Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-27
NO.. 7S.
Gales ano Skettbes.
Trust BETRAYED.
Bl AMT PEGGY .

"Dld You ever see a -addcr face? ? That,
sir. is Mrs Colby and sllc has had deep
trouble. 1t happened ten wears ago. and
She has never gotten over it, and never
Will; another ease Of trust betrayed.
But I'll commence at the beginning.
Light Your pipe for it j. long story. |
would ~ soon relate it To YOU as not-that
i. if You can put up with my poor way
So said mine host Of the bright Star
Il neat little mu in one of our thriving
towns in Illinois.
"Well. sir, ten years ago there was no
more Sociable fellow, on brighter. or neater
housewife. than Frank Colby and his wife
They lived on the farm then. but have
moved to town since their trouble They
never had but two children, Harry and
Cora; bu they raised II boy. took him a
babe from his dying mothers arms, and
done u,l rs good part by him rs their
own son. They trusted and placed every
confidence in John Williams, who was
low -browcd and dark compleNoned, with
eyes that always reminded one of snakes.
But Harry Colby was the handsomest and
hunniest Young fellow Nou ever saw and
liked by everybody.
Williams. although respected and trust
ed, was not general tavorite, like Harry.
Mr.. and Mrs Colby Just idolized their two
chillrn. and although John was fed and
clothed n well rs their own, Yet it was
impossible for them to love him as well ;
il was not natural. John seemed to re-
sent this. and, ~ soon aS he reached his
twenty first year, left them, going no one
knew where. Mr.. Colby gave him horse
and one hundred dollars IN money, before
starting Harry was three Years younger
than William, and wa, never very strong
like him: he appeared To have no taste tor
farm work, SO his father never pressed
him. but indulged his taste ior reading and
scrbbling.
Williams was absent six wears, when he
came back on visit. He had grown into
a fine looking man. and the girls around
tried to outdo each other in getting up pic
MICS for his enjoyment Harry was at
home from school, hi, health being so dell
icatc that his ply -ican advised him to re-
main out Of school and travel,
Cora had graduated the year efore,
and WAS a beautiful girl, and had score
oi admirers; but John Williams soon cut
the rest out; her parents liked and trusted
him. and it was plain case that there
would he a wedding soon.
After four weeks stay, Williams com
menced talking about returning to Texas.
where he said he had a store in the little
town of NJ, and invited Harry to re-
turn with him. He had given such bright,
glowing descriptions of Texas, its climate
and facilities for making money, that llar
rv had been thinking of returning with
him before Williams proposed it, At first,
Mr. and Mrs. Colby We're very much op-
posed To llarry's going; it was such Il
long way. they said. and he was SO deli
cate. What would he do were he to he
taken sick. away out there far from
home John Williams Just laughed at
their fears, and reminded them that Harry
was n man now. not a baby. and, as to
getting sick, he wonld grow stronger and
stronger every day he travelled. That it
was the very thing for him, riding in
wagon and camping out; roughin" it
awhile would do more toward making him
Il well man than all the medicine he could
take.
Well, they finally consented that he
should go. Williams then proposed that
Mr.. Colby should put in one thousand dol
lars, and he would furnish Il thousand and
together they would stop at st. Louis and
lay in a stock of dry goods, and convey
them in their wagon to Texas; that they
WOtllu nom Ublltlt tntlf money.
Mr.. Colby objected. saving he would
rather Harry would have nothing to bother
him. when Williams replied that Harry
oupht to have something to rouse him up;
some aim in life; that taking an interest
in hi. roods would prevent his getting
home-sick by keeping his mind EMPLOYED
, All thi, seemed plausible enough. and a,
Iarr, seemed 80 anNiou, to invest in the
Goods. his father finally rave him the
thousopd dollars. All. sir, if he had but
I known, But I'll not anticipate.
Although Mrs. Colby gave her consent
to II,rr1s ~oinD. vet # was with very mn
willing furer~. and with heavy heart.
tLot .lir urcparcd his outfit Her mother
Lnd sen, some fine blue leans from Ken
tu,.y to make Harry a suit of clothes. He
never seemed to want it made up before.
but now he told hi, mother that she could
make up the blue leans for his travelling
/ suit. lie had Il fancy of having his blue
suit trimmed in brass button2a very pc
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