The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-18
A GIRLS PROMISE.

~ WhS inc OlO, Olu buOE y-tuo uc0ASSo
petition of poverty-stricken youth ask.
ing of wealthy old age the hand OF
beauty.
George Santley had loved pretty Es-
Their Dana from his childhood up. and
Esther had returned his love in full
measure, but when the decisive moment
came and he asked rich old Farmer John
for his daughter. then he was told that
he was too poor to be aspiring.
After staring for Q while in dumb
despair ct the hard featured farmer
whore he sat in his great chair beside
the sunny window, George plucked up
sufficient courage to ask:
''And is my poverty the only objection
you have to owning me for son-in-law,
sir?"
'That's about the long and short of it,
my boy" was the prompt response; II
had to make q nest before caught my
bird, and don't quite see why other
men should not do the same"
"Quite right, sir" said the young
man." Frightening little; "but may l
ask how wealthy I must be before l can
propose for Esther"
Farmer John stroked his chin, with q
covert smile playing about his weather
beaten features, and drawing from his
pocket an envelope which contained
800 bill, the price of some land which
had been sold that day, he displayed the
crisp note.
when you can show 100 gresnbacks
like that, I'll part with my daughter"
IAN right, sir; goodbye"
Where are you going?"
"West."
God bless you. Goodbye"
And so they parted, and SO lightly did
the old man think of his harsh treatment
that, listening to the drone of the hon
ey.bees in the rose-tree outside the win.
dow, he fell asleep in the sunshine, his
arm resting upon the window sill, the
envelope containing the 800 III his
hand.
Meanwhile George had hurried to the
trysting place, down at the style in the
meadow, and had told Esther his sad
story.
When she heard that he was going so
far away from her the girl burst into
tears.
Esther, Esther, darling, don't cry"
George faltered. Cant You be true to
me till come AGAIN.
II can and will!' was the passionate
reply.
promise it, dear!'
George, promise it on my lifer'
The shades of the summer evening
were closing in as George Santley stood
at the door Of the cottage which had
been his home, and held his mother in
his arms.
Scarcely were the last farewells spoken
when the garden gate changed and the
constable of the village strobe up tie
path.
George" the man said regretfully.
Il must arrest you"
Mrs. Sanity uttered low cry, but the
young man laughed.
SIS this some joke, Mr.. Hardy?" he
cried; arrest me-for what?"
For theft"
Theft OF what?"
"Of 500 bank note"
From whom?"
Farmer Dana"
"Merciful heavenl l."
"Mr. Dana says that you were the only
person who knew he had the note in his
possession, and that after you had called
upon him he fell asleep; and when he
awoke the note was gone"
"Why should he accuse me?" the
young man cried Indignantly.
Because, an hour after you left the
farm you purchased ticket for Nevada
with 500 bill
But the money was mine"
"Ah, but Mr.. Dana has identified the
bill ~ his. I'm afraid, George, you
must come to the lookup with me until
you can have an examination"
Like . man he 70 csd the disgrace, and
vas cool and digniAed until he wss dis.
missed on the following day, the evil
deoce against him not being considered
serious enough to condemn him.
So be went west, with Q heavy heart,
to seek his fortune, knowing that out OF
al his life long friends Esthsr and his
1ether alone deemed him guiltless OF
the CALLING charge against his name and
honor.
A year went round and il was already
the spriugtime Of another, and Esihe,
prayed day and night for the welfare and
success Of her absent lover.
The only happy moments Of her life
we're when she sat with tho Widow
Stanley and talked of George.
Oh. how happy the poor boy might
have been could he have heard those tw
loving women talk Of him and hav,
known the depth Of their trusting affec
tiopl
Returning one afternoon from the cot
tAge, Esther met her father on the yer.
andAh.
ssEsther.r the old man said, "f want (,