The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-02
THE STORY OF A CARD.

This play of the Fatal Card we've been
having here lately" said Washington
merchant to a reporter, reminds me of a
card story"
Not one of the kind of cards that
Washingtonians are most familiar with, is
it?' inquired the reporter, trying to be
facetious.
Hardly. But let me tell you the
tale. When was a youngster of Is or
less, which is now forty or fifty years ago,
| hadn't as much money as l have now,
nor did my parents, but we thrived well,
and | got the best education that was to
be Fad at the time, owing TO the kindness
OF a millionaire relative of mine, an Old
chap who died when was about 20. We
never knew the story until he died. and
then it all came out in letter he wrote
and left with his will.
at seems that when the old man was
about 20 he went West with a Young man
OF his own age, who had been brought up
with him by the same people both being
orphans. They were as brothers. or even
closer in their affections, and when they
started out to seek their fortunes they each
wrote card and gave it to the other just
what the inscription was don't know, but
it was enough to signify that if one was in
need the other would honor the card under
any circumstances, and after any lapse OF
time, if he were financially able to do
so.
well they worked together for awhile
and then, by business. chances and one
way or another, they separated. For a
long time they kept up correspondence,
but rs the Yeas went by that dropped, for
in few years he was very successful,
while the other man was not. and YOU
know how things 20 under those c,cum-
stances. \ quarter OF century Went hy
and hy that tim" my relative WAS a million
aire many times over and the nastcSt,
meancst, stingicst, crnStiest old cuss in ten
States. He couldn't help thar, perhaps
and don't know that he tried.
Anyhow, one day a ragged and starry
ing man came into his office AMI asked to
see him alone. He told him to state his
business where he wa The mln told II
long story of suffering and want, of n -:,
and starving wife aul c'ildIcn and 81.
usual concomitants oi that kin ~ :, sta
alton, and then handed my relative Il c.rd
1t was yellow, worn and dirty, !,ut it WAS
the same old card that he had given his
bovhool friend. The old man gave the
applicant IA dime and told him to get out
and not come back there any more He
oheyed the cruel command and went out
silently That evening a policeman came
to the old mans Office with note and
card. All the note said was. Give this
card to my boyhood friend, --He will
understand
The note WAS unsigned. The card
which the policeman handed ovsr had
hole through it as if cut by a knife and
there was blood about the edges of the
'Nt' ne "iitt' eAplaihcu tIdt IL Huu
been found on the dead body of a man in
an attic room in tie slums. with a knife
driven through it and into the mans
heart. That was all the policeman knew
don't know what the old man said or
how he felt but | do know that from
that day forward he was a wonderfully
changed man.
'He gave to every worthy person need
ing help; he sought out all his poor kin
and took care of them judiciously; educat-
ing the girls, giving the boys i start in
business, and helping their parents; he
organized charities, and he offered
reward of a thousand dollars for the family
of his dead friend. He never found it,
however, and fancy the friend never had
a family. guess he wasn't any good,
anyway, but whether lie was or not, the
way he took himself off was blessing to
the old man, and most emphatcally to all
of his kin. Washington Star