The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-09-22

mentS thougnt, Wrote sonethinS oh
sheet of note paper. -,
"There, Vincent, will that answer ?"
Vincent took it from her and read:
elf B. V. r., or his or her heirs,
know anything of o sum OF money
loaned long time ago to b. Y. u.
without any security but his promise to
pay as soon as able to do SOY, they will
confer favor upon the heirs of b. Il.
by communicating with them at their
convenience. Address V. T., Box ll8l,
P. o.
"That's all right, Gertie. Copy it
right away, and I'll run to the Office
with it."
Running won't hurry the mail,
Vin," said Gertrude, pithily.
"Don't tease, Gertie, Girls are not
nice when they torment fellow"
"But fellow needs to be kept
down O little, or he realizes too deeply
that he is a so-called Lord of CREATION
YOU know, Vincent. But you are better
than most; SO I'll be your humble little
servant, and do as you say"
And the girl bent and touched her
lips to her brothers forehead, with
bright smile, which atoned for her teas
ing.
The advertisement was duly inserted,
and for days and weeks the two studied
the columns of the daily paper, hoping
for an answer. But none came, and at
last, in the pressure of newly-assumed
duties, all thought of it faded gradually
out of their minds.
Vincent had found position in a
store, and Gertrude had gone back to
her school as o pupil teacher, so as to
finish the nearly completed course of
study which had been interrupted by
her kind grandmother death, and the
loss of fortune which had so speedily
followed it.
Time passed on, and Gertrude was
graduated at the head of her class, carry
ing off high honors.
She was at once offered position in
madam's school at a good salary. She
accepted with glad heart. Now she
could help Vincent to carry out his
hearts dearest wish, as her only expenses
would be for her clothing, and she could
appropriate the most of her earnings
toward paying for his tuition at the law
school,
"Wait, Gertie," said Vincent CLEAR
! ing his throat of lump which had come
into it as he had listened to her unself-
ish offer), "until I get start. It's
your turn now, but mine will come if
industry and perseverance can compass
it; then we'll see."
81 have no doubt you'll get me a
coach and four, Vin," said Gertrude,
| with slight touch of her old mischief
lurking about her lips and eyes; but
she sohered down at once and added,
| seriously:
Love me always as well as you do
now, and continue to be the same
steady, good-principled boy, and shall
be the happiest, most contented sister
in the whole world"
Spite of Vincent's twenty years and
tall stature, Gertrude still called him a
boy; and that name from her lips
sounded in his ears with a music no
other title could have carried with it.
| With the lapse of two more twelve
months Vincent had attained the first
stepping-stone toward success. He had
mastered the details of his chosen pro-
fession, had passed his examination,
and his name was enrolled among those
who were considered competent to un-
ravel knotty law points.
Judge Lorrimer famous jurist, had
taken fancy to him, and admitted him
to his Office, first as clerk, then after a
time as junior partner. He found his
position no sinecure, but he worked I'M
weariedly on, feeling no effort too great
that would help him on toward fortune
and fame.
One day, while searching for some
documents pertaining to an important
case, he came upon some papers yellow
with age, labeled "B. V. Z.'s Bonds. u
The conjunction of initials was such an
unusual one, that Vincent's heart gave
a sudden bound. Surely he had come
at last upon a clew which would enable
him to find tho person to whom his
grandmother had made the loan. As
soon as he could gain Judge Lorrimer's
ear he told him of his discovery, and of
his reason for being so much interested
in it. The Judge listened with attention
until Vincent had concluded his story
Then he said:
"Even if your surmises are correct,
my opinion is that you can do nothing
about it. Mr.. bennington has been
dead many years, and his heirs are
abroad. They were two grandchildren
"a boy and girl-and as their fathers
friends were in England, after then
mothers death they were, as a matter
of course, sent to their natural guardians
They must be grown up by this time"
A client entering stopped the conver'
sation, and it was not again resumed
Some months after Judge Lorrimer in
vited Vincent to dinner-party.
"Be sure and come and bring youl
sister with you," he said. 81 am ex,
pecting some pleasant friends, and
would like you to meet them"
1t was quite an event in the lives OF
the brother and sister. Their daily
duties allowed them but little recrea
ton. So when it did come they enjoyed
it all the more.
Among all the guests gathered to-
gether within the judges stately home
none looked fairer or sweeter than Ger.
trude Tracy in her dress of simple
white, and her breast-knot of velvet
leaved, golden-eyed pansies. Vincent
too, compared fayorably with any of the
gentlemen present. Straight and broad
shouldered, with an expression in hi
clear, dark eyes which told of daunt
less spirit, and of hopeful, sunny
nature, which is one OF the most precious
of gifts within fortunes power to be
stow.
He was seated at table beside young