Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-03-30
A FEARFUL NIGHT.

II 7 EAnT OL NlOI1 / .
was invited to u lunch party in one
of the inland cities Of Pennsylvania not
long ago. and was much impressed by
the appearance of one of the younger Ia
dies present. She was not beautiful, but
united the striking characteristics of a
brilliant, fresh complexion and profu-
sion of hair, white as snow, which was
wound on the top of her head after the
fashion of Madrozo's "Marquise," belong
ing to Mrs. A. T. Stewart. She was very
merry, good talker. and, must con-
fess, l contrived to occupy the larger
part of her attention, with that tendency
towards monopolizing the best which
the moment affords that l am told is
often observed by my familiars.
After bidding adieu to the ladies l
turned to the obliging friend who had
been my sponsor at these incidental gay
eties of - and casually remarked, af-
ter talking somewhat of my new ae-
quaintance: s~
"By Jove, what hairl 1t accents her
whole appearance. Wasn't she lucky TO
achieve it young?"
My friend removed his cigar.
"That depends on how you look at it,
l am inclined to think, taking things by
small and large, that she was. doubt.
however, if she wouldn't say to-day the
price was rather large. And it was a
pretty big price. Do you like stories ?
I'm minded to tell you one. if you like
about that white hair that you admire so
much"
We went over to the hotel, and some
thing like this my friend told me:
You have no idea, you city people, the
interest we country people take in the
cOurtships of young folks. From the
time Harry Wells began to slide up to
Mamie Clausen at church socials, until
tn ir marriage in the Presbyterian
church, the entire community gave min.
ute consideration to their affairs. Ma
mics father, George Clausen, was and is
now prominent commission merchant,
generally considered wealthy and has
always lived at least like man of means
Mamie was pretty, dashing, local belle
ard a great favorite. Harry's family
| lived few miles from town, and they
too, are people of reputation in the coun.
try. Old Jack Wells represented US a
few times in the Legislature and has ac-
cumulated in one way and another q
handsome property.
The marriage was in every way suit
able one. Harry was educated at Prince.
ton, and. although he had at one time
the reputation of being wild, he sobered
down, and was at any rate such frank
manly young fellow that he was forgiven
any indiscretion.
AS say, the marriage was the occa
sion of general rejoicing. Mamie's father
gave her an unusually good send-off, and
the details were sent far and wide thro'
the State. Harry had studied law, al
though he didn't have much natural in
clination for it. The old man thinking
his political experience might serve
Harry in that way, and settled down into
a country notary, drawing up deeds and
doing hxck-work OF that sort. They
lived about four miles out of town and
two miles from old Jacks. He had built
them pretty modern cottage on de-
tached portion of his farm. Harry had
his Office, An ornamental little structure
few rods from the house, and there
they lived as happysas two birds. Grad
ually Harry picked up. business, and
finally, through his father, became trus-
tee for the minor heirs. They were an
odd lot of children, with q half-craZed
mother and no end of coal lands and
mining investments. It was a good
thing for Harry, although it gave nat
urally lazy man some additional work
The worst thing was that it obliged him
to go to Scranton now and then and
leave Mamie. You may imagine that
there was good deal of visiting at the
house of two such popular young people
and that four miles stretch of road was
generally kept pretty warm. When Har.
ry had to go away, Mamie would get in
her ph8ton and drive to town, and there
was always some of her young people
ready to go out and keep her company
Harry always insisted that she mustn't
stay alone. For a law-abiding State we
had a pretty rough element, and al
though we haven't had much to complain
of here. there is a general sense OF un.
easiness.
One August afternoon Harry had an
unexpected summons to go to Scranton
about a suit connected with the minoI
heirs. He had recently sold some of their
property and had been making various
collections, which left in his hands about
$4,000. When he found he had to go of
at few moments notice, he strapped up
a bundle Of papers and took them into
the house. Mamie was making prepa
rations for a picnic they were to go tC
the next day, and begged him to wait
until the day after.
"But, my dear child, haven't time
even to 60 to town and put these in the
bank, so you'll have to take care OF
them. I'll try and get back in two day:
at the furthest; meanwhile nobody will
know that the money il here"
Then he explained to her the value oi
the papers and handed her a canvas bag
in which was $4,000 belonging to ths
minor heirs.
where will l keep it, Harryp Be
tween the mattresses ?"
i "Just like woman. No. But ! de