Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-01-22

Why They
Were Generous
Rx M MONROE LANES
By N. MONROE JAMES.
Copyright. 1908, by American Press
Association.

Memorial day address In my native
town of PASSPORT. When the exer-
cises were over wandered among
the tombs, watching the friends who
we're bestowing fragrant tokens Of re-
membrance over the ashes Of their
dead.
was standing beside a grave which
was literally covered with choice
flowers when my friend @. Joined me.
"Those people are generous"
said, pointing to the flower strewn
grave and indicating a gentleman and
lady who had just left It,
"They have reason to be-" he an
swered.
THAT evening he told me the story:
For time II was difficult to guess
which of the rivals for the hand of
Cora Dixon would carry off the prize,
for she seemed equally gracious to
Fred Nevius and Godfrey Burns,
There was one intensely interested
spectator, who, had the question been
left for her decision, would have set
tied It easily. To Cora's mother mon
ey was the key to all things desirable,
and as Burns had an abundance Of
the commodity, while Nevius was but
indifferently provided, she wondered
at her daughters INDIGESTION.
But Cora was unlike her mother,
and when the supreme test came to
her she did not let the superior flnan-
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 fed
While the matter was being discuss
ed elsewhere Cora was reading with
tear wet eyes and agony of soul let
ter from her accused lover:
Dear Cora-When you get this I shall be
far away, where do not know. Fate IL
against mo: but, as there IL God In
heaven, l did not do the thing they charge
against me. / shall love you always. but
of course you are free from any promise
to me. Unless can clear my name
shall never return. I trust you VIII boz
iieve me, though suspect the world will
not God bless you. Goodby Your un-
happy FRED.
The story was this: A check presum-
ably drawn by Samuel Blake, his I'M
Gle and employer, was presented by
the young man Mt the bank and cash
ed. Mr.. Blake declared the check II
forgery. Fred said 1t was received
In q letter which stated 1t was gift.
Unfortunately the letter could not be
produced With an indignant denial
he paid back tho money and Demand
cd to know II his uncle Intended to
prosecute. Receiving n 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 Of the
law to the contrary, public opinion Is
apt to adjudge an accused man guilty
unless he can show his innocence. Her
cheeks tingled as she thought Of the
covert sneers about that gift. Oh, II
he had only kept that letter!
But what did It all matterf 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 1t
did her world Of good to receive a
note from Godfrey Burns announcing
his faith In her friend.
Az time wore on Cora, benrlng the
double burden Of her own desoation
and her lovers shame, saw, with an
added pang, how quickly he 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 n
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 1t before he
could present It at the bank. When he
saw It 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.
"Ho 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 II.
Somehow after this II seemed the
most natural thing for Burns to call
now and then. so went another year
Meanwhile a report came to East
port that Eevius was dead. When
Burns next called Cora questioned
him about IT,
Eyes, | have heard IT," he answered
svaslvely.
"Do you know what foundation II
hasT rs
"There does not seem to be much
that can be called foundation"
'oThen you don't think It is trueT
He hesitated, dreading 10 give hel
the direct answer, which must come
now.
"You don't think IT is trueT she
asked again.
81 fear It is." he said at last. Then
he told her Of n railroad wreck In q