Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-02-09

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 home.
They were dissimilar in tempera-
ment and mold in every way. Isham
was not fitted for conined~work at
the desk and dragged himself home
evenings well nigh at the point Of ex-
haustion. ElinOr never finched 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 the
monotonous life they led. Only once
did her thoughts revert to the past
They expressed their poignancy In
seven words, the agonizing cry Of .
wounded soul trying to forget:
"Oh, why did not Herbert Wake
speakT
He was young lawyer. close
friend of Isham. For time both
had come to the Dawes home, but az
time went on Wade conceived the idea
that his friend and Elinor were at
tached to each other and reluctantly
reased to call.
About year after Isham had mar
ried Elinor he came to the Wade office
one day looking pale and careworn.
@Wade," he said. 81 am not regaining
my health. and fear ] shall be unfit
for work. A relative has left me a
thousand dollars. and want you to
take charge of 1t and invest It"
.very WELL" replied Wade, II have
had proposition to take some bonds
in new Industrial concern at eight
per. cent and a bonus of stock which
looks very promising. Suppose we
60 in jointlyY'
II shall be glad to follow your d.
rection," said Isham, and Wade gave
a receipt for the money, specifying the
fact Of 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." he
said, "but / am forced to do so. l
don't know what will happen when I
die. Elinor win be left penniless.
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 In.
dustrial company. and was rendered
over 5000 for the $1,000 Investment.
The funeral was over when ne re-
turned to town. He hastened 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 go to the city" she told
him. "If ] had means / would take
mp the training of my voice. That
was always my ambition. Perhaps I
can do that. also, II can get good
paying position"
"It costs money, Mrs. Isham, but !
am glad to inform you that co-part-
nership your husband and myself en-
tered dnto two years ago has resulted
in joint profit" said Wade. II shall
deposit half of it-S4, 000-to your
account at bank" and. he recited the
primary details Of the copartnership,
bur said not word Of Isham draw
ing out all his investment long before
he died.
It was year later when he re-
ceiyed a letter from Mrs. Isham. She
stated that she was coming to see
him on 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 journal had shown her more
beautiful than ever. The evening that
he called her enchanting beauty fairly
dazzled him.
81 have come to return to You the
money you so kindly loaned me-" she
said. "Mr. Wade, you are the noblest
friend woman ever had Only last
week found some old papers that be-
Ionged to my husband-this."
It was the copartnership memoran-
DUN, and upon its back We're the in
dorsements made by Darrell Isham.
showing that he had drawn all the
money he had invested,
81 used only part of what you so
generously gave me-" snid Elinor, "and
/ have made great deal by my sing
ing. True to the dead, true to the liv-
Ing, how / bless you for the courage
you put into my life at its darkest
moment! If ever l can brighten
yours"
She paused wistfully. Their eyes
had met and. 1t seemed to both that,
after all the years, In that mutual
glance love, cherished, love ineffable
and undying, had found its final con-
summation.