Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-05-25
THE Note OF
DREAD IMPORT
Debt of Honor That Involved
a Human Life.

About the middle of the last century.
when the southern states were divided
into Il number Of large plantations,
Cuthbert Swayne, a recent graduate
of a northern college, took Il fancy to
become n tutor in ONE southern man.
or house. He found a position with an
elderly widow, Mrs. Randall, whose
children he was engaged to teach.
There were two older children-Guy,
who was leading a profigate 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 n except her mother
that Evelyn Randall was desperately
in love with him. Unfortunately Cuth-
bert did not reciprocate. The girl was
so incapable of c%oncealing 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 mott.
fed her mother that he would cancel
his engagement and 60 north immedi.
ately. The next morning Evelyn Ran.
dali vas 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 SEN 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. A mortgage that had
been for many years on the plantation
was about to be foreclosed. His moth
er, instead of paying the interest, had
sent 1t to him to %squander in Paris.
Guy invited Cuthbert into a 20 in Il
WluS VI lIC llOuSc "llclc lllcN Wt1c
not likely to be disturbed, and when
they were together Guy locked the
door. He told Cuthbert that none but
a craven would permit a girl to bear
the whole burden of q tragic love af-
fair and he expected him to infict
upon himself what his sister had suf-
fered. Guy at the same time tossed q
1,n1r;n ln;f,. I, E, , WA non n tI,ot
time in the south-to Cuthbert and de-
mandcu that he should kill himself.
Cuthbcrt might have used the knife in
self defense, but Guy covered him
with Il pistol. Indeed. had Guys life
been at CHlthbcrt's disposal to save his
own he would not have taken it. The
death Of the sister was quite enough
without having the blood of her broth
er on his hands.
II assure you,' said Cuthbert. that
l am entirely blameless. but anything
| can do to atone for Il fault for which
I cannot hope that you will acquit me
l will do. I am supposed to be heir to
the estate of my uncle, estimated to be
worth 100000. My uncle is an old
lttI ilttpiC / NlN az any 4
will sign n note for that amount due
on the day he dies. If l do not inherit
| the property as expected then l 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 it should fall due.
When the two left the Cuth-
bert went directly to the stables.
mounted a horse and rode to a rail
way station ten miles away. He was
never again seen at the Randall plan
tation.
Several years after this Cuthbert
Swayne, having studied medicine, was
house surgeon at a hospital in a large
northern city. Among the young wom-
en- being educated for nurses in the in
stitution was Ruth Hoyt. a girl OF
more than ordinary refinement. VINO
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 ard taken
him farther from the tragedy the note
he had signed bore harder upon him.
but it was not till he fell in love that
he realized its true import. One even
ing Miss Hoyt went into DR.. Swayne's
Office to make a report and surprised
him holding Il loaded pistol to his tem-
pie. lie lowered the weapon and gave
her an explanation, ending by telling
her that he hrd Just heard Of his
uncle's death and that his property