The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-04-22
selected STORY.
ROMANCE OF A pooKETBOoK.

helfess OF 0eofge lhofhe, tun great
banker.
| fell desperately in love with. the
charming girl, knowing we'll that such
love was utter madness.
Her father was reported to be very
proud, ambitious man, who would look
high for son.in-law. ! felt that he
would not so much as give mo hearing.
to my suit; and, as TO winning her
without his consent, what would that
bring to her but misery7 / had moth
ing with which to repay or compensate
her for tho sacrifice of marriage with
my poverty -
So we badc goodbye without q
word of explanation, though l knew
sho read the anguish in my heart, and
tears were in soft eyes averted from me.
| kissed the trembling hand she placed
in mine, and turned away and bade
farewell to her and lsope together.
Scarcely had | got back TO town and
WAS striving earnestly to drown vain
regret in the hustle and interest OF
business when terrible misfortune fell
upon me. Mr.. 0verton had given me
check for $4,000, desiring me to go
to the bank and get il cashed. Having
executed the commission and returned,
imagine my horror on discovering that
the pocketbook containing the menoy
was gone.
Whether stolen by williams or lost
by my own carelessness, what mattered
itl IL was gone, and | utterly ruined.
What | suffered the next few hours
God only knows; and when after being
dismissed, l returned to my own room,
| was nearly desperate; not only had
l lesi a lucrative position, but my
future appeared to be irrctrieyably
blasted, for there are suspicious
which are as fatal to man morally
as would be physically the wound
Of rifle ball.
But | was young and of a hopeful
nature, and | began to realize that
had been lenientiy dealt with. On re-
calling all that had happened after my
leaving the bank, and the utter i'm
possibility of the pocketbook being
taken from the breast Of my coat,
came to the conclusion that | must
have dropped it, and thereupon ] re-
solved TO baYe recourse 10 all means in
my power toTecoyer the money.
I had saved during the past few
years a considerable portion Of my
salary, and determined to devote it 10
the purpose had in view. adver-
tised daily in all the prominent journals,
not offering the customary reward, but
described my unfortunate position, my
honor lost aud ny fortuus blasted.
For two weeks / kept my loss bsforo
the public, and had almost begun TO
despair OF any favorable results when,
one morning, stranger came TO mo 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 tho seat |
offered him, and began se once speak
ing brusquely and to the point 81
have heard af your loss" he said Il
have read your advertisement N the
papers, and feel deeply interested in
and for you. ] have just LETT your late
employers, and after the satisfactory
manner in which all my questions were
answered. became your surety Tor thn
$40, 900"
WHAT
sprang towards him in tho wildr~i
excitement.
"oh, SIR" hegsn, but he SION
stopped me.
"Let ne anish,' said Le. "Pv,
done this bccause / am convinced thai
you are AN upright, honest man, ant
the greatest proof Of my confidence
can give you is that | am about Il
offer you the position of cashier in my
banking house. My name, sir, il
George Thorne"
| George Thorne, the father'of Alice
the girl loyedl All, the mystery wa
solvedl 1t was of her his eyes re
minded me; it was to her / was in
debted for this help.
Fifteen years had flown since / hat
lost the pocketbook. had now be
come prosperous man, surrounded b,
all tho lnxuries which wealth affords
| had found in Mr. Tkorne more Thar
patron; | found friend. Undc
brusque manner he had heart O
gold. From the iiist day of our &C
quaintance he had evinced toward M
the liyeliest interest and affection.
!. l was soon made partner, and when
on certain blessed day, / became th
! husband of Alice and his son in-law, Il
presented me with receipt for $50, 90
that he had paid to the Messrs. Over
ton for my loss.
So time went oa The bankin
J house known ~ The brm of Thorne
WI ace Wis Ia >. IA thriving con
dition
had beautiful wife aud tw
lovely children, and yet with all thes
sources of happiness, | WAS not quit
contentcd. there was a crease in th
j rose leaf.
> For some time past / had bee,
,, yainly endeavoring to account for th
. extraordinary interest which my father
in-law had taken in me, because di
covered, as grew older and saw NOR
j of this selfish, egouistical world, tha
. very few such generous actions wei
performed without motive, and th
solution of this, to me, difficult probIei
!. frequently occupied my thoughts.
7 At first I had attributed it all
I Alice's influence, but | knew now thu
Q it had been as great surprise to hs
d as to myself
i. Z About this time DR.. Ponard, one
. . ].