The Snowflake herald., 1920-11-26
The ulhllrnent
By GEORGE ELMER COBB
copyright, 1920. Western Newspaner IInton

lHlSilldleC pair, and
both Darfel and Elinor lsham recoo-
Fnized the fact before they had been
married month. AS Elinor Dawes
she had been left penniless and alone
by the death of her father. Tsham
and he had worked side by side AT
desk ia a large wholesale house and
lSham had often spent the evening at
the Dawes home. He had been very
KIND and thoughtful in seeing that all
due respect was paid to her dead fa-
ther and had CONSIDERABLY relieved
her or many distressful details accom-
pahying the funeral Then, alone
with her in the silent house. q great
wave of pity had swept over him and
she, desolate, caring little for life or
its awards just at that moment. long
lhg only for consolation and sympa-
thy they drifted into the mistake of
believing their destiny to be mutual
They we're married and settled down
in the old humble home.
They were dissmilar in temnera-
ment and mold in every way. Isham
was not fitted for confined work at
the desk and dragged himself home
evenings well nigh at the point of ex-
haustion. ElinOr never flinched from
strict duty. She realized that her
husband would never be hardy and
strong, and gave herself up to so
licitouS care for his health and com
fort. She never complained of tho
monotonous life they led Only oneee
did her thoughts revert to the past
They expressed their poignancy >in
seven words, the agonizing cry of "a
wounded soul trying to forget:
ooh, why did not Herbert Wake
sreak?"
He was Young lawyer. a close
friend of Tsham. For a time both
had come to the Dawes home. but as
time went on Wade conceived the idea
that his friend and Elinor were AT
tached TO each other and reluctantly
ceased TO call
About a year after Tsham had mar
ried Elinor he came to the Wade office
one day looking pale and carevorn.
Wade" he said. Il am not reeatning
my health, and I fear I shall re unfit
for work. relative has left me
thousand dollars, and | want YOU to
take charge Of it and invest it."
''Very we'll" replied Wade, Il have
had a proposition to take some bonds
in a new Industrial concern at eight
per cent and a bonus Of stock which
looks very promising. Suppose we
go in iointly?"
Il shall he glad to follow your di
rection," said Esham. and Wade gave
a receipt for the money, specifying the
fact of a mutual Investment.
At the end Of six months Isham was
able to work only a part Of the time
He was compelled to draw the prinni-
pal in installments until it was al
gone.
4 am sorry have to use it," he
said "'hut I am forced to do SO.
don't know what will happen when
dle. I2inor will be left renniless.
Look after her as far as yon can. won't
you, old friend?" The tears stood u
his eyes as lie spoke, and silently
Wade extended his hand
Wade swas away when Isham died
He had been telegraphed to from the
CITY offering him a large amount for
the stock he had purchased in the in.
Gustral company. and was rendered
over $1,000 for the $4,000 investment.
The funeral was over when he re-
turned to town. He FASTENED at once
to Mrs. Isham. Kindly, as though he
were q brother he told her of his
pledge TO her husband. He asked her
rs to her plans.
Il shall go to tie city" she told
him. "If had means I would take
up the training of my voice. That
vas always my ambition. Perhaps |
can do that also, If | can get a good
paying position"
1T costs money. Mrs. Isham, but |
an clad 10 inform you that a co-part-
nership your husband and my self en-
tered into two years ego has resulted
in a Joint profit said Wade. i shall
deposit half Of it-$4 000-tO your
account at bank" and he recited- the
primary details Of the copartnership
bur said not word OF fsham draw 4
ing out all his investment long before
he died
II was a year later when he re-
.eived a letter from Mrs, Isham. She
stated that she was coming to see
him on a matter of business.
he had heard Of her success as a
singer in the city churches and with
choral societies. and a portrait in a
musical fourrial had shown her more
beautiful than ever. The evening that
he called her enchanting beauty fairly
5azzIed him.
Il have come to return to you the
money you SO kindly loaned me, she
said. "AIr. Wade. you are the noblest
friend 4 woman ever had Only last
week found some old papers that be-
onged to my husbaad-this.'
II uaS fhc cODartnershiD mem0ran-