Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-04-09

both on Toms and Alice's part, TO
perfect stature.
But the delicious dream OF youth had
here a rapid awakening. In Blk weeks
Mr.. Scott returned, and then the pleas
ant necessity for Toms weekly visits
ceased. At length he resolved TO
speak to Mr.. Scott. Youth, in It's
strength and beauty and bonndless
hope, is so apt to consider all things as
its own, that some excuse may De
made for thesliyht tone Of self-asser-
ton 10 which Tom ventured one eve
uinc Oh his confession.
Mr.. Scott heard it with perfect grav'
i,y and politeness. You have of course
done my daughter the greatest honor
any man is capable Of. Mr.. Kilroy,' he
said, suavely, as he turued the paper
cutter over and over on his desk. Mr..
Kllroy, | am obliged for your honesty
| will be equally plain with you. Bus
mass affairs have not goue we'll with
me lately. l have been thinking all
day of retrenchment; you and FRANK
Maybln will either have to leave your
desks or retain them at very much re-
duced salaries. / am sure you love
Alice 100 well 10 subject her 10 power
ty. 1t is true, l have always intended
to give her fortune, but then no man
Of honor would ask her hand, under
such circumstances, unless he was aole
to count dollar for doller with her,
Your business talents are exceptionally
90 cd; expect TO see sou worth a mill
ion but when you are worth fifty thous-
and oft [ will cheeliully consider your
proposal
lie said poll Good uighP as he
lef; the ofli.e, a courtesy which Tom
found himself quite unable to return. Ii
the man had been angry aud uttered all
kinds of hard words, Tom could have
horne il better. He had a salary OF one
hundred dollars a month; II be was 10
wait for Alice until he WAS worth nifty
thousand, the probabilities were hardly
worth counting. Besides, there was
that covert threat of dismissal. ina
would reyer do. ne must resign his desE
voluntarily. Aud the outcome was tina
Tom decided to 90 West, aud in
weeks tine he found himself crossing
The dreary plains which guard the ap
nroacbes TO the treasure.h ouses OF the
mountains. Ole night. after tour year'
of this strange lite, he met little party
in the Platte Canon who ha6 lost 'helI
way. and were IN the greatest exIrem
lies. Tom guided them back to safety
and made a warm friend OF their leader
!, st, warm that tue man offered him
share In large smelling and assaYine
work which he was going to establish
near the Silvertou Mines.
In the STIR, hustle, a1d method Incl
dent TO the conduct of great work, III
old business habits reasserted theil
no yer. He found himself making mon
ey 90 rapidly that he resolved TO 90 oil
making and saving until he could bu'
nine. for to be the possessor OF yer
table gold or silver mine, still charme
his Imagination.
Thus the years went by. Few peo-
nle would have recognized in The stall
war,, bronzed, bearded man, clothed ll
leather and haunel, the once styllshly
dressed and scrnpulously shaved ant
ploved clerk of the great firm OF Scott
Donaldson, Water Street, New York
For full ten years had passed away
and though Tom was ouly thirty-three
years old, he looked and felt grea
deal older.
= 1t happened that in the tenth sum
mer his partner went East to brn!
home daughter whom he left there a
school, and bis return was quite al
event 10 Tom. The man had walke
O broadway within a week and ha'
btoueht back with him the flavor an
! very language of the place. Tom ha'
not. guessed how dear his native cit,
was 10 him until one familiar name al
> ter another unlocked all the wards Q
> memory, passionate longing Tor TN
old scenes aud haunts. the old love
. and friendships, seiz ID hlm.
al John Amboy.' he said, 4 must tax
U a ru. East for few weeks. There
r very little quartz III the mill. and th
8 books are up 10 date. Pve got the hom
= lever, John, bad. think Pll start TO
d morrow
!, So in q few days Ton Kilroy stoo
at the foot of Chambers street, wonde
:, ing If he should go home without war;
;, ing; wouderiug, indeed, indeed whetn
er he had any home 10 this wide worl'
Yes. there it stood, Just as he lett
r. the little red prick house with its origl
II green binds outside. But inside ther
'e had been changes. HIS father was dea
Y bis elder brothers married, and the Ii
= lie sister he had left in short dress'
AZ Just goingotev the altar But love
u always the same; these simple sou
r. made a'great estlya over their relurI
lie id wanderer, without once askin
81 whether he had saved a respectful
d sum, or come home with empty pocS
cts. Sitting alone With bis mother th'
Is night he at ler 9Th ventured on an Ell
le duiry yer, aear bis heart.
nj Where is Alice Scott now mother Z
ID Il don't know, Tom. Things ha'
); changed for her,
le .she,is margcd then q 81
nl TIM i past nv telling. l hay
81 heard nothing at all about her Tor elSl
] ..r.. A.. fot1o,