The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-26

somewhere, he really never knew
WHITTIER TO pass the time till near 10 80.
Not for one moment could he forget
himself. and the hateful refrain was
with him constantly. through all the
slow-moving hours But all things
come to an end. and so at last did the
tedious beginning Of that dreary New
Years eve.
1t was a strange party Of three that
was at last driven downtown to listen
to New Yorks noisy way of ushering
in the new year. The sky was clear.
the moon shone brilliantly through the
transparent azure. the crowd was un
countable, and the noise was simply
prodigious. OF course the bells were
heard not AT ALL but the horn blowers
maintained their reputation 10 the very
utmost. Miss Helene was in great
spirits. at least apparently. and her
gaiety was so conta gious that at times
the young man half forgot his troubles.
But the dreary and hateful Jingle
would intrudc itself and the horns
kent repeating II over and over.
The mother was clearly i'll at ease.
but, though silent in the main. she re-
Trained from actual rudeness and at
last they drove back to the hotel. When
young Roberts handed the ladies from
the carriage the older one gave him a
letter. and they separated-aS he
thought-forever Yet there was Il look
in the girls eyes as she prettily bade
him goodnight that aWoke Il feeting
resolution on his part; q resolution
that was smothered while yet only half
formed. by the monotonous ciamoring
of the old refrain
A wasted life,
And fortune gone,
He looked at his watch and drove to
the club. Billiard was still there. sur
rounded by little crowd Of jolly chaps
When he saw the drawn face or vouno
Roberts he knew that something was
wrong. and, excusing himself insisted
on taking his guest apart and question
ing him closely. Al FIRST Roberts was
silent. but the strain became too great
and he finally made a clean brrasr
the whole pltiful story.
Have you read the letter." queried
Billiard, who had made no comment.
but whose sympathy was plainly
reused. for his gaiety had quite de-
parted. IF not, go through it while
leave you for a little. Then pun your
self together and Wen discuss things
Nothing can be so bad that It can't he
mended Brace up: this matter can all
be Strengthened out "
The letter was brief and to he point.
Tn it Helene's mother set out clearly
the facts as she understood them.
dwelling with direct frankness upon
Roberts ineligfhility. reciting coneiseiy
what she knew as to the sauanderiag
Of his fortune. and winding up with
cutting request that in future he should
keen out of her daughters way
The first effect Of this missive was
good. Robert remembered that he had
never intruded himself and his inten-
ton never to do 50. And he was moved
with Irresistible desire to begin life
anew and prove To this plain spoken
woman that there was something Of
good still left in him.
Then Billiard returned. lie did not
read the letter. hut he knew intuitively
what it contained. and he had IA plan
which he outlined rapidly and concise
ly. At its conclusion he said:
Il don't care What you do about the
girl, but should YOU accept my advice
you will be able to win her in case you
will wish to. And as for your talk about
winding things M why, that's sheer
nonsense.
A great ocean liner sailed out OF the
harbor of New York next day. one Of
its passengers was Raleigh Roberts and
so far as Helene Spangheii knew. or
her mother. or any one else in America
save Ned lsuIlard. this passenger com
pletely disappeared from earth on that
day remaining non-existent for five
1ong years.
Then. on the last day Of December
the same ship sailed into port. II had
made many trips across the Atlantic
meanwhile but this was the first tine
ii had brought with il certain pas
senger named Roberts. This passen-
ger. however was not the same who
had sailed away a half decade before
unlike that of the other, was brnnzed
and bearded. whereas his had been
smooth and ruddy-white Moreover on
his face lines indicating strength Of