Roxy Hastings — page 171: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

162 ) ROXY HASTINGS. determined suicide, ‘‘and what happiness oughtn’t that to give you when you lay down in your beds.” “Tam gure the thought is delightful, and is worth a great deal more than the money.” “Of course it is. Good-morning, ladies.” The visitor went out, but put his head back to ask what was the earliest day on which Mr. Charles Lee’s return could be hoped for. “Twill be three days at the soonest.” ‘“Ah! I’m sorry it’s so long, but ’ll come and see you then, perhaps before.” Mrs. Lee and daughter, though disappointed in the want of culture and refinement in Alfred’s friend, felt assured of his honesty, and they were delighted to have made some return for all his self-sacrificing generosity. The next day their joy was heightened by an extraordi- nary circumstance. While perusing the morning news- paper Laura discovered and read aloud to her mother the following advertisement, which appeared in the personal column : ‘“To Lieutenant Alfred Lee, late of the New York Volunteers.—The subscriber desires an interview for the purpose of obtaining informa- tion in regard to Louis Hartley, otherwise called Eldon, a late fellow- coe of Mr. Lee in Richmond. Any person who will send Mr. ee’s address to the undersigned, at the St. Nicholas hotel, will confer a favor on an afflicted parent, Gro. ELpoN.” Laura read this notice breathlessly, and said : “Oh, isn’t this delightful! We can bring father and son together now, and make both so happy. But there seems some mystery. about it, too. Louis Hartley, otherwise called HKldon! Ill write Mr. Eldon a note immediately ; sha’n’t I, mother 2” ‘“Yes, I should say that would be the proper course.” | ‘‘And—and I won’t tell him that his son isin town. TI’ll only say that he will get information of him by calling here. It will be so delightful to surprise them both by a meeting, and then we shall see it all, eh?” _ ‘Yes—yes, that will be charming; you are really quite ingenious.” It was past midday when Laura discovered the adver- tisement, and when she had written her note and taken it to the post-office the afternoon was well advanced. “I fear he will not get it until morning,” she said, “but it is the best I can do.” Eomicbooks.co