Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-09-22

ter deducting the amount which was
the regular charge for the message and
inclosing him n receipt for that and
bank notes and silver for the balance
of the amount covered by the check. l
carried the letter around - my pocket
for two days and then is<Sued 70 mail
it Just as it was. heard nothing from
the affair again for nearly a week.
Meanwhile, there was 4 funeral in the
village. which l ascertained to be that
of the young man who had been SO des-
perately ILL., Then 1 felt sorry that l
had been so severe with the father,
who probably had meant well, and who
must have been so overwhelmed with
sorrow at the time he received my note
that lis tone would seem doubly harsh.
So down I sat again and jotted off an
other note, in which l expressed regret
for the style OF my first, saying that I
had written it in forgetfulness Of the
sorrow overhanging the family, and
explaining that I could not accept a
gift for a voluntary act Of duty.
Two days later I received a call
from my divinity She seemed just
little embarrassed at first, but after a
few minutes converse ton drew from
her pocket my two notes The seal of
neither had been broken. Father has
been away ever since my brothers
funeral said she, and these letters
have lain unopened, awaiting his re-
turn. This morning it occurred to me
that they might be about some matter
of pressing Importance, and that had
+sal n raY-fl
them
~ am much obliged for your
thoughtfulness,' 1 answered, but how
did YOU know they were from me?' The
next moment 1 would have given the
world to recall that question. The
quick rush Of blood to her face was
painful to witness.
I had seen a scrap of your hand
writing she replied, simply, and
thought recognized it on the envel-
opes.'
"'You were right said l, I wrote
both letters. As the second was writ
ten to make amends for the first, there
is no need of sending either of them to
your father, if you are willing that !
should open them l tore away the
envelope of my first letter, and the
money dropped into my lap. Your
father, l explained, was kind enough
to send me a check for one hundred
dollars, to compensate me for the
trifing assistance was able to render
you few days ago. Acting on my first
impulse, I deducted the cost of your
message and wrote him rather snap
pish note inelosing the balance
''She had listened with evident in
terest There was a strange express
sion in her face as she inquired after a
brief pause: And your second letter
was to say that you had reconsidered-?
s''Oh, heavensl Nor 1 cried, perceiv-
ing for the first time what an interpre-
tation my words might fairly be given.
4 simply could not bear to pain your
father by the sharpness of my words
when l came to realize fully that he
had acted from kindly motives, and to
remember the load of sorrow he was
laboring under l tore off the second
envelope and handed her the note. She
took it and ran her eyes over the few
lines it contained. She did not hand it
back. but retained it as if unconscious
ly her hand.
You are very considerable said she,
and I thank you. My father meant
vell. He did not understand, as l did,
that the debt we owed you was one
which no gift could repay. l will re-
turn the money, if you wish, or per-
haps it would be better for you to keep
il till you can give it to him in person.
l viii pave the way for your interview
by telling him how you feel about it
Another fortnight elapsed without
event Then one day the door of my
Office was opened by tall, fne-looling
gentleman who called me by name and
introduced himself. 1t was the father
of my lovely visitor. l remembered his
face, now that ] saw it, and for the
first time, associating name and per-
sonality, recognized him as one of the
leading stockholders in our little tele-
graph line He was banker of some
prominence in Wall street
"I owe you an apology said he,
coming to the point at once, for doing
in an hour of suffering what, if 1 had
my mind completely at command, ]
daughter has told me how you feel, and
/ respect your delicacy. / am now on
my way to the city, and shall stay there
over night to attend a meeting of one
of the corporations in which l am in
terested; otherwise l should like to see
YOU at the house this evening to tall
over your work here and what it holds
for your future. AS tonight won't do
we must say Sunday. Come up in the
afternoon You must let me discuss
your plans frankly with me- As an
older man, and one who has made his
own way up in the world, | can doubt
less give you some advice that will be
worth your consideration
81 thanked hun warmly, and, though
much astonished and delighted, did
not forget to hand him back his money.
He glanced it over to see whether the
amount agreed with what had stated,
and put it carefully away in his purse
without any further words. On Sun
day l kept my engagement. found
the banker alone in his library, and we
had a candid chat, in which l told him
of my love of electrical experiments
ton, and of the way 1 had contrived TO
get my present position for the sake of
the practice and the opportunity it
would give me to study out a few prob
lens which were vexing the minds of
practical electricians. He heard me
through, asked me good many ques-
tions, and wound up with:
"'Then you think the greatest need
of telegraphy to-day is better method
of insulation?'
THAT is it. said I.
"'And you think you are on the
track of discovery in that line which
may amount to something?'
''T think the discovery IS already
made. 1t simply needs perfecting.
"'And you are sure that there is
money in it? You see you have stirred
up all the fnancier in me, he added,
laughing.
cit will make somebody's fortune
"'How long viii it take to devolop?'
That depends on the obstacles in
the way. 1t costs money to carry such
things through
'Soon a maid-servant stopped at the
door to announce tea. was invited to
stay, and accepted gladly. 1t gave me
a chance to see the divinity again. In
cidentally, had a chance to meet her
mother, and make a general estimate
of what kind of a woman the girl
would grow into.
IL am going into a fresh venture