The Lamar register., 1916-08-02

paper Syud'Atef
The convention during the afternoon
had been a busy one. and the men
we're glad to gather for a comfortable
smoke and chat in one of the smok-
ing rooms of the hotel. They we're
mining engineers and had come from
different parts of the West. Naturally,
while the cigars were going, stories be-
gan to appear OF experiences that
ranged from the tragic to the
ludicrous Finally, they swung, under
the guidance of the spokesman OF the
group, Granger by name. to consider
alton OF what might be called the
meanest act they had ever witnessed.
After various experiences had been
related. a man who was known to be a
friend OF Granger spoke:
Suppose you picture yourself driV'
ing up a winding road in New Eng
land, up among the hills, and coming
to a lane that leads to house set
some distance backs II is almost twi-
light, and as you approach you see
figure at the entrance Driving near
er, you find the figure is that OF a
girl. And, then, suppose you recog'
nize her as the girl who had been wait
ing there at dusk for ten years for n
chap who had never returned.
That is what l experienced one
early evening last year. 1 was going
there to see a man OF the name OF
Epson. who owned a small right in =
stream that we were planning to dam.
There heard the whole story.
Il found Epson to be a grim sort OF
fellow, in a way. and yet friendly
enough after he thawed out. and that
night, after the rest had retired. he
and | smoked pipe together. In the
midst OF our conversation, | happened
to think OF the young woman at the
entrance. and asked him about her.
Epson smoked in silence for some
time Then he said slowly:
Ten years ago I had quite little
money. and I was looking around to
invest II. and wrote in to a Boston
firm Well IL was not long after !
had written that a young fellow came
from the city and explained propo-
sition to me lie seemed to be a fine
sort Of chap m every way. The boys
took him of for a fishing trip. hunted
with him little and all the time he
was talking 10 me about the pfoposi-
ton.
We'll, l fell for it, But / wasn't
the only one who fell. That girl
seemed to find in him Just the man to
love. They we're together a good deal.
and many times alone, and the upshot
OF It was-she came to me one night
in this very room. with him following
close behind her, and told me they
were engaged.
"She was so happy that her happi-
ness went all through the house.
They made preparations for the
wedding and the wedding day. He
talked about It as much as, II not more
than. she did.
lone day he departed, taking my
money and her love.
Everything moved on smoothly I'm.
til | could see her beginning to be
troubled. Finally, I got the truth. He
had not written. My suspicious were
aroused, and | wrote to the company.
THE information l got was like a
bomb In our quiet home. 1t seems he
had left the employ OF the company to
go West, had vanished SO far as they
we're concerned, and had never report
ed the money I had given him.
she recovered from the shock, for
she comes of stern stuff: but the girl
still believes that he will return.
She goes down to the road about
the time you saw her, for il he came
back he would arrive about that time.
It used to make my old heart ache
to see her standing there in the dusk,
waiting for a scamp and a scoundrel;
but. some way. | have come to see a
meaning in IT. 1t has helped my faith
in humanity after the jar he gave It.
She is serene and sensible through
It all. It's case OF splendid woman
having an undying trust in man. with
out her soul being wasted
THAT. gentlemen, is the story as Up
son told me-" said Changers friend.
and / have always thought OF it as a
story of the meanest man and the
meanest act within my knowledge"