The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1906-10-25

YOUNG Nick Or St. Nick2;
rorss.nai.l

he wore and his thick skull. He was
widower having an only daughter,
Anneke. who kept house for him. In
like most Of the Dutchmen Of those
DAYS. Wouter would not touch schnapps
nor would be smoke pipe. In all New
Amsterdam there was not SO circum-
spect man.
Van Gaasback'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, a
CAV. light hearted young fellow and
the favorite Of the village. Nick and
Anneke grew up side 10y 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. Il he wished
TO sit late at night at the tavern mois-
tenirs his clay, would not scruple to do
50. Not that he was confirmed tip
ster. for he was as abstenhous as any
man in tie town except Annekc's IA
Their. Nicholas had often applied TO
the old man fd his daughter. always
to receive the same rely.
was my dachter 10 marry q man
that spends his nights trinkin: You
90 way. You never cit Anneke.'
Now. this was very hard on the lov-
ers-as hard as it was unjust. Nick
was carpenter By trade and during
working hours very industrious
young man. 1t was rather his light
hearted ways that prejudieed the old
man. who was as sour as Nick was
amiabie.
one night Van Gaasback came home
from attending town meeting. and
when he stopped at his own door he
was .stonished. He had built the
house himself and had put a door in it
unlike most of the doors Of that time.
1t was not cut horizontally in the
middle. His astonishment came from
seeing cut door. Wondering how ne
could have mistaken his house, TO
which he could go ut any time with his
eyes bandaged. he Went out to the
street for u look, and his wonder grew
to 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
at once 10 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 doors? Had he also changed The
locks? wouter tried his great iron
key. but it did not fit. There was
nothing for him to do but knock for
information, so. Selling the knocker'
he gave loud rap. A head was
thrust ont Of window above, and a
won,an's voice asked what was want
ed.
rs this my house," asked the puz
zed man.
Your house, Who are you:'
.Wouter van Gaasback."
whats the matter with you, Won
ter van Gaasback, to be coming to my
house at the dead o night in this fix:
/ can smell the gin on you even VI
here. and you opposing my sons
marriage with Your daughter because
you call him sot. Go home and sc
10 bed
This is the third house in the row
and mine" said woutcr doubtfully.
rs the third one way and the sey,
enta the other. You must be awful
drunk,
The window vas put down with =
bang. Wouicr began to believe that he
had been stricken with some menta
malady and without waiting longer
went off 10 ind 4 doctor who lived OF
Bowling Green.
No sooner had he gone than the
house was astir. Nick vesty took the
loor OF the hinges and put up the dool
that belonged 10 the house. His moth
er came downstairs. and. both hiad!n:
Am exc good night. they shut the doo1
aud went home.
In less than an hour back came Var
Gaasback with Il doctor, who can't
with him TO see if his own door was
in position. Finding the door in it'
proper place aud Wouter recognizing
II as such. the doctor turned upon hin
for having taken TOO much schnapp'
and bringing him from warm bed OF
a fools errand.
Van Gaasback. who saw that unless
the secret could be Kept his reputation
would be ruined. gave the doctor Z
good fee TO keep it and the next morn
ing before breakfast went to Mrs. We
sey's and asked her what would buy
silence from her. He was conscious
of having been perfectly sober, bul
with two Witnesses against him he
could not hope to establish his case
The good woman told him that her sor
was pining for his daughter and his
daughter was pinins for her son, who
had never been drunk in his life. II
the old man would cease his opposition
10 the wedding she would agree not tc
tell single person in the village that
Van Gaasback had made beast OF
himself. The old man. who saw dis
grace staring him in the face. was glad
to purchase silence at the price.
Nick yesey became a great favoritSs
with his father-in-iaw and In time con
fessed how he bad changed the doors