The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-03-16
The Treasurer's Daughter

By Ray Notter.


profile bore to the bias relief on metal
which | took from my pocket.
She was the treasurers daughter.
And when the conductor came through,
from her gold bound, blue morocco
purse she drew forth her annual pass
and presented it to the knight of the
punch, who, without glancing at it,
touched the visor of his blue helmet
and passed on down the aisle, punching
the tickets of us commuters as he went.
Then came that necessary evil, the
train boy, with his morning papers, for
one of which | exchanged the profile
decorated coin in my hand, the then
new nickel.
She sat just across the aisle. all by
herself, and taking from my pocket an
other five-cent piece | leisurely made a
more critical comparison. The COM
parison resulted in favor of the treas
urer's daughter.
About three times a, week. l saw her
after that, either journeying from our
little suburb to the city or on the re-
turn trip.
| was attending a business college
ct that time in the city, trying to ac-
emulate a knowledge of doubleentry
bookkeeping and other things mostly
potatoes, | remember, which were
potatoes only inasmuch as the paper
tickets said they were. l used to have
my tickets bulging full of paper prod
uce on those days, enough to glut the
market, could it only have been con
verted into the real article. | recall
once got 10 bushels of potatoes in
trade for single cigarette.
Every morning, when the treasurer's
daughter CHANGED to be on the train, l
would try to get seat as near her as
possible, that | might feast my eyes on
her beauty. | think even at that time
| came dangerously near losing my
heart to her, though all unknown. |
used to wish the train would run off the
track or anything else as foolhardy or
perilous might occur, provided l might
thereby be, if not her rescuer, at least
of some assistance to her.
When the opportunity did present it
self the surrounding circumstances
made it of such a delicate nature that
any assistance l might have offered
would Save served to increase her
humitation. For you must know
was still total stranger to her.
| had known who she was for several
months, when, one day, like a thunder
clap from a clear sky, came the an
nouncement through the newspapers
that her father, the treasurer had been
found short in his accounts.
The organs of the political party to
which he belonged vigorously denied
the reports and claimed for them the
distinction of partisan calumnies and
lies. Nevertheless an investigation
was begun, and, strange to say, indict-
ments were found charging him with
misappropriating the funds of his office.
Seated in the suburban train. | was
one morning reading the latest devel-
opments in the case when down the
aisle came the treasurer's daughter.
Did she hang her head in shame?
No.
Did she flush under the scrutiny of
that car load of commuters?
No. She only drew the corners of her
thin lips a little tighter together and
held her head Il trifie more erect as she
took her seat, by chance, directly OPP
posite me.
Oh. how I pitied herI How longed
to cross the aisle and say to her: Let
me be your friend. ! DO not believe it.
Had | at that time been on the best of
terms with her, | am inclined to think
my sympathy would have been gently
but firmly refused. For when the con-
ductor came through, and, instead of
touching his visor and passing on.
asked to see her annual" and, cancel
ing it, remarked: This pass is no
good" she seemed to comprehend all.
and, rising quietly, she politely but
firmly said: stop the train, please"
Her tone was that of one born to
command and her quiet demeanor one
which allowed of no opposition.
The conductor reached for TIE bell
cord, the train slowed up and stopped.
and the treasurer's daughter got off
and walked.
To the credit of the commuters. let it.
be said none of them watched to see in
what direction.
One day, a few weeks later, as |
glanced up from my desk in the bust
ness college, my wandering eyes fell
upon the profile of girl that gave
thrill to my whole being,
1t was she, the treasurer's daughter.
She did not mingle with the rest of us
to any great extent. but seemed bent
on acquiring a knowledge of business
methods, with the purpose Of one who
proposed putting that knowledge to its
best account.
Shortly before l graduated | held, for
short while, the position of cashier in
the college bank. My dealings with the
noble girl in that position were CON
fined strictly to business affairs. Yet
at times I underwent certain sweet
pleasure in explaining some intricate
point to her attentive ear.
After | graduated I would gladly
have stayed on. just to be near her, but
the realities Vt life confronted me in
such a threatening manner. | had to
put my shoulder to the wheel in