Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-10-01
Harry Flint began his career as sales
man and as "Shelby Fowler"

Harry Flint began his career as sales
man and as "Shelby Fowler"
From that day Shelby Fowler's ca
reer was .ne of uninterrupted prosper
ity. Within the year he became part
ner. The same miraculous fortune fol-
lowed other ventures later. He was
mill owner, mine owner, bank director
IA millionaire! He was popular, the
reputation of Lis brief achievement
over the desperate kept him secure
from the attacks of envy and rivalry.
He never was confronted by the real
Fowler. There was no danger Of ex-
posure by others-the one custodian Of
his secret, Tom Flynn, died in Nevada
the year following. He had quite for
gotten his youthful past, and even the
more recent lucky portmanteau; re-
membered nothing, perhaps, but the
pretty face of the daguerreotype that
had fascinated him. There seemed to
be no reason why he should not live
and die as Shelby Fowler.
His business a year later took him
to Europe. He was entering a train at
one Of the great railway stations of
London, when the porter, who had just
deposited his portmanteau in a com.
partment, reappeared at the window.
followed by young lady in mourn
ing.
"Beg pardon, sir, but I handed you
the wrong portmanteau. That belongs
to this lady. This is yours
Flint glanced at the portmanteau on
the seat before him. 1t certainly was
not his, although it bore the initials
&C. F." He was mechanically handing
it back to the porter, when his eyes
fell on the young lady's face. It was
the face Of the daguerreotype..
Il beg pardon" he stammered, "but
are those your initials?"
She hesitated; perhaps it was the alb
ruptness Of the question, but he saw
she was confused.
"No. A friends"
She disappeared into another car
riage, but from that moment Harry
Flint knew that he had no other aim
in life than to follow the clew and the
beautiful girl who dropped it. He
bribed the guard at the next station
| and discovered that she was going to
| New York. On their arrival he was
| ready on the platform to respectfully
assist her. A few words disclosed the
fact that she was a fellow-country-
woman, although residing In England,
| and at present on her way to join
some friends at Harrogate. Her name
| was West. At the mention of this he
again fancied that she looked dis
! turbed.
They met again and again; the infor-
| mality of his Introduction was over
looked by his friends, as his assumed
name was already respectfully and re-
sponsibly known beyond California. He
thought no more Of his future. He was
in love. He even dared to think it
might be returned; but he felt he had
no right to seek that knowledge until
he had told her his real name and how
he came to assume another's. He did
| so alone-scarcely a month after their
| first meeting. To his alarm, she burst
into a food Of tears, and showed an
agitation that seemed far beyond any
! apparent cause. When she had partly
recovered, she said, in frightened
| voice:
"You are bearing my brothers name
But it was a name that the unhappy
boy had so shamefully disgraced in
Australia that he abandoned it, and,
as he lay upon his deathbed, the last
act of his wasted life was to write an
imploring letter begging me to change
mine too. For the Infamous companion
Of his crime, who had first tempted,
then betrayed him, had possession of
all his papers and letters, many Of them
from me, and was threatening to bring
! them to our Virginia home and expose
him to our neighbors. Maddened by
desperation the miserable boy twice at
tempted the life of the scoundrel, and
might have added that of blood-guilt.
mess to his other sins had he lived. l
did change my name to my mother S
maiden one, left the country and have
lived here to escape the revelations OF
that desperate should he fulfil his
threat"
/ In a fash Of recollection Flint re-
membered the startled look that had
come into his assailant's eye after they
had clinched. It was the same man
who had too late realized that his an.
tagonist was not Fowler.
'Thank God! you are forever safe
from any exposure from that man.
he said gravely, "and the name OF
Fowler has never been known in San
Francisco save in all respect and honor
1t is for you to take back-fearlessly
and alone"
She did, but not alone, for she shared
1t with her husband.-Waverley Maga.
zine.
Il A rso For To-.