The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-12-20


riddle which has busled so manl
tongues and pens and IL known by th'
aaule of tainted money
There WIS q certain rich man namet
Curtis I.anglale. who had married
some years ngo cousin Of Macmillan'i
mother The young clergyIna. had re
ceived yHrious small fayors from Lang
dale prc1ents al Christmas not only
for himself. but for Aunt Martha ant
FOR Miss Amy lsranford, TO whom Mae
milan WAS engaged, Ia particular
there had been a check for $50 every
hristmas for the last three years, sincy
Macmillan had been pastor Of the SC
called Sandstone church OF s0uthtield
aud this check was contribution u
the charity fund Of the church.
About year before the date of this
Macmillan had been sharply called ia
the fact that Mr. Lnngdale was very
modern fnaneier, whose chief delight
and most recent form of profitable bust
ness consisted IN half wrecking bank
through connlvnnce with some official
thereof, buying control from frightened
stockholders and then putting the bank
on It's legs again.
The knowledge Of this truth so af.
fccted the Rev. Mr. Macmillan that he
had serious talk with Mr. Langdale
In that gcntleman's office In New Yorl,
aud returned the last check for $50 Oh
the ground that his church would be
more blessed without t. On this oc-
caslon Mr.. Iangdale, who had genius
for Discrimination, prOfessed TO sym
pathize with Mr.. Macmillan's opinion.
TO be grateful for his friendly admonl.
tions and In all ways very ready to
serve him should occasion arise.
And now the occasion vaguely
prophesled by Langdale, had really
come, and In such form that Macmll-
Ian knew not how to deal with II; for,
in certain sense, II was not his own
conscience that should render the de
cision, nor was the sacrifice his. 1t
was Amy Branford's
Amy had Just celebrated her twenty
first birthday and was certainly old
enough TO be n free moral agent. She
had been left almost alone in the
world by the death OF her father two
years ago and was now living with
relatives In Southfeld who were In
narrow circumstances. Her father had
left considerable property, but In such
an involved condition that no Income
could be extracted from 1t, and the
estate itself drew nearer and nearer
to total extinction.
Mr.. Macmillan was the trustee Of
this property, and he had strlven with
all his power to save It, He believed
himself to be good business man; he
had confidence In the policy which he
had pursued In this matter and yet,
almost In the moment of victory, he
defeat. Ready money-that was the
only thing that could save the day. A
few thousands In cash, not later than
Dec, 2s, would put all right; the lack
of II would mean irreparable disaster,
1t was the morning of Wednesday,
Dec. %, and he had failed to raise the
money.
why don't you go TO Mr.. Lang
dalcf" said Aunt Martha. and that re-
mark had precipitated the discussion.
Now. II happened that in the news
papers OF that morning there was
interesting story about
Mr. Langdale. to the effect that he had
begun his usual game upon the old
Dey Street National bank.
I'm go and see Amy" said he. III
is to be done there Is no time
to lose"
He found Amy engaged In snow
bah battle with her cousins two little
boys The girls cheeks were reddened
with the exercise In the crisp air; her
eyes shone with alluring fires; her 1.-THE
form quivered with delicate and ac-
cordant energies; the exquisite beauty
OF her youth seemed 10 transcend real
~. and the man stood for some sec.
onds unperceived, watching her with Il
thrill OF wonder. But this divine en-
could not endure. Surely
there was n malign and sordid spell
upon him working against the heaven
Iy powers, for as she came forward TO
greet him he observed that the gown
She wore was one that she had de
SPARED OF repairing n year ago.
Amy" snid he, breaking suddenly
from the lighter talk, Il want you to
read this" and he laid the newspaper
article before her mot all of H. The
glst is ia the frs, three paragraphs
She scanned them rapidly aud then
looked up nj him.
"Do you think this makes any diff
fcrencey' she asked, tlmidly trying 10
read his face perhaps II isn't true
Really, | can't believe that Mr. Lang
dale would do such n thing And. be
sides. he wouldn't dare He might be
sent 10 prison"
He seized her little mittened hand ln
/ tight grip.
Dear child" said he. do you wish
me 10 90 20 Mr.. LangdaleT'
"why. Richard. not II you think It's
wrong. But somehow ! can't believe
tes n bad man. He has such a flne
'acc! Cpnldn'f yoH that Is. don't you
ihlnk that you could talk 10 himi lie
likes yom so much. Don't You think
gcu ought 10 stand by him now that
Die eaemics are saying such hard
hings of hlmi Perhaps you might
idyireF-
"freds b." saia be- laughing Ia a
iDri " lerv0sa desperation That's
ust what Aunt Martha said Aud I'm
.urc you both have exactly the same
1ea. Goodly. dearest rm going %
Sew YORK
shortly after ~ O'Clock Macmillan
,rrlved AZ the nttic Office Ia New York
shicli he had engaged for lis conyen
ehee Az trustee of Amy's tangled IN
ieriisnos Macmillan was man who
va ~, relish defeat or easily sue.
umb As oLc of bis worst adverse.
les expressed II, be '-asd 10 De killed
lalf a dozen times before be would
liza