The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-12
Duke Vernon's
Kind Act
BY HAZEL SMITH.
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ri0n ~ 4 man. young. ambitious Ia
love with iife and all its pleasant
promises and rewards 70 come YET
at that supreme moment ~ disappolnt-
ment and loss. Lane Perciyal meant
every word he spoke
He stood IN the room where be and
Duke Vernon had spent many hope
full happy hour during the past year.
They had been like brothers. Each
had come 10 the eli. from country
home 10 carve was 20 fortune To
one OF them Lane Perclyal. had come
AS well the glory Of youth-loye. deep
tranquil. abiding. Even IN that the
faithful Vernon seemed 10 share his
Joy and take Myra Little to his hearts
thoughts as a cherished sister.
And now-thlsl An opened disor-
dered drawer IN the bureau. an over
turned tin box with It's strong lock
broken-and empty Two DAYS before
II had contained $500. the savings OF
two years. Perciyal had got leave Of
absence for a day to escort Myra 20 a
town forty mllet away. where she was
10 spend week with an old school
friend. and he had returned to End
Duke Vernon faithless.
"He has taken II ALL" muttered Per-
cival. dark browed. and his heart for
the moment was filled with cruel hate
That night he wrote all the truth
70 Myra, with a heavy heart telling
her that he must begin all over again,
and they must-wait
81 guess Il IS my fate TO meet with
disappointment In my friends" he
wrote Myra next time shall make
you my banker. and shut out from
my life every bit of human love ex-
cept for you"
"a telegram. sir" announced a
messenger boy, Just as Perclval was
sealing up this letter.
In wonder Lane Percival read
brief message II was dated AT a
point in Michigan and II was signed
Duke Vernon. II ran:
Better than I left You word. We
have made. IT,"
What word-made what7 In he
wilderment Lane PerciyaI sought vain
ly 10 read the riddle.
He slept n little towards morning.
He arose dull and oppressed and
bothered. There was knock at the
door
Come in" he directed.
TITS me-" announced the man who
cleaned the halls and washed the win
dows and kept the place generally In
order. 81 found a letter. anc check
I guess II is. in the court Just now.
Tn not much Of scholar hut spelled
out your name"
"My nameT repeated Perclval
vaguely.
"There they are" and the man
handed Perclval sheet OF paper and
check
The latter was made out for $500
and signed by the missing Vernon.
The letter bore the initials OF the
same signature. and ran:
Dear Lane:
81 have a hurry call for funds, ready
cash. Urgent A big thing. have
taken your money and leave you
check. Expect great news"
Slowly the truth began 10 dawn on
the startled Percival
There was another summons M the
door Of his humble room the next eve
ming
He flung the door open widely. Then
no
the blum. hearty tone Of his friend, re-
turned. were a reproach that made
him shrink from the extended hand.
81 can't do II. Duke" he said. Il
have wronged Won"
"wronged meY' rang out the CHEEKY
tones Of Vernon. "When7 HowT
81 believed you had stolen my mon
ey."
ard have done II n there had been
no other wayl" cried Duke Vernon.
'Tve made Il. No more scraping and
saving and creeping along. Look
there"
He drew forth and Haunted before
the eyes Of his bewildered friend GER
tilted check.
"Ten thousand dollars'" were the
words that dazzled the eyes Of the
ss'onished Percival.
"See who It's made ont TO-"
Duke Vernon and Rupert Percivai:
my hrotherw
"Yes-the ne'er-do-well, the wild
rover. the poor fellow you lost faith
in. But had faith. He was all good.
only impulslve and easily Influenced.
He lost your money and his In an OUT
and out swfndle But that was educa-
ton. 7 didn't tell you. hut FOR a year
I have been stalking him or and on.
up in the copper mining district-as a
mariner You wouldn't see him a
wear ago when he called here" said
Vernon. Hes made good-won't Won
see him now"
YES said lane Perclvai humhlv.
"and ash you both 70 forgive 3 man
Nwho needs n begin the study n human
nature an over again 70 make himself
r4ffuH friend and