The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-07-30
BROUGHT BACK.
a,
CHAPTER I.

My father always called me Penn; but
that makes no difference, for my
father had nothing to do with the
awful experience which L am going to
relate.
At the age of twenty-five 1 was the
trusted b~ook-keeper for the large
wholesale firm of Pigman & Gray.
Pigman, who really carried on the
his appreciation of me. You know
that l appreciated this, when I tell
you that 1 was in love with Carrie
Pigman. ] first met her while I occu-
pied a '~'roustabout" position in the
store, but even then she smiled upon
me. She used to come to the store
nearly rel afternoon and it vas not
long until l began to eagerly watch
for her. One day when she came in,
her father was out. Passing by every
one she approached me and said:
mi. Penn, do you know where papa
has gomez"
'.No, I do not"
"Do you know how DON he will be
backP"
mo. He said nothing to me about
his going. When he has information
to impart he communicates it to some
n occupying a higher position than
the position l fill"
s'Oh, yes, that is true, but I'll sit
here until he comes, that is if you
don't care"
'Ofcourse. l do not care. You must
please excuse me as am compelled
to 90 about my duties"
"Oh, no, stay here and talk to me,
Mr.. Penn"
81 really cannot. If 1 do, your
father will give me a blowing up when
he comes back"
.'Oh, no, he is not SO bad as that"
"He is very strict"
'Not with anything that concerns
me-"
81 can't help it. Miss Carrie, I must
go about my duties"
She pouted in a most charming pre-
tense of anger as l turned away, and
to her. but knowing that my daily
bread depended on my position, Ishut
out the bright picture. When Mr..
Pigman returned, l heard her say:
"Papa, Mr.. Penn is such a stubborn
young man."
''Why do you thiuk so, Carrier"
Because L asked him to talk to me
and he said that he was compelled to
do his work"
''He acted rightly, my daughter,
and l respect him for it,"
'.But l was lonesome"
"That makes no difference. The
young man has duties to perform, du-
ties with which l have entrusted him
and any neglect on his part would
prove HIM to be unworthy of my con-
fidence."
These declarations made me addl-
tionally careful in the future, and it
was not very long until [ was promoted
to the position of head book-keeper.
One afternoon, MI. Pigman invited
me to take dinner with him at his
house. 1t was the first time that he
had ever extended such an invitation,
and the eagerness with which l &C
copied it must have been i'll disguised,
for Mr.. Pigman looked at me and
smiled. Carrie was radiant and Mrs.
Pigman whom | had never before seen,
beamed upon me a cordial welcome.
After dinner we had music, and when
evening came, Carrie and l went to the
theatre. How joyous she was; how
light-hearted and gay. loved her and
I could see that she loved me. Indeed,
she made no attempt to conceal 1t.
AS we were going home I told her of
my love-asked her to marry me- We
kissed each other at the gate.
The next morning [ was much sur
nricad onH NOT a 1itt1a op,horroe eoI
when Mr.. Pigman said to me:
$50 you and Carrie are engaged"
eyes, SIR" L faltered.
"Well, sir, she will make you a good
wife. Have you drawn off the Halpin
Brothers ~account?"
/ looked wonderingly at him. Sure
~ he could not be so unconcerned.
..Yes, sir, I have drawn off the ac-
count"
Cali right"
eMr. Pigman, you do not seem to be
much concerned about our engage
ment."
"Whose engagement"
'.Your daughter's-mine."
''Oh, that's a fact!" he replied. 81
had almost forgotten it,"
'.Mr. Pigman, you treat it as a very
light matter"
.'Oh, no; can't be light. You are a
pretty heavy fellow and Carrie is no
dwarf. If had any objections to Of
fer, you would hear from me, but as I
know you to be capable and honest, I
gladly give my consent
CHAPTER Il.
Twas a voracious reader of newspa-
pers. Although my mind fondly
dwelled upon my love affair, yet 1 did
not neglect my newspapers. Humor-
Gus items. clipped without credit, pos
sessed for me an especial fascination.
One day while l was walking along
the street, it suddenly occurred to me
that the majority of men were with