Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-12-15

each other, though he was very much
older That evening, as he informed
me, was the twentieth anniversary OF
his wedding. His wife was long in her
grave. In return for this confidence
| told him that / had spent all my
money and must go to work. The
result was that / became his errand
boy. though he treated me like friend.
This relation continued for months
One day toward the middle Of Decem-
Der he told me a queer tale about hav-
ing sent money to some poor relations
on the Maine coast for year and
half They were his Cousins widow
and her son and daughter. Recently
he had received a letter from the son
which led him to believe that none OF
this money had been received. where
upon he had sent check-the other
remittances having been in currency
which also seemed to have gone astray.
He showed me the stub marked Celia
X. Garland, Nov. q, '07. $3.50"
could not understand this story-ln
fact. | never expected to understand
any story of his. for he always omit
ted all the essential particulars-hut
agreed to go to Easterly Harbor and
see what was the matter. 1t was ar
ranged that on the next day after my
departure he should mail another letter
In q pink envelope of unusual shape
and | should watch for it. | was to
saw nothing to anybody and conceal
the fact that came from him. But al
the last ] was to play Santa Claus for
this family in munificent fashion. fof
which purpose he gave me some checks
signed in blank and a letter to Il bank
er named Manning in Belfast, an oil
friend of Garland.
On Saturday. Dec. Il. | arrived a
Easterly Harbor and found my way u
the Garland house. where it was be
lieved that / could secure board.
was. in fact. welcomed with the mos
charming courtesy.
And here | received surprise quit
characteristic Of Garland and his er
rapds. The household consisted 0
the mother. whose mime was Lucy;
cousin of about her own age. who wa
called Aunt Kate; the boy, Frank. an
the most beautiful blue eyed. golde
haired girl who ever existed. And sh
was Celial
Surely nobody but Garland woul
have failed to tell me that he had sen
his benefactions to the daughter an
not the mother and why be had don
so.
It was possible. Of course. that 9
the time when be began to send ID
money Mrs. Garland may have bee
nrostrated By her recent bereavement
in which case Celia would have bee
the natural head Of the family. f'
Aunt Kate seemed not quite Of SOUR
mind. her great afliction tempered .
Gods mercy and her own lovely nj
tnre into n gentle. dreamlike detac
ment from the worlds realities.
II required no detective slili 70 oi
cover that this family was In vei
narrow circumstances and that Ga
lands remittaneos had gone astra
waited with great interest ther
fore. for the test letter. or. rather q
the DAY set for its arrival The tru
"a that I had no expectation of seeli
M having made up my mind that q
whole series Of letters had been stoi'
IN the FasterIy Harbor postohice.
Rut the letter came saw Frai
tsl-e II from the box az the rostoiice.
Right at the foot Of the steps
met his sister
aNothing for you. sis. said he
This was dire. ] bad not for
instant dreamed Of theft BY a memh
of the family. What should l q
After some hard thinking ! decided
state the facts to Garland IN the ml
est possible manner. not condemni
the boy unbeard. but merely ask
FOR authority 10 question hin A
pir by mall could not Be expected