The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-05-06

r1gated assortment or men VINO nlieu
them when darkness made its daily
and punctual arrival. On one bench.
facing that intensely respectable row
Of old brick mansions which line the
north side of the square sat a young
man of perhaps thirty, whose dress
and general appearance caused pass
ersby to glance at him wonderingly-
he was so evidently out of harmony
with the usual frequenters of the
place. Maurice Davenport seemed I'M
aware of the interest he aroused. His
eyes were fixed upon the lighted win
dows of a mansion opposite.
In the house upon which his eyes
were fixed lived Mabel Harrison, and
six months before he had written her
letter offering her his heart and
begging for her hand. Why he had
written instead of making his avowal
by word of mouth he could not say,
full nature and had thought it more
easy to say what he had to say in
writing. The night before he had writ
ten the fateful letter he had said to
Mabel in taking leave of her for the
evening: 81 am going to send you
letter tomorrow, Mabel, and / hope
that your answer will be such as my
very soul desires" And Mabel had
replied with smile: $50 home and
sleep well, Maurice. / can guess what
the nature of your letter will be, and
goodnight
He had gone away buoyed up with
hope. He had written the letter and
sent it by messenger. But to it he had
received no reply. His messenger, a
clerk in his Office, came back and said
that, as directed, he had delivered the
missive into the young lady's own
hand; that she had read it and had
said: "Tell Mr.. Davenport that there
is no answer" The shock had been
terrible. Two weeks later he saw in
the paper that she had sailed with her
father and mother for Europe. And
now, that very day, he had seen In the
paper that the Harrisons had arrived
home. Scarcely aware of what he did
he had wandered to the square and sat
gazing at the house which held all that
he loved.
A tall, lanky, shabbily dressed young
man came and took seat by Maui
rice's side.
SCOT match, Boz" asked the youth.
Mechanically, Maurice handed the
intruder his match case. AS he did
so the youth got a good look at Maui
rice's face and gave an exclamation of
surprise. Maurice looked and said:
"Why, are you not John Davis? You
used to be in my office. I think"
"Yes," hesitated the youth, II am
John; but I didn't recognize you at
first
''You left me, think, to go with
Boswick & Claffin, did you not" asked
Maurice.
"Yes, 1 did," replied John, "and /
wish I'd never done it. / amt had
no luck since. Boswick is dead
killed in Joy ride. as you know-and
I am out Of job. I'm down and out"
perhaps can find room for you
in the office again." said Maurice.
The youth began to cry. 81 amt
worth it," sobbed he. 81 played a
low-down trick on you. I'm broken
down and weak, or l wouldn't cry so,
and l wouldn't confess what l done
either. But somehow, 1 got to tell
you. Will you still give me another
chance?"
Greatly surprised Maurice said gent
ly: "Of course 1 will! What is 1t
that you are so sorry for?"
swell, you know the letter you gave
to take to that very house over there?
The fact is, didn't take it."
Maurice rose angrily from his seat
and for a moment it seemed as If he
would fell the youth to the ground
But controlling himself, he sat down
again and said sternly: "Why not?"
''Oh," went on John, the conscious.
stricken, Steve Boswick met me on
the street, right over there: he was
just after coming out of that house.
1 asked him where the number l was
after was. and showed him the let
ter. He thought a moment, and then
offered me a hundred dollars and a
job in his Office if / would give the
letter to him and tell you that had
delivered it, And 1 fell for 1t. AS
long as Steve lived it was all right
But when he was killed they sacked
me"
"Come with me-" said Maurice, and
strobe across to the brick mansion,
John following him in fear and trem-
bling. A few minutes later Maurice
and Mabel stood confronting each
other in the drawing room. She
looked worn and pale, but her self
command was perfect. Then Maurice
broke out impetuously and told her
the whole story of the letter and the
unfaithful messenger. Turning to the
door he called in John, whom he had
left in the hall, and made him repeat
his confession of guilt.
Life, happiness and color came back
to Mabells face as she listened. 81
thought it very strange; but, oh, Maui
rice, how could | have doubted you?
Stephen Boswick proposed to me and
/ had just rejected his suit when this
unfortunate young man met him COM
ing from this house"
"Come to my Office tomorrow morn
ing and I will talk further with you
now CO." said Maurice to John, and
John went.
But Maurice fingered.
Aid to Humility
whonaver Won feel very important