The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-08-19
The Fulfll1r1ent
~ GEORGE ELMER COBB

Aooeooooooooooeeeeeeeoooa
They were a mismated pair, and
both Darrell and Elinor Isham rec0E-
nized the fact before they had been
married a month. As Elinor Dawes
she had been left penniless and alone
by the death Of her father. Isham
and he had worked side by side at q
desk in a large wholesale house and
Isham 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 ia
Their and had CONSIDERABLY relieved
her Of many distressfu(l details accom-
panying the funeral. Then, alone
with her in the silent house, a great
wave Of pity had swept over him and
she, desolate, caring little for life or
its awards just at that moment, long
ing only for consolation and sympa-
thy, they drifted into the mistake Of
believing their destiny to be mutual.
They were married and settled down
In the old humble nome.
They were dissimilar in tempera-
naent and mold in every way. Isham
was not fitted for confined work at
the desk and dragged himself home
evenings we'll 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
licttous care for his health and COM
fort. She never complained of the
monotonous life they led. Only once
old her thoughts revert to the past.
They expressed their poignancy In
seven words, the agonizing cry Of q
wounded soul trying to forget:
"Oh, why did not Herbert Wake
speakw
He was young lawyer, close
friend Of Isham. For 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 Isham had mar
ned Elinor he came to the Wade Office
one day looking pale and careworn.
''Wade," he said, II am not regaining
my health, and fear shall be unfit
for work. A relative has left me q
thousand dollars, and I want you to
take charge of it and invest it."
Every WE'LL" replied Wade, ~ have
had a proposition to take some bonds
in a new industrial concern at eight
per cent and bonus Of stock which
looks very promising. Suppose we
90 in jointly?"
Il shall be glad to follow your d.
rection," said Isham, 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 part Of the time.
He was compelled to draw the princi-
pal In installments until it was all
gone.
II am sorry have to use it," be
said, "but I am forced to do 50. I
don't know what will happen when I
die. Elinor will be left pennilesw.
Look after her as far as you can, won't
you, old friend?" The tears stood In
his eyes as he spoke, and silently
Wade extended his hand.
Wade was away when Isham died.
He had been telegraphed to from the
city offering him large amount for
the stock he had purchased in the m
dustrial company, and was rendered
over $4,000 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 a brother, he told her of his
pledge to her husband. He asked her
as to her plans.
II shall 60 to the city," she told
him. IF had means I would take
up the training Of my voice. That
was always my ambition. Perhaps
can do that, also, If can get good
paying position"
1T costs money, Mrs. 1sham, but I
am glad to inform you that a co-part-
nership your husband and myself en-
tered into two years ago has resulted
in a Joint profit" said Wade. II shall
deposit half Of -$4,000-to your
account at bank" and he recited the
primary details Of the copartnership.
bu: said not word Of Isham draw
ing out all his investment long before
he died.
It was a year later when he re-
ceived a letter from Mrs. 1sham. She
stated that she was coming to see
him on a matter of business.
He had heard Of her success as q
singer in the city churches and with
choral societies, and a portrait in q
musical journal had shown her more
beautiful than ever. The evening that
he called her enchanting beauty fairly
daZZled him. 49,. a'a
II have come to return to you the
money you SO kindly loaned me-" she
said. "Mr. Wade, you are the noblest
friend a woman ever had! Only last
week found some old papers that be-
longed to my husband-this."