The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-11-13
/: Young Nick Or ST. Nick?



Van Gaasbaclr's house was the third
in a row OF houses all standing with
their gable ends to the street, while In
the fifth lived young Nicholas Vesey, .
gay, light hearted young fellow and
the favorite OF the village. Nick and
Anneke grew up side by side and could
not remember the time when they had
not loved each other. But as to get
ting the consent OF the girls father to
their union, that was impossible. The
old man would as soon have wed his
daughter to a cask OF Holland gin as
to the young Nick, who, II be wished
to sit late at night at the tavern mOis-
tening his clay, would not scruple to DO
so. Not that he was a confirmed tip
ster, for he was as abstemious as any
man In the town except Anneke's IA
Their. Nicholas had often applied to
the old man for his daughter, always
to receive the same reply.
'Vas my dachter to marry a man
that spends his nights trinkin'7 You
20 way. You never git Anneke"
Now, this was very hard on the low
ers--as hard as It was unjust Nick
was a carpenter by trade and during
working hours very industrious
young man. 1t was rather his light
hearted ways that preJudiced the old
man, who was as sour az Nick was
amlabie.
One night Van Gaasback came home
from attending a town meeting, and
when he stopped at his own door he
was astonished. He had built the
house himself and had put door In It
unlike most OF the doors Of that time.
II was not cut horizontally in the
middle. His astonishment came from
seeing n cut door. Wondering how no
could have mistaken his house, to
which he could go at any time with his
eyes bandaged, he went out t. t..a
street for look ana his wonder grew
70 amazement when he saw that the
house was the third in the row and
must be his. Collecting his faculties
with an effort, he went back into his
yard and looked again at the door. II
was changed, sure enough. His heart,
which had never been known to beat
faster than forty to the minute. rose
az once to sixty. Up went his hand to
his head for scratch, the only way
he knew to collect his faculties Had
st. Nicholas been around changing
the doorsP Had he also changed the
locks7 WOuter tried his great iron
key, but II did not at. There was
nothing for him to do but knock for
information. so, SEEKING the knockeR,
no gave loud rap. A head was
thrust ont OF window above, and q
woman's voice asked what was want
ed.
as this my houseP'' asked the pus.
zled man.
''Your housel Who are your
"Wouter van Gaasback."
'what's the matter with you, Wen
ter van Gaasback, to DO coming to my
house at the dead o. night In this flxS
l can smell the GIN on you even up
here And you opposing my sons
marriage with your daughter because
you call him soft Go home and Sc
TO bed"
"This Is the third house in the row
and mime" said wouter dOubtfully.
''Its the third one way and the sew.
enth the other. You must be awful
drunk"
The window was put down with q
bang. wouter began to believe that hs
had been stricken with some mental
malady and without waiting Longer
went or to find a doctor who lived On
Bowling Green.
No sooner had he gone than the
house was astlr. Nick Vesey took the
door or the hinges and put up the dooE
that belonged to the house. His moth
er came downstairs. and, both bidding
Anneke good night. they shut the doOl
and went home
In less than an hour back came Var
Gaasback with a doctor, who came
with him to see II his own door was
In position. Finding the door In VI
proper place and wouter recognizing
e az such. the doctor turned upon han
| for having taken too much schnapps
and bringing him from a warm bed OF
q FOOLS errand.
Van Gaasback. who saw that unless
the secret could be kept his reputation
would Be ruined, gave the doctor I
good fee 10 keep Il and the next moru
ing before breakfast went to Mrs. We
seys and asked her what would Suy
| silence from her. He was conscious
Of having been perfectly sober, be
with two witnesses against him b
could not hope to establish his case
The good woman told him that her 500
was pining for his daughter and h.
daughter waa ptning for her son. whs
had never been drunk IN his life. i
the old man would cease his opposition
to the wedding she would agree not q
tell single person In the village tia
Van Gaashack had made a beast q
himself. TIE old man. who saw dis
grace staring him IN the face. was aAat
to purchase silence at the price.
Nick vesey became \ great favoritI
win his fatherAn-law ana IN time con
fessea how he had changed the doors
Ia kfvv.