Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-07-08

rOndnce-Hnu ToHdHcc CostS Ia
finitely more in every way than does
marriage. Trotty did not believe In
publishing a domestic newspaper He
was hopelessly cld-fashioned in many
ways. He believed that love was sa-
cred-a thing apart. B
And so. when the wonderful "only
girl in the world" married some one
else. Trotty had still thought of her
as the only girl, and his friendship
had been as answering, AZ loyal. as
his overlooked love had been. And he
had watched with a self -effacing Joy
the blessing of her union, which only
he knew had cost him SO much. And
he was gloried when seven daughters
had come to bear their fathers name
and perpetuate the memory of their
mother.
But the world had not gone very
well with the seven daughters. Their
parents had died before the youngest
child was five years of age, and money
was as brief as the offers Of few
distant relatives to Sare for them.
And so Trotty had gladly jumped into
the breach and lawfully constituted
himself their guardian.
It takes something to bring up
seven girls, but the senior clerk never
once turned back, for love was with
him.
One by one the seven daughters had
grown up. educated, accomplished.
One by one six of them were married,
and. strangely enough, not one had
married wealth. Love had been the
keynote of their life. Occasionally
wise neighbors had taken 1t on them
selves to point out to Trotty the error
Of his ways.
"You should make your wards
work." they said. "As soon as they
are able they should go out and face
the battle of life"
But the senior clerk had only
squared his thin shoulders and flour
face OF the enemy.
Never" he said. Il can provide
for them all. And count it bless
ing"
'But you're worked to DEATH" said
the neighbors wisely.
Hard work never yet killed any
one" said Trotty with a smile. ITS
what you do between work you know;
it's a pleasure. Some day I'll take q
holiday. On the day the youngest
girl is married. Then l will need
some distraction. for the house will be
very, very lonely. Oh, yes, they will all
marry"
Fathers thrice Trotty's size, ability
and egotism had agreed with the
neighborss advice. but Trotty needed
them not.
And that holiday he had spoken of
was to take place a week from now
for Beth. the youngest girl, had be-
come engaged some time ago. And
Trotty had lost his position at the
eleventh hour, and the funds in tn.
bank were not fourishing. The sur
plus that his friends had supposed had
gone to swell growing bank account
had merely gone to the starting on
an even footing with the world oc
the seven daughters Of the wonderful
"only girl"
brokerage company, Trotty sat long
into the early morning hours, con-
fronting squarely and uncompromis-
ingly the issue paramount. Beth was
sleeping. She was lowering on the
brink that divides the old life from the
new. Perhaps the sorrow of leaving
behind forever girlhood and the home
mating only the more bitter sweet
But you'll come and live with us
Jack and me-won't you, daddy? she
had pleaded on the night she had con-
fessed that love the Master had en-
tered her life. It's not as If we will
be living far away, like May and Ethel
and the rest Of the girls. We shall
Oe Siooo HoAS III AoHuoh. Wont you
conner"
And Trotty. gently stroked her hair,
had tenderly but firmly said, NO"
And now. thinking It all overt
can't let her know. won't" said Trotty
passionately, to himself. II must find
another position. I must"
He thought leng on ways and means.
and necessity had taught him the
mazes Of contracted finance. BY close
shaving the sides Of personal need he
would have enough to provide Beth's
trousseau and incidental wedding ex-
penses. After that it did not matter.
He could live somehow, anyhow.
Beth's marriage was the issue para
mount All else was nothing as COM
pared with 1t.
The next morning, the next and the
next, Trotty left ostensibly for bust
ness as usual, smiling and cheerful as
ever. But his business was the most
difficult in the world-finding work at
sixty years Of age and during a period
of general financial depression. The
old Green umbrella wandered from Of
flee to office. gradually getting lower
and lower in the scale.
There could be but one answer.
Some laughed at Trotty's years. some
pride, but II went by the board during
those days. Throgmorton street would
not believe in his necessity. Where
was his money? What had he done
with It? Only Trotty knew what his
quest cost him.
Each night he returned to the little
nat with no outward mark Of the
worlds heel upon his soul. No hint
that he was bodv-weary heart-weary
showed in his face or manner. And
when Beth took him to task about his
appearance. saying that he was work
ing too hard. Trotty would only
smile.
One night he came home, unsuccess-
full az usual, and found another issue
facing him-a great issue. -Four days
had passed since his dismissal, days
that even Trotty did not care to think
Of. But three days remained before
his holiday-Beth's marriage.
Then had come the greater issue,
and Trotty was face to face with de-
spair. It was letter from Jack Hard
ing, who had married the sixth daugh-
ter. Trotty grew paler and paler as
he read 1t. Sorrow. shame. were very
near to the sixth daughter. Harding.
In fierce passion of self-loathing.
humiliation and contrition, confessed
to Trotty that he had Incorporated
Q thousand pounds Of his firms funds
and had lost It all on the market. The