St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-09-28
In A SINGLE NIGHT.
The Terrible Trial of Young
Wife Left on Guard.

lhe 1errlDle 1r1al or q Young
Wife Left on Guard.
sWhat a beautiful young woman!
And yet her hair is white as snowt"
"And her complexion fresh as is a
child's. Strange, is it not?"
Thus 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 considera-
ton to their affairs. Mamie's father,
John Clausen, was prominent COM
mission merchant in a Pennsylvania
town, generally considered wealthy,
and always lived Like man Of means.
Mamie was pretty, dashing, local
belle and general fayorite. Harry's
family lived few miles from town,
and they, too, were people Of freputa-
tion in the county
The marriage was in every way
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
frank, manly young fellow that he
was generally forgiven any indiscre-
tion.
The marriage was the occasion of
general rejoicing. Mamie's father
gave her an unusually good send-off,
and the details were sent far and wide
through the state. Harry had stud
led law for awhile, and had settled
down into country notary, draw
ing up deeds, and doing haek-Work
of that sort. They lived about four
miles out of town, and two miles from
old Johns. He had built them a
pretty modern cottage on a detached
portion II his farm. Harry had his
Office, an ornamental little structure,
few rods from the house, and there
they lived as happy as two birds.
Gradually Harry picked up busi-
ness, and finally, through his father,
he became trustee for some minor
heirs. They were an odd lot Of chill
dren, with a half-crazy mother, and
no end Of coal lands and mining in
vestments. 1t was a good thing for
Harry, although 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 town, and there
were always some Of the young people
ready to go out and keep her COM
pany. Harry always insisted that she
must not stay alone. For q law-abid-
ing state, Pennsylvania has a pretty
rough element ID it, and there is d
general sense of uneasiness,
One August afternoon Harry had |
an unexpected summons to go to
Scranton about suit connected with
the minor heirs. He had recently |
sold some oftheir property, and had
been making various collections,
which left in his hands about $4, 500.
When he found that be had to go
off at d few moments notice, he
wrapped up bundle Of papers and |
this money, and took them into the |
house. Mamie was making prepara- |
tons for a picnic they were to go to |
the next day, and begged him to wait
untilthe day after.
But, my dear child, ! haven't time |
even to 60 to town and put these in
the bank, 50 you'll have to take care
of them. I'll try and get back in
two days at the furthest, meanwhile
nobody 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 $4,000 be-
longing to the minor heirs.
"Where will / keep it, Harry? Be-
tween the mattresses2"
@Just like a woman! No. But
declare | don't know where to tell
you The most insecure place ap-
parently is often the most secure.
Any place, dear, but between the mat
tresses. / leave that to you. But
you must guard it, if necessary, with
your life; for remember the money
is not ours, and at all hazards I am
responsible. ] don't really suppose