Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-06

old Judge led him to guard him tender
" and carefully.
The ravages of advancing years were
fast making inroads on the old judges
once vigorous frame Allen Gordon
could not help but notice his increasing
feebleness and determined once more
to try. to get him to arrange his affairs
and end his days In quiet and rest at
home. When he mentioned the mat
ter carefully and hesitatingly, the old
gentleman looked at him for a full min
ute as though the thought had just oc-
Cured to him that he was getting old,
and true to his business instincts he
wanted to ponder the question a mo-
ment before answering. Then he said:
"True, Allen, age seems to be creep
ing over me wondrous fast. l don't
seem to have that great capacity for
hard work that once had. Still, am
not old-'twas only yesterday-"yester
day It was that I"-slowly, then his
bony hand pressed his forehead as II
in effort to think what was only yester-
day-"Yesterday it was that l turned
the great P. & G. r. R. R. over to the
stockholders"
Allen gently pressed him, now that
this great work was finished, to seek
needed rest at home before he took up
any other hard labor. He half prom
ised that he would and before he left
the Office that day he had sent Allen
for lawyer and in a short, terse will
had left his entire estate to Allen Cor
don in trust for the Poolsville bank
the Poolsville bank was to be immor-
tai.
The next morning Allen came down
earlier than usual, thinking he would
merely stop in the bank for a moment
and then go out to the old gentleman's
house. Imagine his surprise to find him
at his desk in his private Office looking
haggard and worn, but working with
energy over a pile Of maps and surveys.
AS Allen entered he arose and shook
him by the hand.
Great news from Washington, Al
len. It's just passed. I've worked quiet
~ on this thing for years and now my
labor is to be rewarded.
"Open an account with the United
States government, Allen" he contin-
ued. II have just received word that
the appropriation for the changing Of
the course Of the river back to It's reg
ular channel has passed. The Pools
vile bank will handle the approprla-
ton. Credit the government with
100000 and draw against 1t for all
expenses In connection with the work.
All, Poolsville will be the greatest city
on earth when we get our river back,
Allen"
The next morning he was weaker
than ever and Gordon was alarmed at
his white, haggard face and palsied
step-no longer erect and straight.
Il am afraid you are tasking your
self too heavily In coming down this
morning, Judge" said Allen.
II have great work to do to-day, AL
len, and tomorrow l will rest. The
changing Of the water into the old
channel is almost complete. By to-
night the clear, deep water will be
again tapping the wharves Of Poolsville
by tonight the whistling Of the boats
and the vibrating songs Of the rousta-
bouts will again be music to our ears
by tonight all this will be done, Allen,
and tomorrow I Will rest"
Tomorrow you will rest" sadly
thought Allen. Maybe tomorrow, any
way 1t will not be long"
It was late that afternoon when AL
len heard a frightful noise In the pres
dents room. Rushing in he found him
flounderlng wildly on the floor, grasp
ing and catching at everything in reach
with the movements Of a drowning
man.
"Oh, help me, Allen; help me-" he
cried II was standing In the main
channel and the water came with a
rush. did not expect 1t so soon. Am
I to die thus in a grave Of my own
creating? Have 1 labored thus faith
fully, only to encompass my own death
In the hour Of my greatest triumph
| Oh, Allen, save met"
Allen saw that the struggling man
imagined he was drowning; In his dis
eased fancy he was struggling against
the pitiless waters Of the river he him.
self had diverted. Going quickly to
him, Allen lifted his emacfated form
to his chair and with tender words left
him and rushed for doctor.
The doctors said it was a senile
heart, but Allen Gordon knew he had
met his death by drowning in q river
Of his own creating, and tomorrow he
will rest.-Pennsylvania Grit.