Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-12-29
HARRY'Sl
PROMISE J

OOme, lAuS, III tell yOu Whdt "" ~
do; well drop into the Reindeer. ana
order hot punch and cigars. Whaedo
you sayf All infavor sing out ayS1
"Ayel aye!" shouted half a dWen
youthful voices: but Harry Anton
stood silent.
His comrades turned upon him. Hi'
multaneously.
What's up, old feilow1 Whyffout
you speak out? You've made tNAAdoi-
lars clear Of your wages; y6Tf8 not
too misery to have a glass oe5Nmch@
and a social smoke. are YOU'RE A
Not I; I'm no more misert than
the rest Of you. take It," angWered
the young man. stoutly. p
Then, why do you hold hsrNf 4
say. comrades, come on; the eSeting's
chill, and we've had hard days
work. and a glass Of hot pupchcwont
60 bad. Here ws 60. all OF ~, 10 q
mani" b.,
mo, we don't" responded HSry.
He was q tail. handsome yo3g fel
low. a head and shoulders shdA tho
tallest Of his follow workmens and
foreman in the iron mAnufaatcf4 ON
Messrs. Kirby q Kaith. where Nth@
whole party found employment
They sAtherod about him 8 the
chill twilight.
WHATS got into tne chApF49 they
cried. 'T say, HAIRY. whAs1kx come
over youi Why don't you cq@a ont
We're In for a carouse. and HNS.be
dance to wind up With. Arn'ssSh go
ing Nalongf"
moi"
Then give US your reason. Are
you going to turn parson ell Qtte sud-
den, or do you hate to spend nr e1i
ira earnings? Come on, la& wen
club together and let him drink Gee
80 we WILL" answered half Sidozen
voices. -
Harry's swarthy cheek besRn to
nush. r.
You know me too well TO taIpelike
that, lads" he said. I'm noN klose-
listed with my money, as yo1 shall
see, II you'll mention anything else
but the public house and drink !
can't agree to that" w.
"And your reasons: let's hAvSHSml
Are you turning parsonf"
mo, but rve made a promise tQEmy
mother, and she's a widow. and Der
only son-Tve given her my @ord
never to drink in a public house, and
I shAnt break 1t. That's my reason.
lads. and goodnight to you!"
And the worst of them was not bad
enough to advise the breaking Of such
promise as that. ---'---4--,.-~~--A.
A year went by and a dozen OF the
picked hands were up for promotion.
Messrs. Kirby & Keith had posi-
tiop of great responsibility to award.
and one that brought excellent pay.
When the minor promotions were all
made just five young men were left,
and to one OF these the lucrative po-
sition was to go. Stalwart, honest,
upright young fellows, the whole hye
of them. Il
The senior partner OF the nrm
pushed up his spectacles. and looked
about him In some indecision.
= >Really, my good fellows" he said.
I'm sofely puzzled how to proceed.
I've only the one position to bestow,
and here your are, Ave in number.
and equal In deserving merit. How
am l to dec1de7"
Cast lots, boss" suggested one.
The boss smiled, and seemed for a
minute or two to favor the idea, then
ell of a sudden his eye sparkled.
bottar tbOpybs fhan has
struck me-" he said. See here. my
lads, which one of you now can say
he never took a dram in a public
house? All here's a test for you!
Speak out. now, like men"
'I can say It, sir" spoke out Harry
Hilton, in his ringing voice; 81 never
took drink in public house IN my
life"
Come. Mr.. Hilton. honor bright;
you're sure Of what you say?" asked
Kirby.
I'm sure, sir, or I should not have
said So" replied the young man.
proudly.
AYE, boss. and we can back him
in what he says" chimed In his COM,
rades. We've no more to say; the
place is his"
And so 1t was.
Harry Hilton was appointed to this
Trustworthy situation and II trans
pired that In a few years more he was
taken into the Arm as partner; and
he won and welded for his wife pret-
ty Lizzie. the only child and heiress OF
Mr.. Kirby. And all this great. good
fortune came of his keeping his prom
ise