The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-05-12
ROMANCE OF A PocKE1-BooK.

1OV0 WdS uUteT U1aNluebSs
Her father was reported to be very
proud, ambitious man, who would look
high for son-in-law. I felt that he
would not SO much as give hearing to
my suit and as to winning her without
his consent, what would that bring to
her but misery? I had nothing with
which to compensate her for the sacri-
fee of marriage with my poverty.
So we babe good-by without word
of explanation, though I knew she read
the anguish in my heart, and tears were
in the soft eyes averted from me. I
kissed the trembling hand she placed in
mine, and turned away and babe fare
web to her and hope together.
Scarcely had got back to town and
was striving earnestly to drown vain re-
greet in the hustle and interest of bust
ness, when terrible misfortune fell upon
me. Mr.. Overton had given me check
for 100000, desiring me to go to tho
bank and get it cashed. Having exc
cuted the commission and returned, i'm
agine my horror on discovering that the
pocket book containing the money was
gone.
Whether stolen by villains or lost by
my own carelessness, what mattered it?
It was gone, and 1 was utterly ruined.
What I suffered during the next few
hours God only knows; and when, after
being dismissed, I returned to my own
room was very nearly desperate; not
only had I lost 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 I was young and of hopeful ma
ture, and I began to realize that I had
been leniently dealt with. On recalling
all that had happened after my leaving
the bank, and the utter impossibility of
the pocket-book being taken from the
breast-pocket of my coat, I came to the
conclusion that I must have dropped it,
and thereupon I resolved to have re-
course to all means in my power to re-
cover the money.
I had saved up during the last few
years considerable portion of my sal
airy, and determined now to devote it
to the purpose I had in view. I ad-
vertised daily in all the prominent Jour-
nails, not offering the customary reward,
but describing my unfortunate posi-
ton, my honor lost and my fortune
blghted.
For two weeks I kept my loss before
the public, and had almost begun to
despair of any favorable result, when,
one morning, stranger came to me-a
tall, dark, stern-looking man, who re-
garded me with pair of kindly brown
eyes, that had something familiar about
them.
The stranger declined the seat I Of
fered to him, and began at once speak
ing brusque1y and to the point. "I
have heard of your loss," said he II
have read your advertisement in the pa
pers, and 1 feel deeply interested in and
for you. I have just left your late en-
ployers, and, after the satisfactory man
ner in which all my inquiries were an
swered, L became your surety for the
$4,000"
"What?"
I sprung toward him in the widest
excitement.
"Oh, sir |" I began, but he stopped
me.
"Let me fnish," said he. GIVE
done this because am convinced that
you are an upright, honest man, and
the greatest proof of my confidence
can give you is that I am about to offer
you the position of cashier in my bank
ing house. Ny name, sir, is George
Thorne."
George Thorne, the father of Alice,
the girl that 7 loved! All, the mystery
was solved! It was of her his eyes re-
minded me it was to her was indebt-
ed for this help.
Fifteen years had flown since the day
I lost the pocketbook. I had now be-
come prosperous man, surrounded by
all the llxuries which wealth affords. I
had found in Mr.. Thorne more than q
patron; T found friend !; under a
brusque manner he had a heart Of gold.
From the first day of our acquaintance
he had evinced toward me the iveliest
interest and affection.
/ was soon made partner, and when,
on certain blessed day, I became the
husband of Alice, and his son-in-law, he
presented me with receipt for the
$4,000 that he had paid to the Messrs.
Overton for my loss.
So time went on. The banking house
known as the firm of Thorne & Wallace
was in thriving condition.
1 had beautiful wife and two lovely
children, and yet, with all the sources Of
happiness, I was not quite contented-
there was crease in the rose-leaf.
For some time past I had been vainly
endeavoring to account for the extraor.
binary interest which my father. in-lau
had first taken in me, because I discov.
cred, as I grew older and saw more O
this selfish, egotistical world, that very
few such generous actions were per.
formed without motive, and the solution
of this, to me, difficult problem fre
quently occupied my thoughts.
At first I had attributed it all K
Alice's influence, but I knew now tina,
it had been as great surprise to her as
to myself.
About this time DIR. Ponard, one o
Mr.. Thorne's most intimate friends, ar
rived in New York, and one morning
while sitting at breakfast, expressed