The Van Buren press., 1897-12-11

n
tucky village where we were born aud
raised, and we have been sweethearts
since she was u and II. Even before
that, | reckon, but we were too young
to know it. Now she is 25 and am 30
and we were TO have been married last
spring. but u financial affair prevented
and we put it off until next winter. l
had about $1,000 saved up, but my
sweetheart's father, who was a very
well-to-do man, wanted to use that
amount in a scheme of some kind and
loaned it to him. He invested it with
n large sum of his own-in a land deal,
he said, and-well he hasn't got it back
yet"
That's just like you, Jim, you can
paint, but you haven't got as much
business sense as monkey"
Thank yoa, but you are using up
time. l must finish my story"
Have you got any security for that
money!"
NO"
Have you got anything to show
Wnere III went tOI
"Yes."
well, that's something"
II think it's worse than nothing. but
I will show it to you directly. | have
not seen my sweetheart since last
spring. She and her father went away
on a trip together, and when we parted
we agreed to think of each other at
eight O'Clock every evening and talk as
if we were talking to each other.
ITO catch my train l had to bid her
good-by at that hour. and it happened
that the full moon was shining. out.
lined to her the face of the woman on
the moon, and showed her how much
the face was like her own. Since then
I have sketched and painted that face.
and I'll show you that also. Besides.
have written the verses above it that
| read to you just now. The picture
and the verses are both bad. | know.
No painter could do justice to the face
II the moon or TO that of my sweet
heart, but did both when in happier
mood than ! am right row.
That's about all there is to it. Tom.
except the receipt for my money and the
portrait I spoke Of. But the receipt is
in the shape Of letter, and won't read
ii TO you unless you agree not TO ask me
what it's postmarll is. and the name
signed to it. That is another mans
secret
"All right, old man, whatever you say
goes"
Here it is"
" Ny Dear James: I have not only
gambled away all of my own money and
all l could raise on my property, but l
have also gambled away what l borrowed
from you. My daughter has been led by
me to believe that loaned you my money,
and that you have beggared me by losing
1t at the gambling table. I make to you
this humiliatlng confession because | am
on my death bed. 1t shows what gam
bling will lead to, In even as old a man as
1 am. But before ! die l shall tell my
daughter the whole truth, and you will be
reinstated In her good graces. | give her
TO you, and I hope and pray she will be
in some measure a restitution to you. | can
say no more. am too weak to write more
Please forgive me. Yours in all penltenee. "
This letter was dated at the Hotel
del Monte, August Is, 1897, and was
signed Charles Winthrop."1
MY God, Jim, do you think the old
man died without telling your sweet
heart the truth?"
mo, of course not. He told her, and
l shall hear from her soon."
81 hope so, my dear fellow. lam sure
you deserve to be happy"
"And here is the picture on this easel.
There, the envlous cloth is now out of
the way. Isn't she handsome?"
Great Why, Jim, that is the por-
trait Of my wife"
Impossible. 1 painted it from the
woman in the moon, but if you think
it resembles your Julie will give it to
you. l can paint another. Look, there
is my model. See how she beams
through the window"
81 won't say l hate TO rob you. old
fellow, for I don't. ! know you can
paint another, and this will so delight
my sweet Julie. Why you must be
anxious to get rid of it, TO have
wrapped it so quickly"
Il am anxious for you to have it,
Tom, if it will make you and your Julie
happy"
What a glorious old fellow you are
Jim. But times up. Good-by, old
man."
"Good-by, Tom. Write me all about
yourself, and if you ever need me let
me know think I would almost make
sacrifice at any time to serve you"
II know you would. Jim, but you
haven't got a monopoly on that"
They parted as the friends that
they were. Tom Jones went out into
the crisp autumn night, whistling a
merry tune. And James Hamilton,
philosopher, poet, painter and hero.
twisted Charles Winthrop's letter.
caught a blaze to it from the gas jet
and when it had burned almost to
burning his fingers threw the charred
paper in the CRATE.
Il must submit 10 all this for the
sake of my friend" he said. tom is
happy. That win do for both. And
IL have the woman in the moon
Carter's Monthly.
Defends HIS Friend.
"My friend, the candidate for sher-