Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-09-12
4 SPECIAL PROVIDENCE.

\ SPECIAL PROVIDENCE.
The theory of special providence viii
account for one little matter connected
with my personal history that nothing else
will. IT'S nothing of a story it's only q
simple fact; but as it had quite AN lmpor-
tant bearing ON my life 1t is something !
am not likely to forget. 1t was during my
first year as cashier of bank. IL was a
memorable year in one other respect for
had gained the consent of the one C~r
girl ON earth to make me the happlest
of men.
So. with a good position, good health,
correct habits, the confidence and good
will of my fellow-men. and the love of the
sweetest and dearest of girls, ! ought TO
have been happy and was. There was
only one obstacle to the perfect consumma-
ton of my happiness, and that was The
fact that | was poor, and must OF necessity
wait year before ! could ask Nell TO
share my lot with me But Nell under
stood this and was content TO wait.
In fact, il didn't occur 10 either of us
that we had any alternative but to wait;
so we were philosophical over the matter
and happy. One evening, as / sat IN
my room cutting the pages OF a magazine
| was going to take to Nellie, heard a
duick rap at my door. and opening 1t ! adj
mitted my old friend Bob Bowen. Bob
was an energetic, dashing, enterprislng
Young fellow. with a good reputation IN
every way. and remarkably clear-headed on
business matters: SO. when he remarked IN
his brusoue. off-hand way, Tom, We got
good thing for YOU why | prlcked up
4 Il 10 "a
fact that he really had.
Now. Tom, said he, drawing his
chair up close TO me, 81 II be brief, for we
have no time to lose A friend of mine
has the option of buying farm, on which
valuable vein of coal has been discovered.
for the pitiml sum of $1,000 His option
runs out tonight at II O'Clock. He has a
purchaser ready to take his land off hls
hands tomorrow morning at ) o'clock for
the snug little sum Of $500 You see
the party thinks he already owns the land.
Now nv friend has been delayed in get
ting his money He won't get 1t until to-
morrow morning too late to do him any
good. So YOU see he has got to have 30
600 tonight.
But what is this to me?' said J. ~
haven't got any little $1,000 to help him
with ~
"Of course not, said Bob; "but here
NV bow, nv friend offers 20 divide with
me. what he makes in this transaction If /
will help him out, for he hates like the
deuce to be beaten at the eleventh hour.
Now. | want to help him, and if you will
help me in a way that you can I'll divide
with YOU. and before breakfast tomorrow
morning you viii have the snug sum Of
IS $50 which may have the effect OF
hurrying forward a certain happy day
eh?' and he nudged me playfully in the
ribs.
VERY well" said I. "conceding that
would be a very agreeable little sum to
possess. am as much in the dark as ever
as to the help can render
But. Tom interrupted Bob, let me
impress one fact upon your mind. The
money Is wanted only until tomorrow
morning at s o'clock precisely. That Is
| lust as certain to occur as the sun Is TO rise.
| saw the man who is to pay the money,
! saw the money. Now TOM you know
/ am your friend. and wouldn't do any
thing that is not pesectly. straight and
honorable Tom, You can have the So,Z3U
without doing any one any harm or per
petrating any wrong
You mean. said coldly, for Fwas be-
ginning TO get at the drift of the scheme,
/ 'that ] could steal this money from the
bank. p
Nonsense. Tom. interrupted Bob;
"you insult me by supposing that ! could
hint at -uch suggestion. Listen 10 my
plann0w You know very we'll Tom, that,
if Won should say TO the board Of directors
tomorrow morning, my friend here wants
to borrow 8 900. and I viii indorse his
note for him they wouldn't hesitate a
moment IN letting me have it, Now. !
want 10 borrow 5000. and can't wait
until the bank opens tomorrow morning.
] want it and must have it tonight You
can sign note with me for the amount
we VIII 90 to the bank and get the money,
leaving the note in the place Of IT. In the
morning before the bank opens the note
will be taken mp; nothing done that has
not been straight hnslnessllne. and honor
able; but YOU viii be niche by -. 2oD.
Now, if You can find any moral flaw IN
| this simple little matter Of business you
have sharper pereeptiye powers than
| have.
Bob reasoning began to look plausible.
| 1t was quite true. as he said, that the board
Of directors would willingly loan him
e. 900. but, after ALL this business wa, q
| little irregular. and | didn't feel quite
right about it.
Time is passing. said Bob, glancinQ
at has watch. and if you can Z favor me