The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-06-04
THE RESCUE.


asked
Il am afraid not" replied Mr.. Temple 81
would be very injudicious. gu are both TOO
young and too romantic at present. Beside
your means are utterly Inadequate to MAINTAIN
d wife,
May l not bid Rosie goodbye, thenF'
persisted. "One more meeting cannot hur
either of us"
Rosie is not at home" replied her father
gently, almost alphabetically, rs he shook
me by the hand "She went to stay with some
friends yesterday. Goodnight; and hope fol
better days"
Goodnight" | replied 81 suppose you
don't mean to be unkind, Mr.. Temple but you
have made me very miserable"
my dear Young friend" he replied, putting
his hand kindly on my shoulder, were you in
position to maintain wife, would sanction
your engagement IN time; but now such a
course, though painful for us ALL Is the only
one Mrs. Temple and can IN justice adopt
We shall be pleased TO see you again after our
return from the continent. Good night"
made no reply-indeed, could not have
spoken just then My throat was choked
with tears, and big drops wellcG slowly from
my eyes as | walked away across the open
space facing the house. This WAS to be the
termination Of our engagement then Rosie
and had flattered ourselves that u series OF
dances plcnics and charade parties, with a
very good knowledge of lawn tennis and Gro.
quet constituted housekeeping. We had only
three hundred pounds year between us, ana
dear Rosie always spent forty pounds at least
on her dress annually. She had lately been
very economical in the matter OF gloves and
had made herself a bonnet which was in every
sense becoming; still, We were not much nearer
to matrimony then; and now?
So pursued my way across the common,
and | do not mind confessing that | shed
tears as walked IN that dark evening beneath
the trees and INTO the gloomy and desolate
high road, caring for nothing and for nobody
except Rosie, my pretty, pquant Rose; won
dering whittier she had really gone. was IL
not a pardonable subteriuge on the part OF MIR.
Temple TO induce me TO leave the neighbor'
hood
At that time had, unfortunately, no occu
patton. | had been n clerk in banking
house, but the bad times" had necessitated a
reduction Of the staff" and | was one OF
those sent away at q moments notice and a
months salary True, had a small income
derivablc from legacy, but this was scarcely
enough to keep me in bread, cheese and cloth
ing 1t will therefore be seen that Mr. lem
pie was quite right. Matrlmony was luxury
| could not afford. acknowledged 1t even rs
| went home dcspondlng.
When | reached my lodgings found two
letters awaiting me One was from my broth.
cr, who was commanding detachment of his
regiment in Ireland the other was from my
lale fathers solicitor. | opened the official
note first.
1t contained only few lines, requesting me
to call on him in London IN day or two, AS
perhaps might be able to do some work for
the good .natured lawyer The other letter was
most cheerful, and bore u warm invitation TO
share my brothers country quarters Tor tort
night, cor longer If liked" the following
month.
Before went to bed replied to both my
kind correspondents, accepting both invita-
tions. Next day went up to London, and in
the afternoon | called upon the solicitor ner-
vousy.
HIS business was simple. Did | know
French? | did. Was | acquainted with book
keeping? | was.
"Well, then" SAID he, evil you 90 to Gene.
va and transact this business, particulars OF
which | will give you tomorrow You shall
be paid as my clerk, and have your expenses
and something beside
agreed" said, gladly; II will go. V hen
am | to set out 2"
this well, | think | can help you to something
better"
| wrung his hand and left hlm, took the
first tram home, packed up, and next morning
ut eleven was at the Office in London again.
wrote to my brother telling him the facts,
mastered my instructions, and next morning
was in Paris.
1 found the business at Geneva much more
complicated than expected. Ii WAS a liqui.
iation case. Day after day passed; the days
ran into weeks; and at last, after six weeks
hard work and run to Chamouni, was on
my way home again.
well donew was the verdict passed upon
my efforts, and was very welcome, accompan.
led AS it was with chcque for fifty guineas,
Call on me when return to town. said
my friend "In about five weeks time, and |
will tell you something | think you will be
glad to hear"
My thoughts Immediately flew to Rosie.
Not that had by any means forgotten her,
bat now was idle again felt even more de-
jected than ever, Liquidation cases are not
was now at liberty to join my brother. |
at once, and at eleven o'clock that
evening was called up to take in reply.
1t was short and right to the point 1t ran
thus
Come along, old fellow; stay rs long as you
like"
went lived with the detachment and
what fun we had, Fishing IN fine river
close by; cricket; a little shooting-for Sep
TENDER was now upon us; rowing up and
down the stream, and dining with the hospit
able Irish residents, made up the total OF our
days after parade or inspection.
One guest nIght-ior we had our little social