Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-11
A Valentine
That Was a Long Time
Coming
BY EDNA WINTHROP

b.-.-.-.-.-.-s-s-s-'-s-s-s
| In 1S49 Edward Poindexter left MI
home In the east and his ladylove, I'll
len Crane, to join the gold hunters II
California. She received several letters
from him, the last at the beginning ol
the new year, the midyear OF the nine
teenth century. In this letter Poinde1
ter said: Il shall send you a valentine
calculating to mail 1t 80 that 1t shall
reach you on the 14th Of February
The mails are the surest means OF
TRANSPORTATION from here to the east
but even they are not very regular. IL
you don't receive my valentine, say
within ten days after st. Valentines
day, 90 to the postofiice and inquire FOL
It, writing me Mt the same time
The 14th of February came, but nc
valentine. Instead, letter came from
friend Of PoindeXter stating that
Poindexter had been taken Ill n fort
night before and had died. He had
struck a vein Of ore, which he had In
| structed the writer to sell and send
her the proceeds.
The mine was afterward sold for
$4,000 and the money sent to Miss
Crane. She never married, but brother
having died. leaving little girl named
for her, Aunt Ellen brought her up. The
aunt died when little Ellen was twenty
years old. Ellen Crane, Jr., Inherited
the $4,000 her aunt had received from
her lover In California. The niece was
engaged to be married to Walter
Browning, a young man occupying the
position Of teller in bank, and expect
ed soon to be n bride.
One evening shortly before St. Valen
tines day Walter Browning. who was
expected by his fiancee, came to see her
| with every evidence of distress. y
thousand dollar banknote had slipped
through his fingers and disappeared.
He had handled package OF notes OF
the denomination Of $1,000 each and
was satisfied that there were ten OF
them. They had been deposited as such
an amount during the day. but when lie
came to count them later there Were
only nine of them.
The misfortune weighed heavily upon
the lovers. who weie at the time eN-
pecting to be married In a few days.
Indeed. Browning assigned the error
he had made to this very cause. One
about to be married is not likely to
have all his wits about him, and he
realized that he was not, Ia his con
ditlon, fitted for the very important
work he was doing. Ellen asked him
IL he could remember any interruption
that had occurred while receiving the
money. He thought hard for Il few
minutes. then said that after making
the entry In the depositOr's passbook.
| while the bills were on the counter,
the cashier had called to him to ask him
question. Browning had turned has
back to the money while he held Il
brief conversation with the cashier.
but had not left his cage.
Browning had no trouble liz con-
vincing his sweetheart that he was not
playing Il game to cover up defalca-
ton. But the bank manager WAS OF
suspicious disposition, and since lie
could see no way for thousand dollar
bill to disappear within Il cage with
one man In 1t, except by means OF that
| mans fingers, he suspected Ned. rs
soon as the teller had left the bank IN
investigation was made. The depositor
was telephoned to know what amount
he had intended to deposit. He re-
piled that lie had handed in ten $1,000
bills. This eliminated that loophole
for Browning, ana 1t was the only pos
sible escape for him. The officers OF
the bank met later IN the evening and
decided what to do In the matter SO
far as Browning was concerned. They
knew that he was to be married In n
few days. Brownlngs fellow clerks
had bought a wedding present for the
bride, and 1t had been the intention OF
the president to send check for 500.
Owing to these conditions they decid'
ed not to arrest Browning.
When Browning went to the bank
the next morning every person there
looked up at him. He felt that he was
suspect end knew that he was in
debted to the bank for $1,000. which he
could not pay. Ellen would have paid
the money In his stead. but in the first
place the fortune she had received from
her aunt had been left to her In trust
for her children. the income only To be
paid to her. and in the second place the
payment of the last amount would not
remove the cloud resting upon her
lover.
Browning went into his cage and be-
gan to receive deposits. but his mind
was so preoccupied by his trouble that
he soon went to the manager and told
him that, considering his condition OF
mind he feared he was not to be trust
ed mt the window; that substitute had
better be put on duty and he be placed
temporarily ut other work. His admo,
milton was needed and his request
granted.
The wedding was to take place on
the 18Th of February. On the evening
)f the 18th Browning and his betrothed
talked over the matter Of withdrawing
the invitations and being married pri,
vately, but had come to no conclusion
Browning took his trouble so much to
heart that he dreaded the ordeal OF
| facing friends on what was intended
for a joyful occasion, feeling that he
was suspected Of betrayal Of q trust, OF
larceny, and IN danger Of arrest On
the other hand. no one except them
selves and those conncctcd with the
bank was aware Of his trouble. and II
would only make the matter worse II
Il were known. 10 recall the invita-
lions would make talk, which would Df
sure to bring out the cause OF theil
being withdrawn. They parted to NEE
| the next morning, when they woulC
| come to q decision.
On st. Valentines day Walter
Browning and Ellen Crane were tryinl
a. ,,,oi,o nm thoir minda "a IN what