Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-03-02
THE NOTE OF
DREAD IMPORT
Debt of Honor That Involved
a Human Life.


| into a number of large plantations.
| Cuthbert Swayne. recent graduate
| Of a northern college, took a fancy to
become a tutor in some southern man.
or house. He found position with an
| elderly widow, Mrs Randall. whose
| children he was engaged to teach.
| There were two older children--Guy,
who was leading a profligate life in
Paris. and Evelyn. a girl OF seventeen.
with her mother on the plantation.
Cuthbert Swayne had been brought
| up to consider himself the heir to the
estate Of an uncle, Mr.. Seymour, who
was childless. Mr. Seymour was old
and feeble.
The young northerner had not been
long at the plantation before it was
evident to every one except her mother
that Evelyn Randall was desperately
| In love with him. Unfortunately Cuth-
| bert did not reciprocate. The girl was
| so incapable Of concealing her passion
| that those about her were inclined to
smile. But it was no laughing matter.
| One day after a scene in which she
and Cuthbert were the actors he noti-
fed her mother that he would cancel
his engagement and go north fmmedi-
ately The next morning Evelyn Ran
dali was found dead in her bed. She
had committed suicide.
Naturally the blow fell heavily on
Cuthbert. He was eager to get away,
| but Mrs. Randall, who was Ignorant
| Of the cause of her daughters act,
begged him not to desert her In her
| trouble. The old lady sent for her son
to come home, and Cuthbert agreed to
remain till his arrival
When Guy Randall arrived he was
made acquainted with the reason of
| his sisters suicide. He came also to
other troubles. mortgage that had
been for many years on the plantation
was about to be foreclosed. His moth
err instead of paying the interest, had
sent IL TO him TO squander In Paris.
Guy invited Cuthbert into room in
wing of the house where they were
not likely to be disturbed, and when
they were together Guy locked the
door. He told Cuthbert that none but
q craven would permit girl to bear
the whole burden Of tragic love at
fair and he expected him to infiict
upon himself what his sister had suf-
fered Guy at the same time tossed
bowie knife-a common weapon at that
time In the south-to Cuthbert and de-
manded that he should kill himself.
Cuthbert might have used the knife in
self defense, but Guy covered him
with a pistol. Indeed. had Guys life
been at Cuthbert's disposal to save his
own he would not have taken 1t. The
death Of the sister was quite enough
without having the blood Of her broth
| or on his hands.
II assure you said Cuthbert, that
l am entirely blameless, but anything
l can do to atone for fault for which
cannot hope that you will acquit me
l will do ! am supposed to be heir to
the estate Of my uncle, estimated to be
worth 100000. My uncle is an old
man, liable to die at any moment.
will sign a note for that amount due
on the day he dies. If do not inherit
the property as expected then / will
accept the same fate as the poor girl
who died because she loved me-"
A short discussion followed this pro-
posal, at the end Of which Cuthbert
signed the note payable to whoever
should be owner or owners OF the Ran
dali estate when 1t should fall due.
When the two left the room Cuth-
bert went directly to the stables.
mounted a horse and rode TO rail-
way station ten miles away. He was
never again seen mt the Randall plan
tation.
Several years after this Cuthbert
Swayne. having studied medicine, was
house surgeon at hospital in large
Northern city. Among the young wom-
en- being educated for nurses in the in
stitution was Ruth Hoyt. girl OF
more than ordinary refinement. Who
she was and where she came from she
kept to herself DR.. Swayne fell in love
with her, and his love was returned.
AS each year had passed and taken
him farther from the tragedy the note
he had signed bore harder upon him.
but II was not till he fell in love that
he realized its true importN One even
ing Miss Hoyt went into Dr. Swayne's
office to make a report and surprised
him holding loaded pistol to his tenn
Pile He lowered the weapon and gave
her an explanation, ending by telling
her that he had just heard Of his
uncie's death and that his property
had been given to charity.
II had hoped he said. that when
my uncle died this incubus that has
been hanging over me would be lifted
and that | might take a new hold Of
life. In that event I had intended to
ask you to begin life with me- We are
both obliged to work for n living. but
/ should have succeeded In my profess
sion. Now. my uncle's estate having |
gone elsewhere. my life must be ex-
changed for my note"
As he spoke the last words he bowed
his head. covering his face with his
hands. He felt II lifted by another
and looked into n face smiling with en-
coura cement