The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-04-08
A Man Of Promise
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Bernfce Doane was co,,ntr,, -,
that is, she was brought up In q small,
New England town. She went away
from home to be educated, and before
her maj return her father died. leav-
Ing only the house in which the family
had lived. Niles Whitman had heen .
bAA1tor for her hand since she was ,tttia
more than a child, but Niles had gore
to college, where he had been a pom.
eral flag In term time teacher in va.
cation. This was essential to his edu-
cation When Bernioe finished M
school and went home Whitman was
struggling In law school In mucb tl,o
same fashion he had pulled himself
through college.
Bernsce was a moce high bred girl
than the other giz1s m her town. She
would have passed IN social life any
where On her return she learned that
young curate- Tcacy Bond. had
come to the village during her sb-
sence, an intellectual young Setiow ana
very agreeable He had however
been brought up In the most asSsto.
cratic circles in the iand and did not
appear 30 take much interest In the
girls Of his parish. Bernice was IN
formed by Der friends that she ms,st
not be disappointed II be failed 30 no
tee her But when she and Rev
Mr.. Bond met he not only noticed
her, but devoted himself to her. The
result was love AFFAIR, and In time
Bond called on Mrs. Doane 30 ask for
her daughters hand
Now, Mrs Doane was a very prac
teal woman. During the call she sat
quietly knitting. chatting the while
with her visitor, gradually getting at
the bottom Of the young mans ability
to make wife comfortable and taking
his measure without his in the least
suspecting it.
MY income at present. said the rev.
erend gentleman, with stress on the ''at
present. SIS a mere six hundred q
year. but have a strong friend tn the
bishop. and the Bond family is by no
means disposed to see one Of It's men,
bers left in the lurch. Our family,
which l may truthfully assure you is
one OF the oldest In our state, has
Yes yea interrupted Mrs. Doane, Il
have heard Of the standing Of pour
family. Has It sunicienk means to keep
up style Of living commensurate with
its honorable Manner
''Oh. yes" replied the young man.
MY father, 1t Is true. has not attained
the SUCCESS be deserves, but my Uncle
Edward Is now engaged tn putting a
copper mine on paying basis aud Is
Just on the eve OF suooess."
~And will share his PROFITS with you,
| suppoeeY asked the lady dryiy,
Uncle has always been very fond Of
me- replied the cupate uneasily, but
Of course since he has eight children
don't count on funds from him. But
am sure Of his influence. am rather
locking to preferment in my profession
and the sale Of some western lands
taken by my grandfather for a debt
Bernice is noble girl and Is fitted to
take the position have In view for
her. DO not intend that she shall be
put TO the necessity Of doing mental
work. My wife shall never go into the
kitchen My family would cut me If
l allowed such thing. am quite sure
1t will stand by me In my marriage
and will be able to make my path and
Bernice's smooth one"
This ended the interview, and Rev.
Mr.. Bond departed. feeling that be had
silenced any doubts Mrs. Doane might
have had as to the expediency of trust
Ing her daughter to one Of the old and
tried Bond family.
When Mrs. Doane was alone Bernice
joined her, holding in her hand let
ter from Niles whitman, which she
gave to her mother to read. 1t was a
reminder of youthful promise she had
given him, but releasing her If she wish
ed to be released, since she was now
woman of an age to make her future
while he still had years Of piodding
ahead, with no one but himself to help
him. Mrs. Doane handed back the let
ter.
Niles is doing something she said,
''and promising nothing. while Mr..
Bond is doing nothing and living tn
roseate world OF expectation THAI some
one VIII do something for him You
must make your own decision. my
daughter. know that no one can
successfully interfere with a girl fol
lowing the dictates Of her heart but
II were you l would decline BOND
and accept Niles Whitman"
II was a bitter struggle. but Bernfce
inherited the practical nature OF her
mother and rejected the curate and ~
time married the lawyer.
Rev. Mr.. Bond before he left tne
parish became engaged % one OF Der
nices friends. Bernice was Dit shah-
en- when she thought OF the handsome
curate IN his canonicabs Ied 70 the al
tar by another But she uded over bef
emotions and IN time forgot all but bef
happiness as the wife o. a young law
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