Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-10-24
Why They
Were Generous
By NJ. MONROE JAMES.
Copyright. 1905. by American Press
Association.
By NJ. MONROE JAMES.


cises were over | wandered among
the tombs, watching the friends who
were bcstowing fragrant tokens of re
membrance over the ashes of their
dead
| was standing beside II grave which
was literally covered with choice
flowers when my friend c. Joined me.
Those people are generous.
said. pointing to the flower strewn
grave and indicating gentleman and
lady who had just left It.
They have reason to be-" he an
swercd
That evening he told me the story
For a time IL was difficult to guess
which OF the rivals for the hand ~
Cora Dixon would carry of the prize.
for she seemed equally gracious TO
Fred Ncvius and Godfrey Burns.
There was one intensely Interested
spectator who had the question been
left for her decision. would have set
tied II easily 70 Coras mother mon
ey was the key TO all things desirable.
and as Burns had an abundance Of
the commodity, while Ncvius was but
lndlfferently provided. she wondered
nj her daughters INDIGESTION
But Cora was unlike her mother
and when the supreme test came 10
her she did not let the superior iinan.
clal advantages Of one lover outweigh
the fact that her heart had gone into
the keeping Of the other
Scarcely had the story Of Fred's good
fortune become known when the town
was startled by strange news The
lover had forged his employers name
and had fled
While the matter was being discuss.
ed elsewhere Cora was reading with
tear wet eyes and agony ~ soul a let
ter from her accused lover
Dear Cora When you get this shall Doe
far away where do not know Fate 81
against the. but as there Is a God tn
heaven. did no, do the thing they charge
against me shall love YOU always hut
OF course you are free from ans promise
20 me Unless can clear my name
shall never return. trust you will be
lieVe mo. though suspect the world VIII
not God bless you Goodhy. Your un-
happy FRED
The story was this y check prcsum-
ably drawn by Samuel Blake, his un-
Gle and employer was presented by
the young man at the bank and cash
ed Mr. Blake declared the check a
forgery Fred said it was received
IN letter which stated Il was gift
Unfortunately the letter could not be
produced With an indignant denial
he paid back the money and demand
cd to know II his uncle intended Ia
prosecute Receiving negative reply,
he left the store and. packing his be
longings, left town without notifying
any one of his destination
As Cora faced the situation she SAW
that. as he had said. HIS explanation
would not be accepted She was
worldly wise enough to know that.
Notwithstanding the maxim II the
law to the contrary public opinion IS
apt to adjudgc an accused man guilty
unless he can show his Innocence Her
cheeks tingled as she thought OF the
covert sneers about that gift. oh, If
he had only kept that letter
But what did II all matter: She
knew he was innocent Whatever the
world might say that was her verdict,
This verdict she announced with
quiet emphasis whenever the matter
came to her attention. but she sadly
saw that few stood with her; hence ii
did her a world Of good 10 receive a
note from Geoffrey Burns announcing
his faith In her friend.
AS time wore on Cora. bearing the
double burden OF her own desolation
and her lovers shame, saw, with an
added pang how quickly the world
forgets Fred Nevius had been the Idol
Of the social circle In which they had
moved Now he was as one who had
never been
So went year Then came an event
which broke somewhat the dreary ten
or Of her life. David Nelson. fellow
employee, on his dying bed made a
statement which wiped the blot from
Fred's name He said he sent the let.
ter and check as an April fool jest
expecting TO tell Fred Of II before he
could present II at the bank. When he
saw II was likely TO get him into trou-
BILE he became alarmed and held his
peace.
Shortly after this disclosure Burns
called on Cora and congratulated her
on the clearing OF her lovers name.
II cannot thank you enough for your
loyalty to Fred she said gratefully
"He was my friend. too" he an
swered
Then he told her Of having sent Mel
sons confession TO the papers Of the
large cities with the hope that the in
nocent man might see IT,
Somehow after this II seemed the
most natural thing for Burns 20 call
now and then. So went another year
Meanwhile report came TO East
port that Nevius was dead. When
Burns next called Cora questioned
him about H.
ayes. have heard H." he answered
evasively.
q.