Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1913-11-13
Her Check
A Story of Old
New York

BY F. A. mitchell

One evening, something more than
100 years ago, a gentleman and a lady
were strolling on the Battery in the
city of New York. At that time the
residential area bordering the park,
which inherits its name from the old
New Amsterdam fort located on the
ground. was a very different section
from what it is now. Today it is in
terSected by elevated railroads. and
the loungers there are chiefly emf
grants or persons out Of employment
Then in the houses bordering upon the
park lived the most a%ristocratic fami-
lies of old New York.
The gentleman mentioned was tall,
dignified and wore the costume of the
times, a beaver hat, rutfled shirt front.
blue coat with brass buttons and q
faring skirt: his %pantaloons. as they
were her called, tight except where
they covered his boots. The lady wore
the bonnet of the period, skirt a la
directoire. her shoulders covered with
q lace shawl. She was a descendant
of one of the original Dutch settlers
and a widow.
Il am going to ask you once more.
Mrs. Van Zandt. and for the last time"
said the man. with that dignifed court
illness which has now passed into
oblivion, ITO make me happy. You
may remember that a year ago, on this
very spot, asked you TO honor me
by becoming my wife. You told me
that vol lived and would live only for
your son. Since then you have treated
me, if not as a lover, at least as a
dear friend. 1t is this that has en-
boldened me to ask you to reconsider
your refusal and confer upon me the
greatest happiness a woman a be-
stow upon a man."
Having made this stilted proposal,
he waited for a reply. In accordance
with the custom of those times the
lady's hand rested on his arm, He felt
her hand tremble. After a few mo-
tnents of silence she said:
II trust. Mr.. Travers, that you will
not think me insensible of the honor
you would confer upon me; an honor.
] must admit. of which am scarcely
worthy. But If my son required my
undivided attention a year ago he
needs it still more now. Since you are
my very dear friend, l will confide in
you that he has become inyolyed-has
involved me-in a gambling debt. This
Major Tilford. who has recently come
to New York, and who has secured
social recognition by some of our best
families. has succeeded in winning
from Frank at cards some $4,000"
1.-THE rascal" muttered Mr.. Travers.
II have drawn my check for the
amount. and Frank viii tomorrow pay
the indebtedness. He has given me
his solemn promise never again to play
ut cards for money. But ! know l
shall have trouble In keeping him
from the temptation. Now you can IN
derstand why he needs my first on
s%ideration."
The lovers were silent for a time
They were standing on the southern
most part of the Battery looking
down the bay. A few ships were at
anchor. while one was coming under
full sail through the Narrows. the
setting sun gliding her n u Present
IL Mr.. T'ravers said
..wilI yon permit me to hand your
check to Major Tilford. madam? r
with what objectya
III may BIZ better that your son
should have nothing more to do with
the man.
Perhaps Won are right ] shall con-
slider myself under q deep obligation
ia yor. my dear NJ Ira vsrs e you