Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-11

his wife rec 1eSted. All this was very
mysterious 10 my wife and me, but
neither of Is liked to ask for an ex-
PLANTATION. We felt that if there was
anything which we had any business to
know we should be told all in good time.
We went ont of the counting room and
left the old couple together. After
some time we saw them coming to the
house together, and my grandmother
was evidently now the stronger of the
two. At the midday dinner the colonel
was nervous and ate nothing. He had
given and taken many hard knocks in
his life, and | felt sure that there was
some very disturbing cause for his pres
ent suffering and | was also sure that
the finding of the bag of gold was
the cause Before we arose from din
ner a telegram was brought to the
colonel. He read it and said to his wife
as he folded up the paper, John will be
here tomorrow, Maria She smiled
back at him. and he began to brighten
at once. He said to my wife and me:
THAT was lucky find this morning
That bag of gold had been lost for fifty
years, and during all that while one of
the best men in the world has been more
than half suspected by me of having
stolen it," Looking at his wife, he add
ed, MY Godi how could l have forgot
ten that placed it there
What is it all about, SIR" asked.
The colonel then told the story very
much as have told it to You, but he
never told US what was the full name OF
the young Scotchmau, as he ALWAYS
spoke of him as John. He was much
moved as he told the tale, and my grand
mother took off her spectacles may
times to remove the moisture that
dimmed the glasses. Tomorrow" he
added, you shall meet this man and
help me to make amends for the dread
full wrong which my forgetfulness has
done him"
The coloners sleigh was sent to the
station the next morning to meet the
New York train. Returning, it was
driven rapidly to the counting room.
and there Col. and Mrs. Curtis met the
man from whom they had parted fifty
years before under such peculiarly pain
full circumstances. The interview seemed
but it really had lasted only about half
an hour when the bell was rung, and the
man who answered it was directed to in
vite US to go over to the counting room
We were surprised when We opened the
door to find with my grandfather and
grandmother Mr.. John Carlisle, the
father of my wife's mother. He was as
astonished to see Us as we were to see
him.
This is the young lady who found the
bag" my grandmother said
What, Lois:'' Mr. Carlisle exclaim med
as he came forward and put his arms
about her and kissed her. Then turning
to my grandfather he said with his arms
still about my wife, Il did not know till
now, Col Curtis, that the young doctor
my granddaughter insisted on marrying
was member of your family"
"Nsr 0lo KNOW that ,he was vour
granddaughter, john" the colonel SAID,
but l congratulate her on being of
such good stock. And you. sir" said he
turning to me, Il hope that as long as
you live that you viii remember the
debt owe to your wife's grandfather,
and as / cannot live long enough to paw
even a small part of it. you must try to
make 1t up in some way to her and her
children"
And, please God-said DR.. Curtis as
he took of his hat and knocked the ashes
from his pipe-I hope that shall.
As DR.. Cnrtis finished his story the
musical bell of the old clock struck 6.
Every time l hear the old clock
strike, the doctor added, Il renew my
VOW to make up as best l can to John
Carlisle's grandchild and great-grand-
children for the serious wrong which
my grandfather's lapse of memory did
TO him during that weary fifty years"
THE END.