Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-07-03
SUSPENDED PAYMENT.


the black letters as though spellbound
Then gathering herself together. she
drove swiftly to the doctors and, leav-
ing her message. she turned her horse
homeward. Forgetting in her excite
ment her husbands condition, Alvira
burst into the house exclaiming bitter
ly:
There's Silas! it's happened just's
said 'twOuld. The Pineville banks
failed up, and every cent we've got in
the worlds gone to the dogs. II you'd
only taken the money out when l told
you to we might a saved it," moaned
she, swaying to and fro with her face
buried in her hands.
That's just what did do, Alvira."
answered Silas, feebly.
The wOman's hands dropped to her
lap as she gazed at him in surprise.
you did, Silas." cried she; land what
have you done with it? Pu. 1t in the
bank down to Woodstock"
That's what l was thinking Of doing
Alvira, and then lost it," said Silas, in
Il desperate tone.
Alvira's ruddy face grew pale with
horror and Amusement, and she sprang
to her feet.
Lost it!' she almost screamed. "If
you amt the most shiftless man on the
face of this earth, Silas Holbrook." and
she began to cry bitterly.
Il know be. Alvira. an I'd jest es
lieve die es not" murmured the sick
man, turning his face to the wall with a
long sigh.
When the doctor arrived, little later
he found Silas in high fever, while
Alvira, with remorseful anxiety, was
attending to his wants.
II should think there was something
on your husbands mind that was trou-
about to depart.
II shouldn't wonder If there was" an
swered Alvira, grimly.
| For 4 few days 1t almost seemed as
| though Silas' Respondent wish would be
realized, but at last the fever went
down and he began slowly to recover.
| Not once had Alvira spoken Of the lost
money, yet the thought of it weighed
| heavily upon her heart night and day.
| In her husbands weak condition she
dared not reproach him again for his
carelessness, yet she struggled constant
| ly with the bitter words that rose to
her lips.
One day in the midst of her anxious
thoughts she heard the sound of sleigh
bells, that paused with a merry flourish
before the door. Starting to her feet.
she was about to open it, when, like a
whirlwind. there flew into the room a
young girl, rosy and smiling. Throwing
her arms about Alvira's neck, she ex-
claimed:
'Oh, mother. please don't scOld us,
but Ezra and have gone and got mar
ried. You see. Ezra's got a fine position
down to Boston, and got SO tired try
ing to be milliner, when l couldn't
make a stylish bow to save my life, so
Ezra thought I'd better give it up and
get married. Now, mother, do say you
forgive us. because II you don't Ezra
says he'll take me straight back to Bos-
ton tonight"
Alvira's face had grown pale with
anger and disappointment, as she lis
tened to her daughters words, yet she
kissed the girl fondly.
Turning to the young man who had
just walked into the room, she said re-
proachfully:
Ezra HOlbroOk. how could you per-
suade Matilda to take such a step, when
you knew"
Yes, mother. knew that you didn't
like me- but" began Ezra.
".As long as did, mother, he couldn't
do any different, you see. And really
don't think needed so very much per-
suading-did l. EZra:"
Before Alvira could answer, they
heard Silas' voice calling his sons
name.
is father sick:" question Ezra, start
ing up.
Yes, Ezra, and he wants to see We
powerful bad" answered Alvira.
Ezra HOlbroOk wore a new and styl-
ish OvercOat yet over his arm was flung
a heavy ulster, faded and worn. Walk
ing into his fathers room, he threw it
across chair, saying as he shook hands
with his father:
There, father, you'll never guess
where l found your old ulster."
AS he heard these words, Silas rose up
in his bed and held out his trembling
hands eagerly.
Gin it to me, Ezra, gin it to me-" he
cried.
Ezra threw the old coat over the foot
of the bed and watched his father Won
deringly as he thrust his hands eagerly
into the pockets. A groan burst from
his lips at their emptiness. then sudden
ly feeling through slit in one pocket,
he drew from between the Innings a
long fiat package With a sigh of utter
relief, he fell back upon his pillow the
package clutched tightly in his hands.
"Alvira. Alvra. the moneys found"
he called loudly to his wife.
For little while all was hustle and
excitement, as they gathered about the
sick man. whose trembling fingers