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


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startling piece Of news, and 1 am
ashamed that have allowed 1t to es-
cape me-"
A sad smile played for a moment
around Gordon's mouth, then, putting
his fingers across his lips as If to COM
mand me to silence, he shook his head
sadly.
He builds it and finishes it every
day." he said. "By noon to-day the
road will be completed, and Poolsville's
streets will be peopled with It's thous-
ands, and the rumbling of the cars and
the screeching Of the whistles will be
music to his tired brain and lull him to
sleep, and tomorrow he will build 1t
again, and the next day, as he has for
the past ten years."
Then, putting his finger to his fore
head, he shook his head. now under
stand why the Poolsville bank had not
closed its doors-its president was liv-
ing over again his days of usefulness.
1t would be harsh to say he was in
sane-his mind was merely peopled
with the Pigments and fancies OF his
former greatness.
What harm If he chose to keep Allen
Gordon sitting on his high stool from
a. m. to p. m. at the cashiers win
dow, to which no customers ever came?
Allen Gordon knew that his duties
were no longer those Of a cashier, but
those Of an attendant, and he was ever
faithful to the trust.
1t was about o'clock one afternoon
when Aliens bell rang furiously. Run
ming quickly into the presidents private
room, he found him greatly excited.
I'VE have had a fearful wreck, AL
len," he said, you must dispatch a re-
lief train with doctors at once see that
nothing is left undone for the relief Of
the injured"
1t was always Gordon's policy to
agree with him, but he had never seen
him In this mood before. He was alarm
ed and rushing out he called in DR..
Duggan. They found the old gentle
man unconscious. The excitement of
the wreck had been too much for him,
and inconsistencies had charitably
come over him.
1t was only a short time until he was
himself again, and, looking at his
watch, he chided Allen for allowing
him to sleep when so many things
claimed his attention.
II never sleep during business hours,
and If happened to doze to-day cam
not understand why you did not awak-
en- me, Allen my time is too valuable
leave sleep to sluggards-I have work
to do"
The wreck and all its dire results
were forgotten, and, putting on his top
coat, he wended his dignifed way down
the street to his home and the next
day he commenced and finished the
great P. s G. r. R. R. again.
1t was here that fifty years ago he
had brought Bessie Moorland home his
bride, and for forty years her gentle
nature had ruled over him and his
home, then one morning there was
Grape on the door and the old Judges
head was bowed with grlef-his little
Bessie was dead.
That day and night he was watched
and attended by anxious and tender
friends, his grief was so great that they
feared for him. His great frame shook
with emotion, and he cried out against
his God for robbing him Of his Bessie,
but the next day at the funeral his
eyes were dry and there was no trace
Of his great grief, but a great change
had come over him. He seemed al
most obllvious to his surroundings, the
brightness of his eye was Of that In
tense peculiar brightness that you have
SO often seen in the eye that is not
moistened by the workings of an active
brain. 1t was the next day that he
first began to build the great P. & G.
r. R.
Allen Gordon realized at once the sit
uation and his first impulse was to
counsel him to close up the bank and
devote the rest Of his days to ease and
comfort, in fact. he did once gently hint
that the banks business hardly 1usti-
fed It's continuance. The old Judge
looked at him In a surprised, sorrowful
way for a moment, then he flew into
the first passion Allen had ever seen
him In. What? Close the Poolsville
bank? Never! 1t Is immortal. Do
you hear? Immortal"
Allen never preached the subject
agIan, but from that day he knew his
duties were those of an attendant and
not a cashier. 1t was perhaps an irk-
some life for him, but his love for the