Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-11-04

Wen be there in 20 minutes! haven't
said half wish. Oh, my darling, I'm
Just the same nameless mani I've
nothing. to offer you. Will you wait
still a little longer? Stella. I've NO
right to taste of, heaven; I've been
cheating YOU" he finished ruefully.
Il think-I think I'd rather be so
cheated than have any other mans
honesty" she said, with her first
touch of shyness.
yet you must now know the truth
about me. I ought to have told you
before. My father thought me a thief,
turned me adrift, forbade me to use
9is name. Until / can prove him in
isthe wrong / cannot offer you the only
name I'm willing you should have"
:; but how could he call you a thief I?
He ought to know You simply couldn't
| steal. You steal!" Her eyes blazed.
and she lifted her head proudly.
Her dear faith warmed him, yet his
| voice was sad.
No, l didn't steal, but l caused
some one else to do it. And my ia.
Their had every right to believe me
| guilty" His voice dropped; his eyes
were shadowy.
But you never meant to! He should
| have known that" she persisted We
temently.
God knows 1 didn't mean it; but
flre burns, whether one falls in or
jumps in" He gazed past her into the
| dim desert.
She caressed his cheek, but was 81.
| lent.
Its long story-Ill tell it all some
day. You'll like to hear about Max,
Max Ober, my lifelong friend, as his
1ather and mine We're always friends.
They were poor boys together; but my
father grew rich rapidly; Mr.. ODER has
always been poor. Yet Max was his
only son and idol; and both fathers
tried to prevent Max and me from
recognizing the part that money
played in our lives
How foolish!"
Worse! 1t was criminal | was the
older, the leader, Maxs model. He
came to college when l entered my
Junior year, and l took him at once
into my own rollicking clique. We
weren't vicious, only silly, indulging in
various costly pranks that seem to
spring from young cubs desire to
destroy things, the same whether it's
boy, bear Or pup. Afterward l knew
how Mr.. ODER had crippled himself
That Max might return my dinners at
1iVe dollars plate, or light his Ha
vanas with currency Remittances
from home did not begin to suffice.
Max borrowed heavily, his association
with me making that dangerously
easy, and left college when 1 did great
ly in debt. We both entered my ia
theirs bank"
A double whistle warned them of
the approaching station.
"Oh, it was the same old story" AL
fred continued hastily Mr. ODER,
broken in health, called for part of
MaX's salary. Max, beside himself,
falsely proud toward me, and genuine
~ anxious to spare his father, Stunned
every one, pinched, paid a little, but
not fast enough. Then he began to
gamble, successfully at first but after
wards losing; and then he plunged,
and dipped into the banks till. | hap
pened upon him one night after all
the others had gone. He was toiling
feverishly at his books, a loaded pistol
at his side. l forced from him the
whole story" He stopped, and Esther
saw his jaw set sternly.
yet you. Alfred" she began, but
he went on without needing her.
For the first time 1 realized the
moral obligation money imposes, the
ephistophelian part l had played in
Max's life. l beat down his objections.
made him transfer to my account his
doctored bank record and pledged him
to secrecy. Since We had been fools
together we should repent together
l hadn't tenth of the money needed
to pay; but l would tell my father, ask
him for time to work out the deficit
And wouldn't your father" Esther
began Indignantly.
Before l could explain, the secret
expert discovered me, reported to my
father. He refused me hearing, dis
name, name all Boston honors. That
hurt worst of ALL" He finished ard
dropped his eyes.
alfred, don't look down, look up.
You've done a grand, a heroic thing!
No matter how long we have to watt"
She rose to her feet, her face glowing
with love and pride
He stood beside her, cheered by her
eager approval. Il said it was the
same, but it isn't; I'm thousands near
err. Gideon helped to-"
alfred. I've such a lot of money.
Let me-"
Never yours, dear love. must earn
my own way to my name. our name"
"Oh, can't you let me help.you a lit
tie, Alfred? It's been such a long,
hard way"