The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-10-06
miscellaneous
A TRYING ORDEAL.
A Story Founded Upon an actual
Occurrence.
BY LANES Z. MENOuGH.


Shortly after reaching my thirty fifth
year l was appointed night Waterman
of Cedarville bank. Colonel Walker,
the president of the institution, in be-
slowing the situation upon me, among
other things, said "Thompson, there
is one order in particular l desire to
give you, an order that wish carried
out with great eXactness, and it is this,
after you have turned the key upon
the departing officers and clerks of the
bank at four o'clock in the afternoon
you are not to open the door again."
the Colonel at this point spoke slowly
and decidedly, under any circum-
stances whatever until the bank clock
has struck nine upon the following
morning"
| told the officer that, as far as it lay
in my power, l would obey his instruc-
tions to the letter.
Nothing worthy of note occurred to
me in my new position until after I
had been watching some two months,
when, one morning, about four O. o'clock,
the bell rang sharply, and Fastening
to the door l called through the peep
hole or wicket, who's there p and
was more than surprised to get a reply
from Mr.. Ashton, the cashier, who
spoke excitedly, and like one short of
breath from running or walking rapid
For Gods sake, Thompson" he
burst out, "open the door quickly, and
let me in" adding, II have just re-
ceived word that your wife has been
taken suddenly and dangerously ill;
the two doctors who have been sum-
moned unite in saying she can last but
a few hours at the best. My informant
also stated that when he left your
house your wife was pleading piteous-
ly with her doctors to strive to length
en- her life, if only sufficiently long to
enable her to see you once more, say
ing she had private message for you,
one that she would not impart to
another. Therefore," continued the
cashier, II thought | would run down
here and remain the balance of the
night, and thus permit you to return
home. So come, Thompson, move
lively" added the cashier, land open
the door"
"Mr. Ashton 1 replied with sup
pressed emotion, "God knows l love
my dear wife, and would freely give all
| possess to see her once more before
she dies; but have an obligation to
perform, promise to fulfill that will
not violate, let come what may"
Thompson, began the cashier with
a tinge of asperity, II am not ignorant
of that to which you refer; but come
come man, and don't be so insanely
exact about your duty, for you must
certainly know that, as | am cashier
of the bank, it will be perfectly proper
for you to accept the offer l make"
"Mr. Ashton" l replied, with de-
cision, ~ would not care if you were a
hundred-fold the cashier of this bank,
or even its president, neither you nor
any other man shall step foot over this
door-sill alive until after nine o'clock
tomorrow morning. But, Mr.. Ash
ton" l added pleadingly, twill you
kindly stop at my house on your way
home, and have my wife informed that
as soon as l am properly relieved will
hasten to her side p
"Certainly, Thompson" answered
the cashier, 81 will do that with the
greatest pleasure" and, bidding me
good morning, he left the door.
Words are inadequate to convey
properly to the mind of another a full
realization of the mental agony that l
passed through upon that dreadful
morning. So great was my anxiety
for the arrival of the hour when |
could, with clear conscience, open
the bank door, that the moments in
dictated on the face of the clock seemed
like hours, the hours appearing almost
like days In duration. | walked the
floor almost necessarily until nearly
nine, weeping and wringing my hands
in mental torture, like one demented.
| pictured my wife slowly breathing
her last my weeping children, grouped
near their dying mother, with no
father present to console them in their
grief. l called to mind our early be-
trothal; our many pleasant strolls
through woodland and meadow; l
could almost feel the trembling pressure
of a little hand, as it rested in mine, at
the marriage altar. distinctly recall
ed her wifely devotion to me through
long days and weary nights OF illness.
And now that loving, self-sacrificing
being was upon her bed of death, vain
ly pleading for my presence, whilst 1,
as if bound by an iron chain of my
own forging, was denied the power to
comply with her last earthly wish.
AS thoughts like these flashed through
my mind, / would spring from the
chair upon which l was seated and
walk to and fro, moaning like one be-
reft of reason. At times my feelings
would almost get the controlling power
of my better Judgment. More than
once impulsively seized my hat and
overcoat, fully determined to rush tc
the bedside Of my dying wife, and leave
the bank to take care of itself; but az
my hand would touch the door knob, q
voice, almost audible, would whisper
"forget not your duty" at which my
hand would drop as if it had been rest
ing upon red-hot metal.
At half-past eight l took my stant
at the door, counting almost every
vibration of the clock pendulum, 81
great was my anxiety to see the hands
reach the hour of nine. In shor
time the bank officers and clerks began
collecting in front of the bank, laugh
ing and joking among themselves
Presently the clock began striking tn
long-looked-for hour.
Upon the last stroke | threw the doc
lopen.