Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-09-06
CHAPTER I.

oil and solid institutions OF the south Tor
nany years prior to the late civil war
in fact. its stability was not only pro-
yerbial in the old town of Wilmington,
INT throughout the entire South.
IFS president. Alvin DeRosette, was q
man pointed ont TO the youth of the rising
generation rs one whose career was to be
emulnted.
The bank president was getting well on
In years. in 1857; nor was he destined to
see the termination of that year, as the
reader will soon learn.
On the 18th of August, and in vigorous
health. aside from rheumatic affiiction
Of long Standing-he had in the manner of
former occasions celebrated his birthday
this time his 67th-by having gathered
round the festive board at Oak Hall Q
large number of his personal friends.
To them il was pleasure to drink to
the toast that had on at least twenty pre-
yious occasions of like nature been pro-
posed by Jerry Dobbs. the old attorney
OF the bank. who always occupied an hon.
orcd position at the right of the master
of Oak Hall. But the toast? Yes, the
toast. All, one of those birthday dinners
would have been incomplete without Un.
Gle Jerry and his toast.
he OLD attorney was nearing MS Inrce
score and ten-he had been one of the orig
inal ncorporators of THE Cape Fear
Bank" and all that pertained to 1t was
dear to his particularly so was
its president. whom he had helped to
elect quarter of century before, and
under whose management the institution
had fouriShed.
That the bank might flourish until the
/ - ~
Gle Jerry.
That Alvin DeRosette and himself
might live to see the cash capital of the
concern round million dollars was his
earnest wish-so in his toast he always
coupled Alvin and the bank together.
He felt that he should have included
his own name. as he was virtually part
of the bank, but he was fully aware that
Alvin would round up his toast in. n salts
factory manner. so his words on these
occasions We're these: ''The Cape Fear
bank and its president; may they live long
and prosper"
And may the banks worthy attorney
live long to guide them clear of breakers"
We're the words added by Uncle Alvin.
Now this was the toast. drank as usual.
al midday on the 18th of August, 1857.
J At 3 o'clock on the 22d. only seven days
later, all that remained mortal of Alvin
DefHtosctfe was consigned to the grave;
and now it will be necessary to revert to
the 18th day of August, the third day
following that of Alvin DeRosette's 9th
birthday.
The weather was intensely warm, and
the banker was seated in an armchair
near an open window in his private office
al the bank. He held in one hand a fold
ed document. 1t was his will, and had
been drawn six months before this time.
lie had been rcperusing it.
Strange" he said suddenly, both the
witnesses to this document dead; sailed
for Europe on the Gosmore and went
down within sight of the British coast.
Only thirty saved. if I remember, of over
two hundred souls, and poor Lloyd and
Elliot were not of the thirty.
Il should have other signatures now as
witnesses. Oh. well, 1 will have Dobbs
bring in a friend tomorrow. and have
them sign-but for that matter, there was
no particular necessity of the document,
anyway. Where there is an only child,
and the mother dead, there can be no
question as to who would inherit; but then
it is better so.
Il wished also to leave no question as
to what my intentions were regarding
Herman Craven. / had no desire to leave
him Il fortune. True. he is my nephew
but ! have left him fully enough to dissi-
pate-and enough, if he has the disposi-
non. 10 form the nucleus of a fortune.
Strange, sister Matte would marry
stephen Craven when the whole family
told her how unworthy he was. and plead
ed with her TO renounce him. Well, she
would not listen; she became the wife of
hlackIrS and n gambler, and in three
snort years died of n broken heart, leav-
ing behind Il child-whO has grown up an
exact counterpart of his father. Now,
II th" father had died when Herman was
an infant, or even a lad. and 1 had had
the hoy 10 train, | might have instilled
some principle into his mind; but coming
10 me with the information that his faith
er was dead. at twenty-five years of age,
MS character formed, and it a treacherous
one II am judge. have felt that was
ttaldlnE over Il mine ever since / placed
MIN at The cashiers desk. And yet he has
peth 'h"r" year now, and all has gone
"ell, but he is scheming-scheming, sure.
Wei, can watch him while l live. The
Death "f Toombs made it necessary that
name 4 new cashier; l named my
Ever J,rIar 80 h;a e'eu sIa !. ever slnoe
told flI, H., =, ms S:i'"; eocs, anu un'
him. So. sio'e WIN gam
in ,r,. -, nave uohe my duty py MIN
c,nfJ.nca ~ ~; Sourse' II ne Inspires more
co;..iI :; us cohuuct' may aou
-. -, ,,;'I iil' Iu,'ire-
vi,nasS,I, T''' ~ ana testament! signed ana
ia go. 100 Dad Jerry Is so advanced
I,,fu l.. cr-I, S"'i, prooap'' ou.nte hin
! VIII see Clark when he comes home next
risl' tbd 'nlt NEE enough ior that; there Is no
80 ''e court would arrange II IN case
Inch Air;n arose .-o bic .,.,u nm,