The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-05-27
CHAPTER IL.

a
| left the express office with small canvas
| bag under one arm containing twelve
| thousand five hundred dollars IN gold, ana
made his way towards the residence OF
the banker, which was an imposing struc-
ture standing on the corner OF Market
| and Sixth streets.
Smooth sailing at last he Thought, as
he passed hurredly down Front street TO
Market. Il shall leave the residence or
my Hattie a free man, with my note IN
my possession, and ! trust with Mr. De
RoSette's consent to make my sweetheart
my bride. Now, this money l could use
for the balance Of the five years; but why
pay eight hundred year if 1t can be
avoided? True, there is way that L
might retain it and think run little FISK,
but l must be cautious-l have not nerve
enough to try it. When | get back from
Baltimore l will hare time to think the
matter over. There will be other oppor-
tunities, and perhaps better ones.
Thus soliloquiZing, the young man mast
ened on up Market street, end at eXactiE
| half after ten the sounding of the door
bell announced to the banker his arrival.
Mr.. DeRosette was seated in the library
reading novel. The bedroom door stood
wide open, and so did the door leading
from that to the bathroom beyond. The
two windows of the library. as well as
those of the chamber opening ont on the
lawn on the east side of the house, were
raised to admit the slight breeze that was
borne westward from the ocean, seven
miles away. and yet, so warm was 1t that
the banker had discarded his coat and sat
in his shirt sleeves.
Aunt Hannah, the door, he suddenly
exclaimed. as he heard the signal; but no
ticing that there was no response from the
sable Hannah. he muttered: "Dozlng,
probably and passed through the parlors
out into the hall and opened the door NM
self
Come in! Come in, Robert. l am all
alone. | think the servants, even, have
gone to bed, rs none responded to the bell.
| presume Hattie would have remained
below if | had informed her | was looking
for you, but you know late hours for
young people cause dull eyes the next
morning. and then | thought that perhaps
you would not desire her to be present.
Herman entered the house not ten MN
utes ago. | presume he would have been
in the library yet but for the fact that
told him you were coming to take up your
note, and that there was private matter
about which we were to confer. lie look
cd much annoyed-nay. excited. DO you
know, he had the audaCity to ask my
daughters hand to-day"
BY this time the two men had reached
the library.
Il am not surprised" said Robert. Il
had surmiscd that he would, and mag
med what your answer would be. | know
Miss Hattie has no affection for him"
"Ah, Ia. all bestowed on you, | sup
pose
The young mans face flushed. II think,
sir" he said, that if | am so fortunate
rs to gain your consent, possess Il sufli-
cicnt quantity of her regard to be able to
induce her to become my Wife
Il have not been blind, Robert. | have
seen the trend of matters for some time,
and l shall he quite content to trust my
daughters happiness to YOU. | am salts
fed that you love each other. You have
proved your ability to take care of a wife,
even though adversely frOwn on You. |
give you my consent freely, my boy
ooh. thank you, sir. | shall leave for
Baltimore with a light heart, and now
for the other matter. l must not keep
you up later"
ooh, as for thatxt is not yet eleven;
but on your own account, if you must
leave at four. You will not be gone long,
| trust?"
Il shall be home Saturday evening, four
days only: and now for the note. This
bag contains the coin. twelve thousand
five hundred dollars. You can see the ex-
press seal is still intact. Give me credit
for such sum as remains above the amount
of the note and interest.
"Certainly. my boy, with pleasure, since
YOU ask it; but you might as well have
KEEP. it. Hattie, as you know, is an only
child, and the prospect is that between
Won. YOU will handle all Of Alvin DeRo-
settles coin one of these days: that is, all
but a small legacy that will go to Her
man Craven, to whom a larger one, |
think, would prove a curse, and remem-
brances to servants"
Good grant that the years before YOU
are called away. Mr.. DeRosette, may be
manv." said the young man, with deep
feeling. wilmington could i'll afford to
lose YOU, and notwithstanding my love for
dear Hattie. there would be a void that
could never be filed
"Wcu. well. we must all go, my boy; but
7 will try and remain with you awhile
v.t and when | die you must take the
holm ut the bank. l founded that insti-
tution. and desire it to live after me-
Here the banker pulled open drawer
of his desk. withdrew therefrOm the note,
and after writing across the face of it the
words. Satisfaction received in full, this
eighteenth day of August, eighteen hun
lrcd and fifty-seven," to which he affixed
his SIGNATURE handed it to Robert with
these words:
keep it as q memcnto of what you ac-
complished in two years.
Il will give it to Jennie, to paste in her
SCRAP book" was the reply.
Lets see" said the banker. that will
leave seventeen hundred dollars to be
placed to your credit. might give you
a receipt for that"
mo, no, 1t is needless" exclaimed
Robert. Merely pass it to my credit to-
morrow. and now l will bid you-''
He was interrupted by a jinglng of the
doorhell
WHY, who can this be Mt this time of
night" said the banker. Robert" he
continued. you are younger than | am.
Will YOU See--confOund the sleepy ser
wants."
The young man FASTENED TO the front
door; sprang back the catch, and open
cd it.
Darkness alone confronted him.
Who is here?" he asked.
Naught but silence.
1T is very strange ! surely heard the
bell. Let me investigate" thought the
young man, and leaving the door ajar he
stepped out on the broad piazza.
He hastily passed from one end of the
same TO the other, but encountered no one
Il cannot understand it," he exclaimed
rs he descended the steps to the graveIed
walk. What could have been the object?
Some one bent on mischief. perhaps"
Robert stood for moment with one
foot on the lower step and the other on
the walk listening
Suddenly he heard q sound as IF
l. = . :.