Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1910-06-24
A PROMISE


Fathers decision will come to-
night, but whatever it is / cannot go
against him." were Lillian Braham's
parting words to her suitor as she
left him after their afternoons walk
through the park.
| Then hurrying home she met her
father. grip In hand. descending the
stairs. He brushed by her saying:
There is a note for you on my desk
| With hurried steps she gained the
library and there on his desk was a
promissory note payable to bearer for
81 900. Enraptured at finding the note
she did not think Of the decision which
she was expecting, but when 1t did
come to her mind her thought was:
"It is probably for my trousseau,"
then puzzled but why didn't he say
anything about it when he went out?'
John Steeling was handsome and
winning young man, so that he had
easily won favor with Lillian and had
sought her hand in marriage. When
he called that evening she fastened TO
tell him of the note. saying: Rather
has never given me such large note;
| Il must be his way OF answering" She
thought she heard him mutter: Hope
he will do it again" but was too well
bred to ask him to repeat his remarks.
Mr.. Braham had also left note.
giving an affirmative answer to Johns
suit, but Lillian had overlooked this
in her haste. All he knew OF John
Steeling was that he had come into
their society set the previous year,
seemed to have plenty Of money and
| that he had come from a small town in
the West. He had never thought OF
doubling this young fellows honesty
or his apparent riches, but after he
had left the note TO Lillian doubts
arose in his mind, and wishing to set
tie these misgivings he packed his
grip. preparing to take the next train
for a neighboring town, where he
knew friend of his was staying who
came from Johns home town.
Arriving at his friends, ana dinner
over. they soj0urned to the study,
where a social talk over their cigars
followed. BY careful planning Mr..
Braham led up to asking about the
reputation OF young Steeling. Worth
less scamp" was the reply. HE lives
on an allowance from his father, who
was glad TO have him come East after
he had settled for the larceny Of some
bonds. 1t came hard on the elder Mr..
Steeling to settle up these amounts,
and there are still debts which this
young fellow owes and II he comes
near Openlow again his creditors Will
await him."
Mr.. Braham was no longer In good
humor, and was glad when bedtime
came. Then he breathlessly awaited
the morning when he could take the
first train home. He blamed himself
for leaving his answer, for he had
always kept his word with Lillian and
he dreaded to face her and say mo"
since his yes" had once been given.
The morning train found him speed
ing homeward He met his daughter
| In the hallway and running to him she
kissed him, saying: You dear Old
| daddy"
But daughter, ! have looked up
matters and ! find | cant-out there,
meet me in the library at 10. for l
must look over my mall.
He really wanted more time to com
nose himself for the ordeal which ne
thought was coming. Shutting himself
in his library he reached for his mall
and 10 his great surprise he saw nls
note to Lillian. Then he wondered aI
her behavior when she met him IN the
hall.
As he sat meditating, he suddenly
thought of the note which he had left
on his desk and muttered, How care
less of me-" but 1t was nowhere to De
found and he did not think OF Lillians
taking that note instead of the one ne
intended for her. Tapping the BELL
the maid appeared and he questioned
"Has anyone entered this room since
left last evening? mo one, but MISS
Lillian" That is all.
With a flash 1t came to him that sne
took this prommissory note instead
OF the one addressed to her. He again
called the maid saying, Send Lillian
here"
Briefly he told her he could not &C
cent Steeling for a son-in-law because
of his reputation, giving her a sum-
mary of his friends conversation.
AT first Lillian was inclined to doubt
II all. then thinking Of certain remarks
dropped by the young man, she decid,
ed 70 listen to her fathers advice ana
decline the offer OF marriage.
~ want to thank you for that note
though shall hardly know what to 90
with Il. now that shall have no trous-
seau to buy"
"a trip to EuropeT he queried'
"Fine." She ran out OF the room
and her father could not tell wnether
or not she was disappointed.
Mr.. Braham could not take back his
note even though his daughter had oD'
I tanned It In such an unusual way