Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-04-22
EbGn'S UndOing.

tightly turns TO thoughts of Nancy" )"
said the school-master, smiling pleas
antly.
81 don't see what good it will do
Eben WitheTwaX TO think about Nancy
Halliday" said the school-master's
wife snappishly.
..Why nor?" asked the pedagogue.
"ie seems a likely young fellow
enough
because her father is poor, and she
will not marry anybody who cannot
give her better home than Eben
can
Tut! tut" said the kindly old
man. Don't think so harshly of peo-
pie, Maria. Nancy is a good girl, and
if she loves him"
"Nluch YOU know about i'll" said
the wife, who prided herself on her
knowledge of human nature, and had
profound contempt for the books
the schOol-master loved. So he sigh
ed and said no more.
Ebeu Witherwax sighed too, much
more sadly than the old man, who had
been watching him as he talked with
the girl he loved.
The two had met on the village
street, and he had just asked her if he
might escort her 10 picnic that was
to be given III the early summer.
"Thank yOu,' she had said, with
demure coquetry, "but | am going
with Frank Turner
Then the iron entered Eben's soul.
Frank Turner was rich, and had the
handsOmest turnout that was to be
seen on any of the country roads
around Modena. Eben knew that his
own horse and buggy were both old
and far from stylish, and the worst of
t was that he saw no hope of replac-
ng them with anything better. The
bid farm yielded him and his mother
living, but that was all. He knew
his rival was a. much in love with
Nancy as he was himself, and he felt
certain that he would soon lose what
little hope he still cherished.
"Darn it alp he swore, as he turn
Way from the girl after a few mo-
nent's chat, and started for home
Darn it all! if l had the money 1
could get her. ] believe she likes me
best"
And as he walked homeward he was
busy with a process which he would
have called thinking. Celebration
vas not much in his line, however,
and the burden of his thought was
little more than vain repetition of
MS strong desire. II want money.
want money" No plan for getting
any suggested itself, however, and his
thinking ended as it had a thousand
ames before, in helpless recognition
Of the probability that he never
would have any money to speak of.
Now the desire for money is no very
unusual phenomenon, nor is it very
seldom that men reach the same con-
:lusion when thinking it over the Eben
reached. What was perhaps remark
able, and what certainly proved i'm
portant, was that while he was think
ing about the matter he should have
received the letter he did.
He stopped at the post-office, more
because it was the proper thing to do
shan because he expected to find any,
hing there for him. His usual mail
came once week, and consisted of a
copy of the Ulster County Farmer
This time, however. there was letter
from New York addressed to him.
At first he thought there must be
Iome mistake, but the address was
plainly written, and he took the let
.er after some hesitation, wondering
greatly who could have written to
him. This wonder continued una
oated as he walked on homeward,
urning the letter over and over as he
went.
be wa. fairly intelligent, though
somewhat slow, and when he had time
enough to act at leisure, he generally
ihowed Common-sense. So it happen
ID that after he had walked a mile OF
70, wondering who his correspondent
was, he determined to open the envel-
spe and find out. With this in view
3e picked out shady spot, and sitting
aoWn on the grass, he broke the seal
md read as follows:
"Sir,-If you are a man of honor
fou may read this letter, which con-
ANS information which will be of the
greatest value to you and those depen-
ient upon you. You may be surprised
NAearlng from one who is stranger
NYou, but you were so highly recon-
hended TO me by one of the most
prominent citizens of your country as
perfect gentleman, and one to be
implicitly trusted, that l write to you
10 consequence.
81 have for sale some green goods.
shey are so splendidly made as to defy
rejection by the greatest experts.
mere Is no risk in using them, and
1ey are very cheap. l have them in
VI slzes-ones, twos, fives, tens, XIX,
Iues, and hundreds. / will let YOU
ave them any size you want at the
following rates; $500 for 800, $1,000
;or $50, $4,000 for 1886, $4,000 for
s4OO, $40 900 for $3.50.
~ VIII send them to you by mail or
express on receipt of price. But as
fou do not know me, | would much
'ooner have you come on here and ex-
NIlihe my goods for Yourself, and you
VIII be satisfied that | mean well by
,ou and will give YOU perfect satis-
action and make your fortune for
fou. IT you like the proposition. write
anu let me Know, and | will send YOU
letter explaining how you can meet
ne Ii you don't like it, destroy this
eter' ana say no more about it to any,
'ouS' Ahu above all, do not betray |
confidence. If YOU should. it
soua De better for you if YOU had
Eyer oeen born. lam rich and power.