The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-02-28
Che Spurious Gelegran,s.
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message. l have seen men face death
with smiles on their faces; 1 had wit
messed scenes sad and pathetic enough
to melt hearts of marble, but that was
the first time l had ever observed the
manhood vanquish from youth with
such a bright future as his, a few mo-
ments before, had promised to be.
His face became as white as the driven
snow, his blue eyes assumed the glitter
of demons, his lips were trembling
and his whole body shook like one
with the ague.
81 knew that a dreadful blow had
fallen; but what? He had told me
that there was but one in the whole
world whom he loved better than life
itself. 1t was for her sake that he was
striving to win place in the world;
1t was the encouragement she gave
him that spurred hiun on. Her cheer
ing letters came every day or two, and
made Ned the happiest, best-natured
boy on the road. But now I wondered
if something had happened to her, an
accident 1 surmised, but my wonder
ment turned to surprise. for Ned cast
the telegram on the floor and staggered
across the Office, and then passed thru
the barroom door.
"For several seconds I sat as one
stunned by heavy blow; then arose,
picked up the crumpled message,
spread it on a nearby table, and read:
james Wilson and were married to-
day. Good-by Ned. Jennie Brown
"You can imagine how Ned received
this intelligence. By this time he was
trying to drown his feelings with
liquor, and had so far progressed by
the time I entered the barroom that l
concluded it would be folly for me to
try to reason with him. In fact, l
didn't know what to do. Before that
Ned had never drank, so in a short
time he was, indeed, dead to the world.
We carried him to my room and after
putting him to bed / visited the police
station and related the incident to the
chief of police whom I personally
knew. He promised me to look after
Ned in case I could not induce him to
accompany me that night. Well, sal
up until eleven o'clock Sunday night
talking to the boy. He promised to
brace up and said he would meet me al
Briggs, Texas, two weeks later. I left
Boonsville on the midnight train and
when I.next saw the boy he was be-
hind the bars-charged with forgery.
eyes, sir, he failed to meet me al
Briggs and went on my way. But
one day in Southern metropolis al
1 was walking along the street m!
, attention was attracted by newsboy'
call. bought copy of the paper ant
read the story. Ned had went from
, bad to worse, and had forged checl
on one of the leading banks of th'
city. l went to the Jail to see him, bu
, he would not recognize me, and tn
, jailer informed me that there was
letter in his Office addressed to Ned bu
|, he would not receive it. This letter
: said the jailer, came this morning. 1
! was signed Jennie, and requested Ne'
, Ito inform the writer about his trouble
But as he refused to accept it and n,
address being given, l just stuck it in
/ Epigeonhole.'
, aWell, knowing about the Telegram
, advised the jailer to toss the letter il
> 1.-The fire; for 1 reasoned that the CIR
/ having thrown Ned down, was just
ltrifle curious and was adding fuel t
1.-THE fire. never posed as Judge o
. feminine traits, and there made on
Eof the biggest mistakes of my life, a
! Isubsequent events showed.
81 81 was in the courtroom when the
9 EbrOught the boy in to be sentenced