Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-02-15
A DANGEROUS CHARGE.

1t was the last night of the year, and
a few congenial spirits had gathered in
the bachelor apartments of mutual
friend to spend in cheerful song and
story the few remaining hours of the
old years life.
Only two of the company had failed
to add his share Of these to the general
entertainment.
"Come, Mortimer" said the host.
cts your turn now. fyou can't sing,
let it be a story. You that have travel
ed about so much ought to be able to
tell something worth hearing"
a unanimous request that the hosts
suggestion should be carried out having
been made, Mortimer began his story.
at was as long ago as the year '45,
when | was quite young man, with
very little experience of the world,
though thought | knew more then
than | do now, or am ever likely to
know. For the last three years l had
been head book-keeper to wholesale
dry goods house in the western part of
New York, enjoying in no small degree
its esteem and confidence, which / fully
appreciated, and did my best to de-
serve. With the desire to perform my
duties well and acceptably, / had an
additional incentive to stand high in
the estimation Of the firm, in the form
Of the lovely daughter of its head
partner, with whom l was madly, and
as it seemed then, hopelessly in love.
1t was not the absence of fortune and
position that made me faint-hearted,
for / had heard Mr.. Crofton, her father,
say, more than once, that he didn't
care how poor his son-in-law was if he
wasn't poor in integrity, intelligence,
energy and self-reliance.' l was con-
scious that he regarded me with an eye
Of favor; certainly l could not COM
plain that he did not afford me ample
opportunity to WOO and win his daugh-
ter if could. The chief difficulty in
the way lay in the fact that 1 had a
rival, who having been longer in the
field, had apparently obtained foot
ing in her favor that ] despaired OF
ever being able to win. And then the
fair Lucy herself was so shy and re-
served with me. She always had gay
smile and merry word for Fred Hard
ing, while to me she was so shy and
silent that l never could gain courage
to express my love except by looks
and the eagerness and persistency with
which ! sought her society. Had ]
been versed in the ways Of women ]
should not have let this dishearten me
so. As it was, my heart sometimes
beat high with the hope of eventual
success, her eyes grew SO wondrously
bright at my approach and she blusheG
so prettily when l spoke to her.
Fred Harding was a gentleman O.
leisure, and quite favorite with the
fairer portion Of the community. HI
had plenty of money, which he spen
freely, though where he obtained it wa.
not SO clear. He was a slender smooth
faced chap, with soft white hands
glossy curls, and carefully got up at
tire. / never liked him, though tina
is not strange, considering how h,
monopolized the society of my adoret
Lucy. He was always very civil to me
, but there was no love lost on eithe
: side. There seldom is between two mel
> in love with the same woman.
zone day Mr.. Crofton called me II
one side, stating that he was going t,
give me strong proof of the conf
2 dence in what he was pleased to tern
Z my good sense integrity, by trusting t,
e me some important business, which
q it would be inconvenient for him per
sonally to attend. l will not take VI
e the time by describing the nature o
e this business, which has nothing to d.
with my story, merely saying that i
necessitated my going into the interio
of the State, and taking with me $40,
900.
n 81 was not a little proud that mis-
= sion of so much Importance should b
g entrusted to me; wondering in my ella
|. ton, if Lucy knew how much conf
2 dence her father had in me, and inward
{ ly resolving that would perform it il
Z way that would justify his good opin
) ion.
! 81 was to take the evening train
Q Just before starting / called at Mr.
' Crofton's private Office to receive tn,
: money and his parting instructions.
could scarcely believe that the small
j package handed me contained SO larg,
I an amount. His last injunction to m,
j was to put it in my breast pocket; t.
{ keep my coat buttoned close to the chin
and to avoid talking with strangers.
81 took the $3.50 train, travelling