Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-09-02
character and habits promised future

Il cannot leave my poor old father,
Walter the old man heard her say,
Il must love and care for him. 1t is
hard. My heart must break; but the
pledge of love to my dying mother
must be kept.
sAr,l so the most joyous dream of
my life must be changed to this sad
reality said Walter sorrowfully. 81
cannot ask you to leave your father,
Agnes, for then your heart would no
longer hold the truth which worship
in you. But l do pray that God in
his mercy may remove that curse from
his soul.
THE curse, Walter?'
'The gold curse' rejoined Walter.
| hope that God may render him pen.
niless.'
'What! penniless9' said Agnes with
start.
aye, penniless; for then he would
be far more wealthy than he now is.
Then he would know how to appreci-
ate the priceless blessing of your love
and then the curse might be broken
and his heart grow human again. And
more than all, Walter continued, put.
ting his arm closely about the fair
form of his companion and speaking
more deeply, then / could prove to
him my love. Then l could take you
to my home, and we could both love
him and care for him while he lived
Noah Bremen tarried to hear no
more, but walked away muttering to
himself:
'The rascal! He'd do great things!
Me penniless, and he praying for it,
The villian!'
When the old man gained his accus-
toned walk among the great syca-
mores he wiped something from his
eyes, and acted like a mote had been
blown in them.
Two weeks passed on, and Agnes
had lost her wonted cheerfulness.
She did not sing as she used to, nor
could she smile so happily. Still she
murmured not her troubles nor did
the daily kindnesses to her father grow
less.
% God! help me to love my father,
and let me not forget my duties,' she
prayed one night.
And Noah heard it.
One night he came home bringing
in his hand small trunk. He barred
the door, and drew the tattered cur.
tains close.
'See,' be says, as he opened the
trunk and piled the new-bank notes
upon the table. Look there, Agnes,
and see there how have worked in
my lifetime. | had no education, but
I've laid up my money-money--mo
ey! How many men would sell me
all their brains tonight for this! See
-one thousand-two- three -four
five Commit them AgnnG. thnrn'3
thousand pounds IN each package.
Agnes counted them over, for she
thought he wished it, and she made
fifty packages.
'Why have you taken it from the
bank, father?'
TO let it, my child--to let it at a
pound interest, Agnes. / shall dou-
BILE it darling-double it-double it.
And while the old mans eyes spark
led with evident satisfaction his child
wore a sad, sorrowing look, and long
after that she sat and looked at the
working features of her father, and
prayed that the gold-fend would set
him free.
When Agnes retired she left her ia
Their up; but she heard him put his
little trunk away and then retire. She
then slept.
Hank! what sound is that? Agnes
started in alright and listened. A
bright light cleaned out of the dark
ness, and thick volumes of smoke
pour into the garnet.
Fire! fre,' sounded a voice from
the entry, and she heard the sharp
cracking of the flames and felt the
heat. agnes, my child?' And in
moment she meets her father upon
the stairs. He is dressed, but she is
| not.
'Clothe yourself in the entry, Agnes,
the house is all on fire.
In a few moments more the father
ard child stood in the road, the latter
with bundle of clothing in her hand
and the former a small trunk. They
gazed upon the burning building, but
neither spoke.
And soon others came focking to
the scene, but none tried to stay the
flames, for their efforts would have
been useless as the flames devoured it
with rapacity that seemed super
natural. But further, the old house
had too long been blot upon one of
the fairest spots in the village and all
felt the benefit of its removal. No
other buildings were endangered by
the flames and thus they had COM
plete sway.
'You have your money safe,' asked
Agnes.
'Oh yes, | took the trunk. | left
the candle burning so that | could
watch it. But got the trunk!' And
as he spoke he held it up and gazed
upon it by the light of the flaring ru-
ms.
Why, father, that is not the trunk
said Agnes swiftly.
| Not But the old man spoke
no further. He saw that be had taken
the wrong trunk. This one was on
| ly filled with old papers and musty
receipts.
Ruined! LOST groaned Noah Bre-
men, as he gazed at the burning en-
bers. Fifty thousand pounds gone!
he said vacantly.
Agnes wound her arms tenderly
about his neck and pleaded, 'Never
mind, papa, Wen be as happy with
out it,
WHAT he uttered, gazing into
Walter Adams face, DO you NEAR
that you will give me home too
That you will provide for me and keel