Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-08-02
By EUGENE ROSTER

For TWO years the pay Tor the care
of Robert had been a hard task for
Eben. His own health was failing and
the doctors had told him he should
seek another climate for a time. He
had not the means to carry out this
suggestion, however. In fact, he was
unable to work more than half the
time and the pinch Of actual poverty
began to be felt by his wife and daugh-
ter. Lueha.
The latter had married an estinlabie
young man. Warren Boyd, hut directly
after the honeymoon the young hus-
band lost ibis position. He had an Of
fer to contract a promising co-part-
nership with friend, but must supply
half the capital, and this Warren could
not do: and Eben was unable 70 COOP
crate with him in financial way. );
Eben Ward made an excuse Of being
sent for by an old and cherished
friend and left home utterly dispirited
and discouraged. Dark thoughts were
in his mind on his journey. His life
was insured for 5000. As he realized
how much benefit that: amount would
be to his family, he half wished the
end of his mental misery would come. !;
Eben reached the wretched hut In
which his brother had been a charge
upon old Martin Dye for five years, to
find Robert dead within the hour. Dye
was ready to leave for some relatives
in another state. Eben found himself
alone with the dead. no neighbOr with
in several miles, no one aware OF the
demise Of the recluse, and caring less.
For hours Eben sat modify muttering
an overpowering thought that came to
his mind. A plan suggested grew with
in his morbid mind
mo one will ever know" he whis-
pered hoarsely to himself. 1T is the
one way out. My life is worth nothing
to those I. love, my death would solve
the entire problem: Yes, I have de-
cided. Within few years, anyway;
the insurance people would be called
ON for the money, for the doctors say
l will not live long in this climate, so
where is the sin or crime In antfcipat-
ing that event?' '.'..
The family of Eben Ward waited for
a week for the return Of father and
husband and then began to get anxious.
Warren Boyd started search for the
missing man. He returned home after
the absence of another week with sad,
crushing news. At a town far down
the river he had learned Of drowned
man being found. The body has been
given burial, but photograph Of the
deceased had been taken and articles
and papers found had been laid aside.
At once Warren recognized that the
photograph, as we'll as the papers
found upon the river victim unmistak-
ably had belonged to his father-in-law.
For long time Mrs. Ward and Lucia
were inconsolable. OF the insurance
money Mrs. Ward insisted that sufEi-
cient should be expended to remove
the body and erect a suitable monu-
ment to the memory of her husband.
Warren was now able to go into
business. He protected the invested
capital of Mrs. Ward and prospered
the strictest attention to their affairs,
and within five years had become the
richest merchants in the district,
owned fine homes, and, except for the
gloom surrounding the death of father
and husband, Luella and her mother
were happy and content.
It was their wont to visit the peace
full little cemetery where stood the
monument to the memory of Eben
Ward every first Sunday in the month.
Upon q certain eventful Sabbath day
Mrs. Ward was indisposed and 1uella,
with some flowers and accompanied by
little Myra, three years old, took up
the customary hegira. She had placed
the flowers upon the grave and was
seated on a bench at the edge OF
path, when: little Myra came running
up to her from behind the shrubbery.
"Oh, mammal" lisped the tiny tot,
"a man behind there was looking at
you, and then he began to cry, and he's
fallen down i'm the grass and covered
his face with his hands. Maybe he's
sick. There he isl
The little one had pulled her mother
by dress fold near to the edge Of the
shrubbery. Casually, tlmidly Luella
glanced through a leafy screen, to see
her father!
It was long story Of ceaseless wan
behring's, of a reproachful conscience,
of slow acquisition of five thousand
dollars through hard work and
economy that Eben Ward told to the
family group that evening.
'There is the conscience money,
with interest and compound interest
added to square my sinful act" he
said, land I hope the insurance people
will forgive me-" And the returned
wanderer placed before them the 70.
suit Of five years tell and penitence:-.s
and longing as well for the happy mo
ment that found him restored 10 thoso
he bNed 8: