The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-01-11


always liked George.
But when George Preston asked Mr..
Edward Marchhare's permission to tend
er his hand to Alice, the old gentleman
shook his head.
Have you home to offer hertz he
askedi ''or means to support her" he
added, before George. in his confusion.
could find an answer.
"Perhaps," he continued, giving the
young man no time to recover himself
perhaps you think Alice's fortune suf-
ficient for both. Now, whether she
shall have one or not" -
AIS question l have never stopped
to ask" broke in George, Indignantly.
"Whether she shall have a fortune or
not" said Mr.. Marchhare, disrcgarding
the interruption, depends on her not
marrying in my lifetime in opposition
to my wishes: and 1 shall certainly
never wish to see her welded to man
willing to be dependen for living on
the bounty of his wife"
"You much mistake me-" cried
George, with flushed face, 'ff you rank
me in that class. Ihavs strength and
energy
"But as yet they are untried," said
Alice's guardian, without waiting for
him to finish. 81 am willing to put
you to the test. however. Return In
three years the possessor of $4,000 saved
from you own earn ings, and if Alice
then consents to hear your offer shall
not oppose it."
Georges face frightened. A much
severet ordeal would not have daunted
him. And when he took leave of Alice,
though there was no formal plighting
of troth between them, he had no mis-
giving lest the end of three years should
not find her faithfully waiting his re-
turn.
The allotted time had nearly gone by
before George, after many struggles
and hardships, had succeeded in laying
up the sum which entitled him to ap-
pear and claim of Marchhare the fulfil
ment of his promise.
At a railway station, the last stop
ping-place on his journey home, he
went into the refreshment room for sup
per. He had not half finished. the
scanty repast when the sound of the
bell, and the summons of tho porters,
caused general commotion and rush
for the train. George caught
up his ovcrcoat, and followed the
rest.
On reaching his destination he was
about to draw on his overcoat prepara-
tory to leaving the carriage, when for
the first time he discovered that the gar
ment he had brought from the supper
room was notAis own. 1t was similar
in color and material, but the attempt to
put it on at once revealed the difference.
He was thunderstruck at the discovery.
In secret pocket of his own cot was
the banknote which had cost him three
years OF anxious toll, aad which repre-
sented so many p7eciou, hopes.
He wildly ran among the dispensing
passengers, looking sharply at every man
he met, as though expecting to find
upon him the object of his search. But
all in vain; it was nowhere to be seen.
With vague purpose of advertising
everywhere, and telcgraphing in all d.
rections, he was hurrying rapidly along.
when whom should he meet but Mr..
Marchharel
Georges first greeting was to blurt
out his loss.
81 am very sorry" said the old gen.
tleman, gravcly; "but you know my
conditions; and with respect to their
fultillment, it seems you are just where
you started"
"GIve me but another chancel" cried
George. II can earn double as much
in the same time. / will work night
and day to do it,
"Your time is up to-day" said Mr..
Marchhare; ''and l have promised my
| old friand Wells in tho ovont Of vour