The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-02-11
Valentine
That Was a Long Time
Coming
By EDNA WINTHROP


In 1S49 Edward Poindexter left his
home in the east and his ladylove, Ell
| len Crane, to JOIN the gold hunters II
California. She received several letters
from him, the last at the beginning OF
the new year, the midyear of the nine
tenth century. In this letter Poindex
ter said: Il shall send you a valentine
calculating to mail it so that it shall
reach you on the 14th of February
The malls are the surest means OF
transportation from here to the east
but even they are not very regular. II
you don't receive my valentine, say
within ten days after st. Valentines
day, go to the postoffice and inquire fol-
it, writing me at the same time"
The 18th of February came, but nc
valentine. Instead, letter came from
friend Of Poindexter stating that
Poindexter had been taken i'll a 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 a brother
having died, leaving a 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, young man occupying the
position of teller In a bank, and expect
ed soon to be a bride.
One evening shortly before St. Valen-
tines day Walter Browning, who was
expected by his flancee. came to see her
with every evidence Of distress
thousand dollar banknote had slipped
through his fingers and disappeared
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 he
came to count them later there were
only nine Of them
The misfortune weighed heavily upon
the lovers, who were at the time ex-
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, in his con
dition, fitted for the very important
work he was doing. Ellen asked him
If he could remember any interruption
that had occurred while receiving the
money. He thought hard for few
minutes, then said that after making
the entry in the depositors passbook,
while the bills were on the counter,
the cashier had called to him to ask him
a question. Browning had turned his
back to the money while he held a
brief conversation with the cashier,
but had not left his cage.
Browning had no trouble In con-
vincing his sweetheart that he was not
playing game to cover up defalca-
ton. But the bank manager was of
a suspicious disposition, and since he
could see no way for thousand dollar
bill to disappear within a cage with
one man in it, except by means of that
mans fingers, he suspected Ned. As
soon as the teller had left the bank an
investigation was made. The depositor
was telephoned to know what amount
he had intended to deposit He re-
piled that he had handed in ten $1,000
bills. This eliminated that loophole
for Browning. and it 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 a
few days. Brownings fellow clerks
had bought wedding present for the
bride, and it had been the intention of
the president to send a 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 and 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 at the window; that q substitute had
better be put on duty and he be placed
temporarily at 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
of 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 joyful occasion, feeling that he
was suspected of betrayal OF a trust, OF
lGrceny, and in danger Of arrest On
the other hand. no one except them
selves and those connected with the
bank was aware Of his trouble, and 1t
would only make the matter worse II
it were known To recall the invita-
lions would make talk, which would be
sure to bring out the cause Of their
being withdrawn. They parted to meet
the next morning, when they would
come to decision.
On st. Valentines day Walter
Browning and Ellen Crane were trying
to make up their minds as to what
course to pursue. Walter begged for a
private wedding. Though there was
no reason for such a dread, he fancted
he might be arrested during the cere-
mony. Ellen stroYe in vain to eradi-
cate this fear. She was arguing with
him when shrill whistle was heard
without. followed by sharp ring at
the doorbeH.
ITS the postman," she exclaimed
land since he's loaded down with val
entines he's In hurry. I'll go to the
door and take In the mail"
She returned walking very slowly
and looking intently at an unopened
envelope.
"who has been sending me this, /
wonderf" she said. speaking more to