Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-03-07
HARRY'S
PROMISE

Come, lads. I'll tell you what well
do; we'll drop into the Reindeer. and
order hot punch and cigars. What do
you say7 All infavor sing out ayei-
Aye! ayel" shouted half dozen
youthful voices; but Harry Hilton
stood silent.
His comrades turned upon him a.
multaneously
What's up. old fellow7 Why don't
you speak out? You've made two dol
lars clear of your wages; you're not
TOO misery to have a glass OF punch,
and a social smoke, are your"
Not /; I'm no more misery than
the rest Of you. take IT," answered
the young man. stoutly.
Then. why do you hold back' !
say, comrades, come on; the evenings
chill. and we've had hard days
work. and a glass Of hot punch won't
20 bad. Here We 90. all of us. to q
mani"
mo, we DON'T" responded Harry.
He was a tall. handsome young fel
low. a head and shoulders above the
tallest Of his fellow workmen. and
foreman in the iron mandatory Of
Messrs. Kirby q Keith. where the
whole party found employment
They gathered about him In the
chill twilight.
What's got into the chapT they
cried. Il say. Harry, what's come
over your Why don't you come ont
We're in for a carouse. and maybe q
dance to wind up with. Amt you go
ing alongf'
moi"
Then give us your reason. Are
you going to turn parson all Of a sud
den, or do you hate to spend your ex-
ira earnings? Come on, lads, Wen
club together and let him drink Free
80 we WILL" answered half a dozen
voices.
Harry's swarthy cheek began to
flush.
"You know me too well to talk like
that. lads" he said. 'Tm not close
listed with my money, as you shall
see, II you'll mention anything else
but the public house and drink; ]
can't agree to that"
And your reasons; let's have en-
Are you turning parsonf"
mo. but I've made q promise to my
and she's q widow, and her
only son-Tve given her my word
never to drink in q public house. and
I shan't break II. That's my reason.
lads, and goodnight to you'll"
And the worst OF them was not bad
enough to advise the brea;r1ng Of such
q promise Is that.
A year went by and q dozen OF the
picked hands were up for promotion.
Messrs. Kirby & Keith had q posi-
ton OF great responsibility to award.
and one that brought excellent pay.
When the minor promotions were all
made Just Eve young men were left,
and to one OF these the lucrative po
sition was to go. Stalwart, honest
upright young fellows. the whole five
Of them.
The senior partner OF the firm
pushed up his spectacles, and looked
about him In some indecision.
Really, my good fellows" he SAID
I'm sorely puzzled how to proceed.
rye only the one position to bestow,
and here your are, Ave In number,
and equal In deserving merit. How
I'm / to decide?"
Cast lots, boss" suggested one.
The boss smiled, and seemed for a
minute or two to favor the idea. then
Ill of a sudden his eye sparkled.
"A better thought than that has
struck me-" he said. See here, my
ads, which one of you now can say
le never took a dram In a public
louse? All! here's a test for you!
Speak out, now, like men,"
II can say 1t, SIR" spoke out Harry
Hilton. in his ringing voice; Il never
ook a drink in a public house In my
ife."
Come. Mr.. Hilton. honor bright;
,ou're sure of what you say?" asked
Airby.
I'm sure. sir. or l should not have
aid So" replied the young man.
proudly.
AYE. boss. and we can back him
n what he says" chimed in his COM
AIDES. We've no more to say; the
,lace is his"
And so II was
Harry Hilton was appointed to this
situation; and 1t trans
tired that in few years more he was
AIKEN into the firm as a partner; and
10 won and welded for his wife pref
y Lizzie, the only child and heiress OF
Ar. Kirby. And all this great, good
ortune came OF his keeping his prom
Be.