The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-08-02

81 wonder who it can be froml" said

| he.
1t was very brief. 1t said:
"Stocks have fallen. Your money is
all gone. Sorry, but could not stand
against market.
"H. RAVEN & Co."
H. Raven & Co. Yes, that was the
name of the Nassau street firm to whose
care his diligently boarded fortune had
been consigned. He read the brief dis
patch over and over again, as if it were
impossible to comprehend its full mean
ing.
s'I don't understand" he repeated
to himself-'I don't understand. l
thought those stocks were safe enough.
l only believed what those scoundrels
told me themselves. Stocks fallen !
My money all gone Oh, what will
become of me now!"
His head fell forward on his folded
arms on the window-sill he uttered a
groan which seemed to come from the
very depth of his heart.
ST am poor mani' he faltered.
LAS poor as-Ji.n Watson, tho ole ok
mender; as poor as Matthew Startling
himself. The savings of years have all
gone at once; and am poor man !"
"Uncle McElroy, don't mind it,"
said the cheerful voice of Matthew
Startling, when at last he had mustered
courage to tell his troubles, and sat with
his head supported on his hands at the
table, with face drawn and pinched
as if he had just recovered from long
sickness. "I'm doing we'll at my trade
just now. Herbert Long has promised
to take me into partnership at his new
shoe store, at Bloodville Corners, next
spring, and you shall never feel the
loss of your money while I can handle
an awl or draw thread"
''Never feel the loss of my money!"
vaguely repeated McElroy. "The man
talks like fool"
But, nevertheless, there was grain
of comfort in the words.
"And, after all, Uncle John" conso-
lingly whispered Mrs. Startling, "money
isn't everything. You'll see how nicely
we shall contrive to live. I'll take
boarder or two, if you don't object,
this summer. Your comfort shall not
be interfered with in the least degree;
and we may even manage to save lit
tie at the years end"
"You always did have good heart,
Sarah," said he; "but I wonder how
you can have any patience left with me,
after the times I've scolded you for half
a pound extra of coffee, or nutmeg !"
"And I am going to take in dress.
making!" declared belinda. "Oh,
you'll see, Uncle John-you will live
like gentleman. You needn't think
that we have lived on your generosity
all these years, not to try and repay it
now."
"I! Generosity - said Uncle John,
hardly certain whether the words were in
serious earnest.
But no, there was no covert light of
sarcasm in Delinda's bright, brown eyes
as she bent caressingly over him. 1t
was real love, real gratitude, that spar
kled there
"It's just as they all say" declared
James, the stalwart young farmer. "We
owe everything to you, Uncle John,
and we don't forget it. And if you
don't want tobacco crops raised on the
place, I'm blessed if you shan't have
your own way. Not tobacco leaf shall
be grown! But I really think we can
do pretty we'll with vineyard on the
side hill, now that grapes are bringing
such profit, instead of using it as a
sheep-pasture.
And Lucy brought him letter.
''It is from Mr.. Grover, uncle" said
she. "He offers to give me singing
lessons for nothing, ifI will help with
the Sunday school music; and then,
pretty soon, I shall be able to earn
money for you, too. Dear uncle,
with tears in her eyes, "we have all
loved you, only we didn't dare to tell
you how much. If-if you would only
let me kiss you, Uncle John! !"
The old man clasped her in his arm
with tears streaming down his wrinkled
cheeks.
''I don't care for the money!" he fall
tered. "Let the money go, if you will
only love me like this. never was
happier in my life I know now what
that feeling is that has been chilling and
freezing all my life. 1t was my heart
starving to death Yes, yes, we'll be-
gin the world over again, children
you and I. Well begin to enjoy our
selves at last.'
They were sitting talking in the pur-
pie dusk of the summer evening, when
there came knock at the door. 1t was
the little telegraph lad, breathless with
haste.
"I've made mistake, said he. I've
left the dispatch at the wrong place.
1t was for Mr.. McAlpin, at the hotel
down the street. There wasn't no dis
patch come for Mr.. McElroy, at all.
Please to give me back the envelope !"
The family all looked at each other
as the boy rushed down the road with
his freight of evil tidings for some one
else.
"And my money is all safe |" said
Mr.. McElroy, with long breath-'tall
save 1t seems like miracle, don't
it :? or lesson sent direct from the Lord
to try us. Well, it won't be thrown
away by me. Jim, here is ten dollars
to subscribe to the furniture fund"
"It's too much, SIR" said James.
'sNo, it amt /" shouted Uncle Nc
Elroy. "Matthew !" fumbling in his
pocket-book, "here's your note to me
Tor thousand dollars. l make you a
present of it."
He tore it in two as he spoke.
s'Delinda shall have her new spring
suit just as quick as she and the milliner
can settle matters between them," he
continued. "Lucy shall take that sing
ing lessons, and I'll buy an organ for
her. And Sarah shall have hired girl
to Tighten up the farm work little.
Hush Don't say word, one of you.
That money has come back to me, as if