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

u
He could not and lco,ld not be a candt
date.
The next morning after these exciting
incidents my grandfather started for Al
bany, and did not get back for week
When he returned he found that John
Carlisle had gone away, leaving letter
reiterating his denial of any knowledge
OF the bag of money and recording
promise to keep Col. Curtis informed of
his whereabouts. He also said that he
would return whenever he should be
needed. Year by year went by, and the
disappearance of the two thousand dol
lars would have been forgotten but that
John Carlisle regularly reported by let
ter on the first day of every January
He could never forget the shadow
which in his youth fell across
his path, nor was he willing to
break his parole. When he left my
grandfather's John Carlisle went to AL
bany and then to New York. He studied
law and taught school, but the once ge-
NAL young Scotchman was no longer ge-
NAL. There was a sadness about him
which however hard nc tried to con-
ceal was always apparent. He made
friends, but he was never intimate with
any one. This suspicion upon his integ-
rity had changed him in many ways,
but he never seemed to give up the hope
that the money would be found, or its
mysterious disappearance explained be-
fore the death of his old employer.
Years and years passed by, and John
Carlisle steadily rose in the regard of
those with whom he came in contact.
He had ability beyond that of the ordi-
nary lawyer, and managed his own af-
fairs with such skill and tact that as
time went by he grew rich, and enjoyed
the esteem of financial as well as legal
circles. Before he left Scotland Carlisle
had a sweetheart there, and it had been
his constant hope during his first few
years in America that he would be able
to go back to his native heath and marry
the lassie to whom as :. boy he had
pledged his heart. when his trouble
was fresh r-,,c.- -. ne felt that he must
w-i4 md tell her about it, but he could
not bring himself to do this This was
his sorest trouble-to be unable to speak
plainly to her from whom he should
have had no secrets. But he never men
toned any mystery until he was able to
say to her that he would go back to Scot
land and marry her if she still wished it.
He appeared-said Dr. Curtis-to have
more difficulty in telling Mary Ora
ham about his misadventure than
about doing any other act in his life, and
at last he sent this letter to my grand
mother.
And DR.. Curtis, having sent his son
to the house for a portfolio, produced
this letter. which was most faded and
bore upon its back this Endorsement in
old Mrs. Curtis handwriting: John
Carlisle to me. Answered at once. Also
a letter sent to Mary Graham, Aberdeen,
Scotland"
This is the letter:
MADAH-When l came to America was en-
gagged TO be married to Miss Mary Graham, -
terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland. The time has now
arrived when should 90 home to keep this en-
gagement ! have never said anything to the
young lady of the trouble / had while in your
husbands employ. l have been unable to say
anything TO her aboat it. have tried a thousand
times but have always been unable
My object in addressing you is to ask You TO
write TO her and tell her what happened when
was resident of your house. l wish her TO hear
the whole truth or what there is of truth that is
known, from some one else than me. remember
your kindness with the deepest gratitude and if
you care to add TO the debt owe you YOU can
write to Miss Graham shall not go to Scotland
till she has heard from you.
/ have the honor to be, madam, your obedient
servant, JOHN CARLISLE
l have never seen what letter nv
grandmother wrote to Mary Graham
continued the doctor-but it must have
been satisfactory, for the next spring
John Carlisle returned to New York and
resumed his work, and he now had as a
helpmate bright checked young Scotch
woman who had been Mary Graham. of
Aberdeen.
This act of my grandmother did not
appear to relieve him of his responsible |
ity, for year by year he continued to re-
port to the colonel He was peculiarly |
fitted for public life and had often been |
offered the nomination of his party for |
congress; but he had always declined. |
He did not know what might be said of |
him. At one time in a crisis in the af- |
fairs of his party his friends got to- |
gether and concluded they could elect |
him to the United States senate. When |
he heard of the movement he invited |
these friends to his house and told them
in the plainest terms that he could not
and would not be candidate or permit |
them to urge the matter further This
was great blow to him for he had pub
lie spirit and he felt that he could do
good service in that exalted sphere But
the shadow which had fallen across his
young life would not permit him to
take any public employment until it
had been lifted.