Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-10-28
bank was closing, and too late to pass

bank was closing, and too late to pass
1t to his own account.
He was going with his wife to a
church meeting, being an active church
member, and they were discussing the
best place to put the money during
their absence. After some pickering
on the subject they decided to roll the
notes in piece of newspaper and
thrust them behind the frame of a
mirror over the mantle piece. No one
would look there, or If any one did
there was only piece of newspaper to
be seen. AS an additional precaution
John Hartley took the numbers of the
notes.
Keeping down his inclination to dash
into the room and claim his own,
George waited as patiently as he could
until the couple had left the house,
when he went to the room, to find the
door locked and bolted. He was reck-
less by that time and went to the
porch, climbed to its roof under his
fathers window and smashed the blinds
outside, unbolted them, raised the
window and sp,ans into the
room. The money was secured, the
newspaper replaced and he left the
room again by the way he had en-
tered it. Packing a satchel, he left the
house and came to me.
II will never return" lie said to me,
"and if it is theft to take what have
80 !,
it,"
II have wondered you staid so long,"
said.
II promised my mother would new
er leave my father alone" he answered.
Il have kept my word. He is not
alone; he has his wife. Two years
ago, If you remember, you offered me
letter to your brother in New York,
who, you said, would give me po
sition in his counting house."
II remember"
will you give me that letter now,
sir? I can leave here on the ten
o'clock train and be in New York to-
morrow. Even if your brother has no
place for me can live on what money
l have for time, and your letter will
help me to some work. In year I
shall be free!"
Was wrong to uphold him? I did
so, with my whole heart. 1 wrote to
my brother, gave George the letter and
then, fastening up the house, we start
ed together to walk to the railway sta
no y, 1ov,
met John Hartley and his wife, re-
turning from church. Supposing that
George was going to see me off, they
stopped for few minutes, spoke few
words of farewell, hoped I would come
back in bet!ac health and went their
way. Five minutes later George and
were in our seats in the car. The
schooner in which 1 was going to sail
was a coaster, going to the Gulf of
Mexico, and was to sail at five o'clock
in the morning. Having time at his
own disposal, George decided to go
with me to Keyport and see me off,
promising to write to Elsie as soon as
I was fairly afoat.
It had long been evident to me that
Elsie loved my young friend and dur
ing that night ride he spoke to me
frankly of his love for her, and won
my free consent to ask her to be his
wife as soon as he had established
himself in some settled business. 1t
had been lifelong attachment and 1
knew the sterling worth of the man
who loved my little girl.
We parted at five o'clock in the
of LIE twenty-third of April
and George Hartley had not been out
of MY sight since nine o'clock on the
evening of the twenty second. 1 went
to the Gulf Of Mexico, and finding the
air was helping me moved from place
to place along the coast, keeping ever
on or near the water until the first of
June. I wrote to Elsie, but heard
from her, as I was moving
about constantly, and we had arranged
that I was not to expect letters. On
the third Of June I was again in Boil
ton and speeding homeward, knowing
Elsie was expecting me. I had avoid
ed the main street, anxious to be at
T. E==zzzI1y