and saw more OF
the selfish, egotistical world, that very
few such generous actions were per-
ormed without motive. and the solution
of this, TO me, difficult problem, ire
quenily occupied my Thoughts. -,
At first / bad attributed it to Alee's
influence; but knew nov that IL hau
been as great surprise 10 her as my
self e. 4,
About this time, DR.. Ponard, one oil
Mr.. Thorne's most intimate friends, ar
rived in New York, and one morning,
while sitting at breakfast expressed
great surprise at the numerous adver'
tisements in the papers relating to money
lost and found
well" said he. 81 have not the least