The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-02-18
THE LAST STRAW
BY GEORGE MUNSoN.

me- Why not end ii ALL"
Those were the musings of Harold
Lanark as he stood upon the end OF
| the pier and watched the dark water
Of the river flowing beneath him.
| One plunge, a little struggle, and all
would be over.
At the age of twenty-four he had not
succeeded in making good. He was
ashamed to go back to his fathers
| home in the country. He had lost
! his position the day before, owing to
a cutting down of costs in the factory,
and he saw no opportunity Of another
for a long time. Then Cynthia's let
I ter for a miserable little
Feeling pretty bad, eh. young MANI"
inquired a voice at his side.
| The youth turned to find himself
! looking into the eyes of man of about
| fifty years. He was neatly dressed, a
diamond pin glittered in his cravat,
and he had all the aspect Of a we'll
! TODD man of the world.
Now il l were to hazard a guess"
said the stranger, 81 should say that
your girl had gone back on you"
And I've lost my position and have
had nothing but i'll luck since / came
! to the city," said Harold.
! And so you're meditating the final
! plunge into the stream Of Lethe, EN-?
continued the other. "A swift and
rapid oblivion. But suppose, young
man, that death does not bring OBJ
livion?"
: Harold had not thought of that. He
had thought of nothing but his own
miserable situation.
"You have youth and health" con-
tinued the other. And you are not
penniless, surely?"
Il have five dollars in the world,
said the young man, with hard
laugh.
Then what more can you want?
the other inquired. You think you
are so badly off, Now look at me.
am nearly a millionaire. / have, in
fact, close on nine hundred thousand
dollars. Yet am worse off than you.
How, sir?" asked the other.
Because my doctor has given me
six months to live unless l drop ev
erything and go West. To go West
means financial ruin just now. II
means the inability to stay and defend
a lawsuit which will ruin my reputa
ton. And l, like you, was meditatine
the final plunge"
81 wouldn't mind changing places
with you, sir" said the young man
thoughtfully.
The other laughed mirthlessly. Tl
tell you what we'll do" he said. &c,
, have-well, never mind how much
money on me. II is enough to en-
able you to live for a year. Give
me your five dollars and will give you
what / have. Give me your name ant
take mine-it is common one and no
body will look TWICE at you on &C
count of it. Give me the inspiration
of youth and five dollars in my pocket
and take the lassitude and disappoint
ment Of age and comparative affiu
ence."
'I'll do it," cried the other.
I'm a years time you will meet M
here again." the elder man continued
after they had effected the exchange
and Harold, with a bullying pocket
book, was beginning to think NOR
hopefully of life. Meet me here thel
and let us see how we have Jared. All
It is the early struggle that gives on
inspiration to succeed" He turnet
| away.
| Promise to meet me here at til
end Of a year," the elder man re
| sumed, wheeling round upon Harold.
| 81 promise" said the young fellow
| "And your name?"
John Graham"
| Mine is Harold Lanark."
| They shook hands warmly and tn
elder man departed, leaving Harol
upon the pier, gazing at the dark wa
tiers in rapt establishment.
He went home, walking mile an
more to the little hall bedroom whic
; he occupied in a rooming house. H
entered lit the gas, and pulled out hi
pocketbook. The bullying bills droppe
out in a great heap upon the table.
They were cigar-store coupons. H
. had been robbed of his last five do
lars!
He sprang to his feet, and then b
Q perceived two letters thrust unde
meath the door. One bore the STAN
Of the company which had employe
. him. He tore it open.
Dear Sir" it ran, after reconside
ing our plans for the future we hav
come to the conclusion that we mad
a mistake In asking for your resigns
ton. We are about to start a ne
branch and can utilize your know
i edge of trade conditions. Kindly r
port for work tomorrow morning."
The second envelope was addresse
u in a handwriting which sent the bloc
. to the young mans head.
Harold, dearest" ran the lette
won't you forgive me for my unkin
ness and hardness Of heart? I 10,
y you, Harold, whatever happens, and
don't care whether you are rich (