The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-04

mere advcnturer; II was rumored that he was
courageous and manly; but even those who
delighted in his odd humor were shocked at
his grammar and slang. It wa. said that
Mr. Marvin mad but one interview with his
father-in-law elect, and returned so Sill
prcmely Disguised that the match was broken
OFF, The horse stealing story, more or less
garbled, found its way through lips that pre-
tended to decry it, set eagerly repeated it.
Only one member OF The Rightbody family
and a new one-save, them from utter os-
tracism. 1t was young Mr.. Ryder, the
adopted son of the prospective head Of the
household, whose culture, manners and gen.
eral elegance fascinated and thrilled Boston
with a new sensation. IL seemed to many
that Miss Alice should, in the vicinity Of this
rare exotic, forget her former enthusiasm for
a professional life; but the young man was
pitied by society, and various plans for di-
verting him from any mesalliance with the
Rightbody family were concocted.
1t was wintry night, and the second an
niversary of Mr. Rightbody's death, that a
light was burning in his library. But the
dead mans chair was occupied by young Mr..
Ryder, adopted son of the new proprietor OF
the mansion; and before him stood Alice,
with her dark eyes fixed on the table.
There must have been something in it. Joe,
believe me. Did you never hear your father
speak of mine"
"Nevcr.n
"But you say he was college bred, and born
a gentleman, and in his youth he must have
had many friends
"Alice, said the young man gravely, "when
| have done something to redeem my name
and wear it again before these people, before
yo,t, it would lie well to revive the past. But
till then
But Alice was not to be put down. II re-
member" She went on, scarcely needing him.
that when l came in that night papa was
reading a letter and seemed to be di,con-
ccrtcd'
~ letter.
eyes; but, added Alice, with sigh, "whcn
we found him here msensibe, there was no
letter on his person He must have destroyed
it,
Did you ever look among his papers, If
found it might be clew.'
The young man glanced toward the cabi-
net, Alice read his eyes and answered:
"Oh, dear, no! The cabinet contained only
his papers, all perfectly arranSed-you know
how methodical were his habits-and some
old business and private letters all carefully
put away"
Let us see them," said the young man, ris-
ing.
They opened drawer after drawer; files
upon files of letters and business papers accu-
rately folded and filed. Suddenly Alice ut
tered a little cry and picked up quaint ivory
paper knife lying at the bottom of a drawer.
1T was missing the next day and never
could be found; lie must have mslaid it here.
This is the drawer, said Alice eagerly.
Here was a cew. But the lower part of
the drawer was filled with old letters not Ia
beled, yet neatly arranged in files. Suddenly
he stopped and said, Put them back, Alice,
ut once
"Whyr
"Somc of these letters are in my fathers
handwriting"
"The more reason why should see them,"
said the girl imperatively. Here, you take
part and III take part and we'll get through
quicker"
There was a certain decision and independ
ence in her manner which he had learned to
respect. He took the letters and in silence
read them with her. They were old college
letters, so filled with boyish dreams, ambi-
tons, aspirations, and Utopian theories, that
fear neither of these young people even
recognized their parents in tho dead ashes of
the past. They were both grave, until Alice
uttered a little hysterical cry and dropped
her face in her hands. Joe was instantly be-
side her.
ats nothing; Joe, nothing Don't read it,
please; please, don't. It's so funny it's SO
very uueerp