The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-01-22
Afte: e: the !.
Years 1.
H. CENENIENE III MA
lCopyright, 1919, by the Western News.
paper Union.) ".r"
BY GENEVIEVE ULMAR
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

nut vAVIu one, the memory ana lniiu-
ence Of which was to remain with him
through lire. He was manly little
fellow of ten. and for two whole bliss
full hours he had wandered about Il
beautiful garden with charming miss
Two years his Junior, she courteous,
then gracious. and finally indulgent
and atfecti0nate.
Why his widowed mother had
brought him from Belleville to call up
on Jared Marston, the rich manufac-
turer, Gerald had then no idea. He
was only glad that she had left him to
play with the little girl while she, seri-
OuS-faced and ut times weeping, sat on
the porch conversng with Mr.. Mars
ton, who seemed sympathetic and in
terested.
II like you better than any boy l
ever knew, Gerald Rolfe," said Beuiah
Marston, earnestly. II won't ever for
get you" H ...'. .....
Nor YOU" replied the lad staunch-
~. "See. found two four-leaf clovers.
Pm going to press mine and keep it
always In this old memorandum book
my father always carried"
"And shall put mine in the little
.locket wear with mammals picture in
it," said Beulah.
"Oh, papa.!' she added, as her father
and his visitor approached, 'Please
cant he stay and then come again? He
is n grand, good boy, and I love him so
lnuch!' and both children We're in
tears at the parting, and then they
chung to each other and kissed, Beulah
" sobbing out her grief and disappOint-
ment.
eve are going to leave Belleville to-
morrow, Gerald" said Mrs. Rolfe,
!. when they had arrived home. Your
poor father has left nothing and we
are going to the city. 1 shall visit his
grave early in the morning and l wish
you to go with me-"
1t was beside the newly-made mound
that Mrs. ROlfe drew Gerald to her
side. II have something very solemn
and sacred to tell YOU" she said,
something you must never forget and
which will be the guiding impulse Of
your life. Your father died of Il broken
heart. 1t was not because he had lost
everything, but for the reason that he
had innocentIy involved an estate of
two orphans of which he was trustee.
That fact drove him nearly insane.
When Mr.. Marston generously paid up
every debt it, brought to your father
JOY and relief and he died blessing
III this noble benefactor. ! Gerald, LMant
aA you to take Il solemn VOW that if ever
Va you can serve Jared MarstOn or his
4 family, even at the cost Of all you pos
Scss, you will make the sacrifice IN
grudgingly."
Il shall never forget" pledged the
! boy solennly, and he never did. The
vow was us Sacredly regarded as was
= the life remembrance he had promised
little Beuah.
Mrs. Rolfe died nine years later, not.
however, until she had seen her son Sc
, cure in promising position. At TWEEN.
ty-one Gerald was a comparatively
wealthy man. Just after that he went
down to the home of the Marstons. In
kept track Of them. Latterly he had
learned that Mr. Marston had failed in
business. When he arrived Gerald
discovered that father and daughter
had taken up humble quarters in lit.
tie cottage Mr.. Marston had not found
Ial, ,;,,.,
their living as a teacher Of music.
It was Beulah who answered his ring
at the door bell and Informed him that
her father was absent. She had grown
into creature so lovely that Gerald
=" sat like one dazzied. He noted that
she fixed her eyes penetratingly upon
him several times. Finally she said
"Have not known you before?''
MANY years ago, yes" he replied.
"Then you are Gerald Kolfe," spoke
Beulah. eve were little children then
but have not forgotten, and father
has often wondered what became OF
YOU aF ......
~ "My mother died four years since,'
said Gerald. Il have come to tell your
father of the gratitude and regard OF
my dear MOTHER" and he recitea that
solemn promise made at the grave OF
his father. Miss Marston the money
your father so generously advanced
with the interest. representing nearly
ten thousand dollars. shall repay, and
my partners in business have author.
lied me to solicit his services as an ex
perenced man in our line.
few weeks later the Marstons had
moved to the city and Gerald called at
their new home. 'He came to confess
his love and offer Beulah his heart and
fortune. She regarded him thought
fully, but there was a tremor in her
voice as she murmured with longing
smile: IS .e
Are you very sure, Mr. Rolfe, that
an overestimate of my fathers act OF
kindness has not Influenced pity, char.
ity, an interest that has impelled YOU
towards a sense Of duty, rather