Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-08
THE LOST OBLIGATION.

There was nothing In common between
the men but a love for Josie Merritt, ant
such a circumstance Is not Usually con
duclve to friendly feeling.
Cha les had wavy brown hair, a pleas
ant face and o fine tenor voice. iona
kept his hair cut after some penitentiar.
fashion, his features were thick and com
monplace, and he had q short, stump!
figure. Their mental difference was quilt,
as great: Charles was rapid and bright
Jonas alow and secretive; Charles alst
was affectionate and prodlgal, Jonas sav
Ing and prudent, and Inclined to make
merit of always looking out for himself,
Both were young men of some fortune,
and position, but Jonas alone was In
business. Charles lived upon the rents
of his property, and devoted his time to
tho ladies in general, and to Josie Mer-
rift In particular.
One evening in June they sat together
In the library of Charles fine house.
They had been discussing some summer
plane, and Charles said:
leave eff grinding at that money mill
of you're, Jonas, and come with me; we
ahall have a pleasant months cruise"
81 cannot possibly do it. To tell the
truth, 1 I'M In a very tight place, and 1t
is q bad time for raising money"
GLOW much do you want?'
"About twelve thousand"
"Will ten thousand do?"
eyes; ten would put mi out of straits.
In fact, ten thousand now might be worth
fifty thousand to me-"
Charles walked to his secretary, and
unlocking it, counted out the amount in
bills, and handed them to his friend, say.
ing:
"Just give me your l. o. u, Jonas,
for two months after date. Will that be
long enough?'
"You don't mean this, Charley?"
"Why, yes, l dc, old fellow. 1t is not
much of q kindness, after all. You see,
Merritt paid me my quarters rent to-day
and | shall be sure to spend all before the
quarter is over If l keep the money where
l can get at 1t. In two months / shall
be out of funds and In the height of the
season. 1t is a plan of mine to secure
ten thousand for clearing up in Septem-
ber."
''Thank you, Charles. l will accept
the loan with pleasure, and If you should
need IL before, why, just drop me a line.
l shall bs out Of trouble long Def ore
September"
The young man then drew q pen and
some paper toward him, wrote out the
l. o. u, and handed 1t to his friend, OBJ,
serving, as he did SO: "Allow me to say
Charles, that 1t is foolish to keep 80 much
money here. Put it with your banker"
Certainly. Merritt paid me this
afternoon. II was 80 hot when he left 1
thought l would not 60 down town until
the morning. There is no danger. No
body but you tnd Merritt and myself
knows anything about It,"
Then he lifted the l. o. u, glanced at
1t, and rose to put 1t In his secretary;
but as he was crossing the room Jonas
said: 81 heard to-day that Josie Mer-
rift is to marry Lieut.. Pierce"
In an instant the young mans thoughts
were diverted from his money affairs.
He was much excited at the information,
refused to believe it, and went over aud
over, with a passionate earnestn ess, his
reasons for being certain that such a
thing could not be.
"Wby," he kept repeating, 81 hsve
known her ever since she was q little bit
of a girl. l carried her books to school,;
I went with her to the dancing class; her
father has been my lawyer and adviser; l
have been as much at homo in Merritt's
house as In my own. Pooh! The thing
Is impossible. Josie never would trest
me like that. l won't believe it,"
$50 and ask her q straightforward
question"
81 can't. 1t Ia too late tonight, and 1
leave by the noon train tomorrow. l
intended To have that matter fully under
stood this Summer, but | was In no hur-
ry. A love affair is all spoiled when papa
and and tho lawyer and the
world come into it. 1 have told Josld
that, and she and l understand one
another. Will you be calling there soon,
Jonaa2"
81 will try, If you wish it,"
"They leave town In q few days, but
call before, if you can; and send me
word If you see anything of the Lieu
tenant"
~ will. Lock up your secretary, /
see 1t Is still open. / am very much
obliged, very much"
"All right. You are very W elcome. /
am just putting ten thousand safely swsy
for when l need it,"
Charles was much annoyed at what he
heard, but he did not forget his secre-
tary. 1t had a secret drawer, and was
capable of being fastened by three In
~tricste locks. He carefully secured all
three, and then sat down to rmoke and
think over again the sbsurdlty of josie
caring for any one but himself. In half
an hour he was satistied that the thing
was impossible, and he rose rather wear
lily, determined to sleep upon his faith In
her love.
las he passed the table he saw a piece
If paper that attracted him; 1t was Jonas
i. o. U. He had forgotten to put 1t
away, ard 1t was too much trouble to un.
lock the secretary again. He hesitated
a moment where to secure 1t, but almost
Instantly selected q place he considered
~slngularly safe, deposited it there, and
then went to bed and to sleep.
The next DAY he went to Newport, and
there waited impatiently the advent of
the Merritts. Before he had got any
letter from Jonas, Josie herfelf had salts
fed him. They had q charming stroll to-