The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-10-18
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For more than minute. which
seemed an hour. he stood before me
and answered not a word.
He was pale and white and still as Il
dead man right from the grave. FL
naly the painful stiffness was broken
by Groundwig's cxclaimlng:
''Slsan Grounding. the business
which brought me here can be easily
arranged. and long before the clock
strikes 10 can be on my way ont OF
your Drcse ncc-a, my presence seems
SO hateful to you never again to re-
turn. 1t is for you to say-not for me:
or before the clock shall strike again.
i can signal my comrades. who are
hard by. to seize your boy. and take
him forever from your sight
| was stunned for a moment and It
took me several seconds to collect
sense and strength TO say:
''Silas Grounding. what is it yo,
ask"
Madam. want nothing but you can
! comply with. ! aln poor: ain an out
cast in the world | have been driven
| to,dcspcrate deed, 10 make the world
! give me Il living. / am at the mercy Of
worse outlaws than myself. They have
com. hithcr at my bidding to obtain
money. / know YOU have it in yosI.
! house and | want 5000. ! must have
! it and don t ear, to argue the matter.
! 1t is useless TO say that TO comply with
! my request You make yourself and your
/ boy bcggars. and. in the opinion of your
neighbOrs. yourself thief. | care
nothing for such pleas. Neither do my
comrades outside. whose muttcrings
YOU can hear this moment. There is
| 1<,., = -.
come in for money or your boy. They
: have been promised one or the other.
Where now was my God that He
didn't strike that wretch dead as he
stood there. with such words on his
! lips: lam to rob myself. rob my boy.
rob my friends and go forth tomorrow
beggar and thief. and for what:
Heavens. to save my child. Can |
| longer hesitate: Money. honor. repu-
tation. cverythin" have in this world
! must go if would have my boy stay.
/ My head grew dizzy. The room was
whiring round. [ involuntarily led
/ the way to the bed room. He followed
me. | took from its hiding place a
! key. | unlocked my writing desk. |
! touched secret spring i'll d drawer. |
, pointed to the exposed money. Not Il
| word is said. He seizcs the roll Of
| bank bills. gave me 4 demOniac look
and passed into the darkness without.
| Then swooncd away. When came
to myself realized what | had done.
| My God. the thought was killing me.
| | had violated the trust and now was Il
thief. Had not pointed out the money
to that man. that monster? | called
| upon my Creator to hell me in my ter
riblc distress.
Next day | was watching from the
window form little boy to return from
school. And when | saw him he had Il
letter in his hand coming up the lanc
waving it. Another moment and he
bounds into the room. and throwing Il
sealed envelope into my lap. fairly shouts
to me to open it and read it quick. be-
cause the postmaster has just received
I, dispatch asking him to deliver the
letter to me at once and have me
telegraph an answer. There comes
the postmaster up the lane now.
open it mother: read it. quick. =
looked at the boy in
amazement. A dispatch. A letter An
answer must be 1elcgraghed quick
| What does it mean? More trouble, Is
not my cup full9 Is there room in this
| fast throbblng heart for more sorrow:
' IL
those eyes? Mechanically | tear open
the envelope The letter is from my
f, Now England home. | care not for the
date. Dear madam" are idle words
\ piece of paper drops to the floor. My
boy picks il up and holds it before me
while [ read:
Enclosed you will find a draft on the Bank of
Commerce City of New York for the sum of
| three thousand dollars, payable my eyes fail
me. can read no farther. There is plenty of
roolu for tears. The mist grows thicker The
privacy at such time. but says it i import ant
that he telegraph my answer at once l hand
him the IL tor and ask HIM TO finish reading it.
lie roaas Ito your oruer In re organizing the
| National Woolen Mill Company there is Il
| scramble going on for shares. In searching for
II several sliurt holders ii has been diScoS erred
TINT tho assignment by your father Of the fprl '
| shares owned by him TO Your 'rmer husband
/ was not only irresularly entered on the trans-
fer books. but WIS II forgery. The company Ut
cnce repaid the diyiaetd-. amount ing to three
. IN usand dollars and that amount / remit t.
you hv enclosed draft. To enable the friends of
: Your larlcnt"d FAT her To obtain majority OF
the shares III order 10 control tie property and
take Ii from those who are tryin, To ,eprccint e
il: value ty bal II uingeIne emit. o they can h,lv
tie stock Tor much less than its real value.
can sell TIE fcrty >ha.es which were your
RAJ hers for tive thousand dollars. As the cleo
tiou nf directors Is t. he held the list in
stant u speedy answer, and by tel graph. Is
necessary. | auyse you 10 sell
ours truly
SAM III. EpMoNpsoN'
1t required hut moment for N. 10
conclude what | would do. Mr.. Ed
rontis"n had proven himself honest and
faithful Ia my interests. would tr,iet
him now. My answer went quick. Il
accept" In Il few days anot her tiraf,
came. and my faith i'll that divini: y
which doth all things we'll was rc-
; S.s,.nti and from tho s,,n.t ,n;Gnr1 },1 Al
beings become the happiest.
Thus You sec. my kind friend, that
the answer gave you when you ask Cd
my hand in marriage Was he only on,
. couId give YOU. though YOU thought
: ne cruel and heartiess. | know I'll.
courts are open IN NE Tor :: severance
of the marriage hona. But ear never
consent 10 do an ac; that will serve Il
: withdraw from me. in the least degree
the good opinion and warm regard o
my neighhors. Your Friend.