Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1918-11-11
The True Friend

Copyright. Isls. Western Newspaper uaiOnl

Il give up the struggle. There does
not appear To be ray of hope, pres
ent or futurel"
Warren Burr uttered deep sigh aud
folded up a one-sheet memoranda he
+ had been looking over. Ii contained
I the names of dozen or more persons
and pencil line was drawn through
most of them.
Il won't try to see the Others" he
/ soliloQuized. 1T would be no use.
There isn't one of those relatives who
has not received favors from me in
I the past"
Burr went 10 the little railway de-
pot at Hopeton to find that he had
missed the last train north. the direc-
! tion he was going in. He made an i'm
4 quiry as TO hotel. There was none.
Then, suddenly, memory flashed a to-
ken of the past across his mind.
II wonder what ever became of the
BertramsT he cogitated. when Da-
/ yid Bertram, my old partner died, I
sent trifle to his widow, for heard
that he had left her none too well pro-
vided with this worlds goods. won
der if the family still live here" and
he proceeded to make inquiries.
Yes, he was told. Mrs. Bertram had
two little children and with her aged
mother lived I'm the old homestead.
Burr's informant spoke of Mrs. Bert
ram with a good deal of zest and ad-
I miration.
1 "A fine. capable woman ran the
/ encomium. "When her husband died
1t wasn't very easy road for her for
a time, but she managed TO pull
/ through with perseverance and indus
/ try. She's cleared the home, let
neighbor work her eighty acres on
shares, makes quite bit out of her
orchard and berry patch and is getting
along finely"
/ Burr was sincerely glad Of the good
news. He had known Leila Bertram
when she was a girl. He and her hus-
band had been the closest of friends.
He was not disappointed in his hope
and faith. Neat and still girlish in
some of her ways, Mrs. Bertram rec.
ognized him at once.
For one bright happy evening, at
least Warren Burr forgot his troubles.
and they were serious ones. He had
been a liberal man with the fortune
left to him five years previously. There
were few friends or relatives who had
not benefited through his benevolence.
He settled down finally with what he
deemed was sufficient to provide for
him the rest of his life. Later he be-
came interested in project for Sc
curing from the bed of three rivers
where they came to confluence, a
! gritty deposit which gave to cement
an adhesiveness and stability of great
value. He bought up all rights, went
out for orders and received more than
he could fill--built his grinding plant,
and after investing his last dollar in
the world swas told by the house he
had bought his engine from, that the
last seven hundred dollars due on it
must be paid before they would in
stall it.
Then 1t was that Burr had gone
among his relatives to raise the last
thousand dollars that would place the
coping stone on his enterprise, to
meet with bitter disappointment as
noted. The only bright spot in his
wanderings and useless opportunities
was that quiet, pleasant evening at
the home of the Bertrams. The COM
fort, the contentment, the influence OF
kindly, honest hearts, made him wish
he might cast aside all his dreams Of
fortune and forget his troubles amidst
such q congenial and ideal environ.
ment. He had announced his intend
ed departure the next morning when,
having sent the children to school and
her mother busy in the kitchen, Leila
Bertram came into the little parlor
and sat down opposite her guest in a
palpably disturbed and constrained
way. Finally she spoke:
"Mr. Burr, l do not wish to intrude
upon your personal affairs. but know
you are having some deep trouble.
hope amid the same that you will not
forget the friendship my dear husband
felt for you, perpetuated with those Of
us who survive him. Mightn't my help,
my counsel relieve you of your heavy
loadw
1t was so kindly said that Burr could
not resist a free confession. Mrs.
Bertram regarded him with compass
sionate interest that stirred him deep
ly. She arose silently, went into an
other room and returned with time
worn oblong envelope, which she ten
dered him.
"What is this?" he inquired in some
wonder.
do you remember after my hus-
band died sending me a thousand-dol.
lar government bond to help me out
Of my troubles as the widow of your
old partner" reminded Mrs. Bertram.
81 never disposed of it, but OH the
many close corners 1t helped me to
turn, as security to my creditors, as
sure. safe reserve to count on. Mr..
Burr. the time has come when just that
amount may save you. Willingly, glad
", oh, so gladIyi / ask you to use it,
to risk 1t, to lose it. IL must be- in your
business"
It saved the day and found itself
back with double interest into the
[ kindly hands that had so freely