Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-08-04
ROMANceoF A PocKET-BOOK.

kOMANCt OF A POCkET-B00k.
was just twenty-five when met
Alice Thorne. the daughter and heiress
of George Thorne, the great banker
fell desperately in love with the charm
ing girl, knowing well that such love
was utter madness. Her father was
reported 10 be very proud. ambitious
man, who would look higher for n SON
in-law. felt that he would not so
much ~ give n hearing to my suit; and
as to winning her without his consent,
what would that bring to her but mis-
eryF had nothing with which to re.
pay or compensate her for the sacrifice
OF such marriage with my poverty.
So we bade good.by without word
OF explanation. though knew she read
the anguish in my heart, and tears
were In the soft eyes averted from me.
Scarcely had / got back TO town, and
was striving earnestly TO drown vain
regret I'm the hustle and interest of
business when n terrible misfortune
fell upon me. Mr.. OvertOn had given
n check for 10000. desiring me To 90
to the bank and get II cashed. Having
executed the commission and returned,
imagine my horror on discovering that
the pOcket-book containing the money
was gone. Whether stolen by villains
or lost by my own carlessness, what
mattered it2 II was gone, and was
utterly ruined.
What 1 suffered during the next few
hours God only knows: and when, after
being dismissed, returned TO my own
room, was very nearly desperate; not
only had lost "a lucrative position, but
my future appeared TO be irretrievably
blasted for there. are suspicious which
are as fatal TO man morally. as would
be physically the wound of rifle ball.
But 1 was young and of a hopeful
nature and began TO realize that / had
been leniently dealt with. On real
izing oil that had happened after leav-
ing the bank, and the utter impossible
lty OF the pocket book being taken from
the breast pocket of my coat. came TO
the conclusion that must have drop
ped II, and thereupOn / resolved TO
have recourse 10 all means i'm my pow.
or 10 recover the money.
advertised daily in all the promi-
nont journals, not Offering the custom
airy reward. but describing my unfortu-
nate position. my honor lost and my
fortune blighted For two weeks /
kept my loss before the public. and had
almost began 10 despair Of any favor
able result, when one morning n stran-
ger came TO me-a tall, dark stern
looking man. who regarded me with n
pair Of kindly brown eyes. that had
something familiar in them.
The stranger declined the eat / of
fered him. and began at once, speaking
brusquely and 20 the point, 81 have
heard Of your loss, said he / have
read your advertisements In the papers.
and feel deeply interested in and for
you. / have just left your late employ
ers, and after the satisfactory manner
In which all my inquiries were answer
Ell, ! became your surety for the $50.
600"
"WhatT 1 sprang toward him in
the widest excitement "0h, sir" 1
began. but he stopped me.
"Let me finish" said he. "rve done
this because I am convinced that YOU
are an upright. honest man, and he
greatest proof Of my confidence is that
am about to offer you the position of
cashier in my banking house. NV
name. sir. Is George Thogne."
George Thorne. the father of Alice
the girl that l lovedi Ali the mys-
terry was solvedl IL was of her his
eyes had reminded me; IL was 10 her
was indebted for his help.
Fifteen years had flown since the
day lost the pocket-book. had now
become prosperous man, surrounded
by all the luxuries which wealth affords.
had found in Mr.. Thorne more than
n patron; / found n friend, under a
brusque manner he had heart of
gold.
was soon made partner, and when.
on n certain blessed day, became the
husband Of Alice, and his sonin-law
he presented me with receipt for the
10000 that he paid to the Messrs.
Overton for my loss.
So time went on. The banking
house known as the firm of Thorne a.
Wallace was in thriving,condition. 1
had beautiful wife and two lovely
children, and yet, with all the sources
OF happiness, l was not quite contented
there was a crease in the rose-leaf.
For some time past had been yainly
endeavoring TO account for the extraor.
dinary interest which my father-in-
law had irst taken in me. because /
discovered as / grew older. and saw
mere OF this selfish. egotistical world.
that very few such generous actions
We're performed without motive and
the solution Of this, TO me. diflicuIt
problem, frequently occupied INV
thoughts. my
About this time Dr. Ponard one Of
Mr.. Thorne's most intimate friends AR.
rived IN New York, and one mornino
while sitting at breakfast. expreaaed
great surprise at the numerous adver-
usements In the papers relating to
money lost and found
well. said he, / have not the least
sympathy for those who lose mone-
They are generally careless stunid
people not iit 10 be trusted: although +
remember having heard OF a Young
man who lost a pocket-book some
years ago, containing 10000. and I
declare when / read his piteous appeals
which were In all the papers. nav heart
fairly nnIsn1 g. NJ. 49, - :