Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-08-28

| hat is 1t, father!"
THAT young Hammond had the audacity
TO take the order list from Superintendent
Mills, notwithstanding my express COM
mands to withhold it,"
And he I'D led, decidedly, as Laura made
no response:
81 shall write tonight to Smart & Main,
countermanding the order; for suppose,
of course. no, Hammond, has sent it Off.
81 would not DO that, father"
"And why, pray? 1 don't see my way
clear for ordering such bill of goods in
| these hard times"
"NIr. Hammond is Your friend. He has
sent on the order. Perhaps you wonld like
to see what he said of you TO Smart &
| Main?"
| She handed to him the letter and telc-
gram which Hammond had left with her.
When he had read he frnwncd.
| "What does it mcan?"
at means, father" With just the slight st
| trcmor of voice, chat Mr., Hammond loves
me, and"
And you love him." with deeper frown.
yes"
He arose and walked deliberately to her
side.
Laura, he said, gently, but firmly, 81
have nothing to score against Hammond.
But business and matrimOny are matters of
different worlds-sentiment is in the anip-
odes. When you marry it shall be with
| some one of a higher grade than mere
travelling drummer of trade. Let this 90
no further. accept Hammond's friendly
business action; his sentimental advances
to you, however, | emphatically forbid. As
soon as possible l shall settle with Smart &
Main"
The sun had gone down, and the moon
wars up apace this lovely May evening, when
Harry Hammond just in from the West,
made a hasty toilet, at the Mansion House,
and FASTENED to the home Of his betrothed,
| on Charles street.
1t was an appointed night between the
lovers; it had been agreed between them
| that Hammond should then, upon his re-
turn from the West, stop over on the new
weeks end" ticket, and k Girard for his
| daughter Laura in marriage.
| She anticipated the servant when his eX-
| pected signal sounded at the bell. For a
brief space they were locked IN a close en-
| brace:
Then releasing herself. she said:
81 think father is in the library. Come,
we will go together to him. But fear for
the worst, Harry"
"Let us not fear-but come" he said.
They little knew what scene was at that
moment Transporting in the library.
Times had gone even harder than before
with Richard Girard. The strikes through
out the Union had seriously depressed
trade; in the very midst of his season the
merchant found his business blocked at
every turn. House after house had been
mortgaged to sustain him in the ordeal,
I, I,
transactions, had closed in upon him like
wolves-all, excepting Smart 81 Main, of
New York, and he marveled at their quiet
ness. The once powerful merchant actually
found himself on the verge of ruin, with
credit completely gone, when less than
twenty thousand dollars would have "tided
him over" and saved him.
In the library were the merchant, the
lawyer, the notary, and few of The most
important creditors. Their conversation
plainly indicated tho climax of IN assign
ment.
"Please af1ix your signature here, Mr..
Girard."
Tremblingly the old mans hand received
the pen; another moment and, through his
tears of shame ho would have signed away
all that remained of a once proud fortune.
"Hoid!" interposed commanding voice.
Harry Hammond stepped into thei1
midst, while Laura, in the doorway, gazcd
apprehensively upon the strange scene.
This is, perhaps, n little premature, y
the young traveller said, blandly. How
much was it 1 overheard you remark, Mr..
Attorney, that You figured Mr.. Girard's
liabilitieS?"
just eighteen thousand and ninety dol
lars, with II fraction of cents"
Hammond turned to the merchant.
"Mr. Girard, my draft for twenty thou
sand on the Chemical National Bank, of
New York. is at your disposal. Request
these gentlemen to meet you at your Office
tomorrow in banking hours, and receive
your checks against the draft"
Not until the assembled creditors, the
lawyer, and the attorney had departed did
the dazed merchant recover from the mist
of astoundment.
He saw his daughter tenderly folded in
Hammond's arms, and both gazing expect
antly toward him.
hammond, whence comes this money!
My savings, Mr.. Girard, through many
years of hard labor"
How much have you saved?"
lust twenty thousand"
You have, then, given me all that YOU
possessed! Then l shall be Just and give
to you all that have in the world, my
motherless child, my darling Laura. ]
know that she loves you, else hundred
times twenty thousand could not buy one OF
her kisses away from her old father. May
God bless your
A sudden and wonderful change has come
over the Baltimore House. In front is a
new, gold-lettered sign bearing the firm
name, "Girard & Hammond" There is to
hn /
flowers that bloc" but no matter. Ham
mond has retired from the road; old Rich
ard Girard takes life easy in the gray and
grue of nearly ended career, riding at
will in his comfortable private carriage
once again. Laura is busy with her trous
seau; and Hammond, the groom elect, is
busy infusing the life of his younger blood,
energy, and experience successfully into
the fast recovering business OF his partner
and prospective father in law.-The Amer
lean Commercial Traveller.