The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14

mot 8 soul in the building knows of this except we three, and no enc else shall 1 ever know of 1t. You will never be called on to replace the money. I had hoped you could explain ell, but of course | you could not expect me to-oh, don't make 1t so hard for me-" he groaned. | T understand" said Jack, and will sever my connection with the bank imme- diatsly, How grateful to you I am for your many kindnesses in the past and for your consideration now you will never know, but the proudsst day of my life 1 will be when I can again claim your re- | spect. And that that day will come I | feel as sure as I believe in the existence | of God" With an impulsivs motion the Major clasped the hand of the man who was supposed to have done him great wrong. l and as the door closed the gray head was bowed while bitter sobs shook the | staunch old frame.
 All over again Jack was to begin the bitter struggle with the world. His chief thought was one of thankfulness that his mother did not know. How swiftly it had all come about. One moment the happi- est man in the world and the next a criminal in the eyes of the one man in the world whose respect he most cared for His plans were in about as chaotic a state as was his brain. Beyond the fact that he wanted to get out of New York he knew nothing. Nina was in England and happily would know nothing until her return to New York. The engage ment had net been announced so there would be no embarrassment on that score.
 About two weeks afterward Jack, who had bravely started at the foot of the lad der again and had secured a position on a railroad in the far South, saw among the names of recruits for the army in the Philippines the name of Tom Hawkins. They were to sail the following day, said the newspaper. and by the time this was read would be we'll on their way to Ma nila. With a sigh Jack wished that he was one of them.
 It was eight months afterward. There had been a pretty smart skirmish with the insurgents and as the crowded con- dition of hospital in Manila mutely tes- tihed. good many brave American sol- diers had been wounded in this far-off land. Kneeing by the side of a cot in one of the wards was a Red Cross nurse. On the cot lay young soldier who would never any more see his native land The noble girl had a pad and pencil and in his dying agony the soldier was sending a message to his loved ones across the
 
 water.
 Realizing that the sharp. gasping breath spoke of a death that might come at any moment, the nurse secured the address and promised that the letter would be sent at the earliest possible mo- ment, assuring the young soldier that in addition to the army frank a special de- livery stamp with the words, Import ant" would be put on it.
 My father v wrote ina nurEa In to the dictation of the poor sufferer, "as utterly lacking in all that makes a man, feel that have lost the right to ever speak to you again, and though I would give a kings ransom to kneel at your feet and cry. Father forgive me-, 1t is too late. It Is Christmas morning, the last Christmas that I shall ever see on earth. Before the sun drops behind the Western hills and the lights come out in the dear old rooms at home, I will have passed into the presence of the God of my fathers. that God who with my