Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-07-02
IN TIM E..

a little back from a certain road be-
tween Bath and Richmond.
On a particularly stormy night q tall,
thin, poor looking mar went in at the
gate and after a curious gaze around
raped loudly at the door.
Another decrepit. bent man presented
himself at the door. and on being asked
for a nights lodging. which would be
paid for, he h%esitated. but finally beg
ged the visitor to come in.
1.-THE reason l hesitated. SIR began
the thin looking host, was because I
am so poor that / cannot afford you
ven a mouthful to eat"
Tell me-" replied the stranger. chow
came you in this state?"
ut was commenced by my poor little
wrong headed daughter and is nearly
ended by the pride and foolish hope Of
her weaker headed father, that's me-"
"Well. SIR" said the visitor; well,
sir?"
She became engaged to a worthless
fellow about here in the town, one
who loved her we'll enough, no doubt,
but who could never support her. They
were married-ah. it was an evil day.
And on it her uncle died. She was
alone in the DON when he passed
away. and he told her where the will
was hidden. She found it, read it.
1T gave her n%othing-but me, almost
all, for he had quarreled with his son
and turned him out Of doors. All, how
well l remember when she came in at
that door yonder as white as a sheet
with rage and waving that great sheet
OF paper over her head! She declared
that 1, who had forbidden her mar
rage with this low fellow. should have
to live and work; that she would hide
the will and let the property all go to
the heirs of her uncle. I tried to stop
her, but she fed into the storm and
snow all about the barns and lodged
me till l was faint and weary, and
when l crept to the kitchen, then so
warm and comfortable, she was gone
forever, forever, and 1 have neve seen
her since"
"Not heard from herr" asked the
stranger.
YES, thank heaven. there was a
story came that the man was kind to
her and worked hard for her, but then
another story came soon after that she
fell sick and died in some strange land.
Poor, dear little girl! Poor, dear little
girl! l hope you're with your good
mother and that 1 may be with you
both in good time"
"And have you forgiven her?" asked
the man thoughtfully.
AYE, yes, a thousand times! l have
no heart to harbor hate or distrust or
revenge. May she be forgiven as quick
as l forgave, and she need have no
fear"
And you have had hard times?" pur-
sued the man, with much curiosity.
Yes, for I've been so proud / would
never let them do a hands turn for me,
though they've tried to very often. I
mortgaged the old house, all my acres
have gone II by one, and so have my
cattle and stock-yes, and all my tools.
l haven't had over enough to eat to-
day, and they take away my only shell
" SoA1OAAON, LIN I1CA i ulNC llCI-
ther field nor roof nor food nor friend.
All. 1 wish l might die"
"Hush, hush! Don't speak in that
way" said the other, and then the
stranger slowly inserted his hand into
an inner pocket and withdrew a piece
Of paper. The other gazed at the paper
in silence.
Here" said the man quietly, placing
a finger on a particular sp~ot-"here is
the kitchen. l suppose; then that door
beyond there leads to a buttery, eh?"
The other looked at him in astonish-
ment, but he continued moving his
rough hand yer the paper unconcern-
eddy.
"From there you go Oh to u wood
shed and from there into another open
shed that looks upon the stable yard,
eh?"
The host nodded blankly, all the
while peering into the mans face, but
apparently seeing nothing but a rough
visage.
Suppose we take the candle and go
and look at this outer wood she'd"
They arose and stepped through the
rooms. In the shed the man babe the
other hold the light and then again
studied the paper.
Find an iron hasp Oh the right of
the door as high up as your shoulder
and then feel behind it."
The mar hunted. He found the iron
with an exclamation Of pleasure, while
the breath of the other began to move
quick and short.
"Then," he read, feel behind it. and
your hand will slip into a disused wa
ter gutter, and after you have found it
kick it to pieces, and may God forgive
me for what l have DONE"
'Who are you. sir?" gasped the host.
Selling his arm.
~" returned the other. II am your
daughters husband and have come at
this late hour to set you right"
With that he fell upon the slight
woodwork and, in the midst of a cloud
Of dust and chips, tore it to pieces
md. STOPPING, picked up a moldy, tight.
ly twisted bit of paper, which on being
unfolded proved to be all they wished.
They re-entered the house. one thank.