San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-02-02

concealed from her which caused hin
tho most poignant distress.
With the utmost difficulty he reas
sured her, and, when both were more
calm, he solemnly requested her Il
grant him favor.
"What is it," she inquired,
Trust me-" replied ne, falling or
his knees before her.
II will !" she emphatically exclaimed
falling ON his neck; aud from that day
forth the subject was never renewed
between them.
1.-Two resolutions triumphantly car
ried out" said Walter, after his mother
had retired; "and tomorrow is the
nativity of the third"
Taking large sheet Of paper, he
wrote upon it, in very large, round
baud, the talismanic words, Never de-
spair!" and then fastened 1t to the
curtains mt the foot OF his bed, SO that
he might have the sentence before him
to read night and morning. r.1s
1t was mighty task, and no blood
stained knight ever couched lance
against II foe more CALAMITY than did
our Brave Walter, in this, his first great
moral battle. f.N .'' s..." '.~
The struggle with life was an arduous
and protractei one !; but, MS it, is not
our intention to follow Walter i'll all
his wanderings, We can only relate that
he found no employment too mean for
his industry, and no occupation dis
graceful, unless criminal and dishonor-
able. At the end of six years, by dint
of the most interchangeable labor-and
hard, common day-labor alone-he had
accumulated from his labor sufficient to
pay his first employer the amount of
his defalcation, together with interest
up to the day OF payment.
Noon had just been proclaimed by
the great bell of st. Paul's when Wal
ter presented himself at the Office of
the merchant. With some difficulty
he obtained private interview.
swell, my mani" said the merchant,
in no very amiable manner, for Walters
apparel was not very attractive.
"Six years ago, this very day" said
Walter, modestly, but firmly, you dis
missed from your service clerk named
Walter Jackson for defalcation in the
account intrusted to him. am Walter
Jackson, and here is the amount owing
to you, with interest at 5 per cent. l
have been unable to pay you sooner, or
I should most gladly have done so.
Now, to my great relief, am able, and
beg in addition that you will accept my
most grateful thanks for the forbearance
you exercised toward me on that dis
tressing occasion"
Surprise for time heidi the merch-
ant mute, but when he recovered he
stretched forth his hand to the work
man, and, when he received that of the
latter, shook it warmly. He then re-
quested Walter to relate what had
befallen him since their separation.
Walter did so in a brief but clear and
unreserved manner. g."
$50 the moment you left this Office
you determined to make restitution?"
said the merchant, smiling, evidently
highly gratifed with the narrative.
"Oh, no." replied Walter; IL was
tempted to do worse first"
Indeed! Howl" inquired the mer-
chant, whose curiosity was reused.
"By thinking l could never redeem
my lost character" answered Walter.
"What saved you?" asked the mer-
chant, eagerly.
"Two Words" said Walter, glow
animating his naturally fine counten-
ance: Never despair.
The merchant saw kindred spirit
before him, and detained Walter in
for some time. In the
course of many revelations which We're
obtained from him, he stated that he
had found time to acquire knowledge
as well as to labor, and that some of
the sweetest hours he had spent were
those devoted to study. esrr'
They parted, but from that day forth
a friendship was established between
Walter and the great city merchant,
and when the latter died he left him a
legacy of $1,000. a.'"