The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-04-14
IN A SINGLE NIGHT.
The Terrible Trial of young Wife Left on Guard.

'What beautiful young woman!
And yet her hair is white as snow. -"
''And her complexion fresh as is a
child's. Strange, is it not?'
Thus commented two loungers on a
hotel porch. But they did not know
the history of that snowy hair.
From the time Harry Wells fell in
love with Mamie Clausen at church
socials until their marriage in the
First Presbyterian church, the entire
community gave minute consideration
TO their affairs. NAMES father, John
Clausen, was a prominent commission
merchant in Pennsylvania town, gen.
orally considered wealthy, and always
lived like a man of means. Mamie
was pretty, dashing, local belle and
general favorite. Harry's family
lived q few miles from town, and they,
too, were people of reputation in the
county.
The marriage was in every way a
suitable one. Harry was educated at
Princeton, and although he had at one
time the reputation of being wild, he
had sobered down, and was such u
frank, manly young fellow that he was
generally forgiven any indiscretion.
The marriage was The occasion OF
general rejoicing. Mamie's father
gave her an unusually COOL send-off,
and tho details were sent far aud wide
through the state. Harry had studied
law for q while, and had settled down
into country notary, drawing up
deeds, and doing hack-work OF tina,
sort They lived about four miles
GU. of town, and two miles from old
Johns. He had built them pretty
modern cottage on detached portion
OF his farm. Harry had his Office, an
ornamental little structure, few rods
from the house, and there they lived
rs happy as two birds.
Gradually Harry picked up business,
and, finally, through his father, he be-
came trustee for some minor heirs.
They were an odd lot of children, with
half-crazy mother, and no end of
coal lands and mining investments.
II was good thing for Harry, al
though it gave a naturally lazy man
some additional work. The worst
thing was that it obliged him to 60 to
Scranton now and then, and leave
Mamie. When Harry had to go away,
Mamie would get in her phaeton and
drive to towr, and there were always
some Of the young people ready to go
out and keep her company. Harry al
ways insisted that she must not stay
alone.
One August afternoon Harry had an
unexpected summons to go to Scran-
ton about suit connected with the
minor he rs. He had recently sold
some of their property, and had been
making various collections, which left
in his hands forty-five hundred dollars.
When he found that he must go off at
few moments notice, he wrapped up
a bundle of papers and this money
and took them into the house. Mamie
was making preparations for picnic
they were to go to the next day, and
begged him to wait until the day
after.
"But, my dear child. haven't time
even to 60 to town and put these in
the bank, so you'll have to take care
Of them. I'll try and get back in two
days at the furthest, meanwhile no.
body will know that the money is
here"
Then he explained to her the value
Of the papers, and handed her can
vas bag, in which was the forty-fiv
hundred dollars belonging to the
minor heirs.
"whers shall I keep it, Harry? Be-
hween the mattresses?"
Gust like q woman! No. But
declare I don't know where to tell
you. The most insecure place APP
parently is often the most secure.
Any place, dear, bnt between the mat.
tresses. leave that to you. But you
must guard il, if necessary, with your
life; for remember the money is not
ours, and at all hazards am respon-
bible. don'treally suppose there is
the least danger. for no one knows
have it But enc ought to take propet
precautions, and beg of you not to
admit any iramps while l am gone.
Tell Sarah not even 10 allow them to
eat biscuit"
''All right, dear; we won't let the
cramps have drink, even, and I'll
take care of the money you may be
cure. I"
Harry babe his wife good-by, and
Mamie gave up the picnic. At the
end OF two days she received tele-
gram from him. saying he had been
detained, and telling her to get some,
one to stay with her for two days, when
he would be at home. She drove into
town, snd one of her old friends went
out with her. At the end OF two days
she had another telegram saying that
he was detained until the next day.
Her friend went home, and in place oil
Harry came third telegram, and sc
every day for ten days he was ex,
pecsed home, and every day came q
disappointing telegram. By this time
she had become accustomed to hel
charge, which she had set like bag
OF seed-beans in a corner of DARK
closet opening from her room.
The afternoon of the tenth day was
q hot murky afternoon. Mamie ha.
ssae upstairs to take nap and re-