River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-09-10

Neatly three years passed, and SO
happily that Tom began TO forget his
purpose, and to feel that ring on his
finger a reproaeh. For he was spend
ing all mis- income, and his uncle frank
I ~ told Aim that a share in the firm was
all thaA he could justly give him. One
day. when he was very dissatisfied
with himself, he thought he would 90
home and talk things freely over with
his aunt ON entering her parlor he
found it dar!sened, and she came for
ward with an imperative 'Hustt''
pointing TO a couch, whereon lay a
beautiful girl in a deep sleep.
''She has had an accident aud mar.
cote and must not BE- awakened"
"Who Is shc?"
Eleanor Broadbent"
''IIow lovely she IS. Why is she
here?-
''She had been unexpectedly calling
on me after her three years absence at
school Her horses took fright, she was
thrown ont and brought back here.
Poor little Nellie,''
Tom stood moment looking at the
exquisite face, the loosened glory of
the rich brown hair, and the graceful
girlish figure. and went out on tip-toe.
a completely enthralled and charmed
man. Every meeting with Nellie made
him more 50 and. being on terms of
frankest confidence with his uncle. he
very n asked what chances there
wer "A his favor? Would his gentle
blood stand for anything?"
Not a farthing's worth with old
Broadbent. lie came TO Manchester
without a crown, and considers the
mayor of Manchester quite as great a
person as royal duke.
And his daughter will have a great
fortune?'
Il don't think she is his daughter;
seems to me her mother was Broad
bent's sister-but daughter or niece. it
i all one. she will have everything.
Not much chance there. Tom, unless
/ you have money with your birth"
But for some reason best known to
himself and his aunt Tom thought diff
ferently. Mrs. Peale, indeed. laughed
at her husbands doubts, and thought
Nellie Broadbent would choose for
herself. Doubtless Mrs. Peale knew
that she had good reasons for her con-
fident opinions Anyway, Tom began
now to seriously improve the business
advantages his uncle had so generously
opened to him; and no sooner had he
set his heart upon making money than
everything set with him in the same
direction.
lie got a letter from latham. of
Whitehaven. offering to give him four
Thousand pounds for his cottages; and
before he could reply. Dykes, who had
never noticed him since they parted,
wrote and begged him on no account
- sell just yet. The railway mania
was just then beginning. and Josiah
readily OWNED the cause of these let
tiers.
Some new company is needing your
land Tom. Ia do what Dykes SAYS.
for he is a shrewd scoundrel: and
though don't see his drift. think
here you may safely follow his lead
so Tom refused Tatham's offer and
very soon forgot Il. for the frenzy, with
Hudson As its leader swept over Eng
land like an epidemic Very few had
strength - resist il. still. fewer had
wisdom tn guide it for their own adj
vantage old BIoadbent made thou
sands and hundreds of thousands, and
then lost every shilling. Josiah Peale
StubJornlv refused to touch a bond, but
his influence aHd the fate of Nellie's
father hardly saved Tom. Some days
he was almost il.-tempered with every
one who said prudent word 10 him.
One morning he found among his La
tiers one from latham. offering, in the
name of the Whitehaven 4 Lancaster
Railway Company. twenty thousand
pounds for his cOttages-the land ON
which they stood having become abso-
lutely necessary for depot. Tom
asked thirty thousand pounds. and got
il. Strangely enough. NO sooner was
the transaction completed than Dykes
wrote. offering to sell Sweetheart back
again for thirty thousand pounds.
The old rase al has got the railway
fever; IL viii BE- your Nemesis. Tom.
VIII you accept his offer? Don't you
think Won could do better with the thir-
~ thousand pornds?"
Tom hcsitated. and his uncle watched
him keenly. But it was only for a mo-
ment- Ills eyes fell upon the ring. and
he said:
1T may be a foolish sentiment 10
you uncle. but to me it is the redemp-
tiun uf INV word and honor. / shall go
and buy Sweetheart bacl- tomorrow"
Good. lad, You viii Toe none the
worse merchant for being a gentleman;
aud they keep money best who keep
truth and honor first But why not go
to-day
! must see Mr. Broadbent about
Nellie; they are in trouble. and Nellie
will feel every hours delay a wrong"
''Hou will get nothing there now.
lad
All want Is Nellie 4 gentleman
values truth and honor and love above
money. uncle.
Josiah laughed heartily.
You have me there. Tom. Nellie is
a good girl. and welcome to thee"
SIr. Broadbent's losses had inclined
him to listen respectfully to Toms
offer
1t i wonderful he replied, "how
often we lift the broken threads in
life's warp. Nellie Is not my daughter:
she is my niece; but no daughter could
he dearer; and she was born at Sweet
heart, Now you ask her back there
it is strange enough.
Nellie born at Sweetheart
Yes. Ny sister married the steward.
II was a very unhappy match; but well
let the past alone She left him when
her daughter was i've years old and
came 10 me. With all her faults she
was my twin sister, and loved her"
Tom was almost staggered He
knew that Dykes wife had left him.
and he had heard that Dykes had
a daughter. But il was the one
subject the steward allowed no one to
speak about, and Tom never dreamed
that Eleanor BrOadbent could be that
daughter. IL cost him few minutes
fierce struggle 10 accept the cireum-
stances, but he did 1t; and, before he