Wadch Night
Romance
•By OLIVE*. LBHOy
[Copyright, 1908. by T. E. McGrath.]
MAItY MORTON was the happl
est girl in New York. It
was a glorious night in June.j
Arthur Wainwright had Just'
bidden her good night, aud she return
ed to the little parlor to turn out the
gas before retiring to her room. For a;
moment she reseated herself upon the
old fashioned sofa where both had
sat that night when Arthur told her
what she knew already—that he loved
her.
She had told him that it was her
fancy to be married on New Year's eve
while watching the old year out and
the new year In. "Splendid!" Arthur
had said. "Besides, the firm has prom
ised me a considerable increase in sal
ary beginning with the new year.
How happy we shall be in that cozy
little cottage I have in niiud up In the
Bronx!"
When Mary arose next morning and
looked into her mirror it seemed to
her that the utter happiness of her
heart had made her face more beauti
ful.
"He deserves the most beautiful wo
man in the world." she murmured.
"He is so high minded, so honorable, so
noble!"
The housemaid tapped at her door
and left a letter. Mary kissed the en
velope before breaking the seal. It
read:
Dearest— I have lost $25,000 belonging to
the firm, which I was to have deposited
yesterday, but on account of a street car
delay I reached the bank too late. They
will never believe me. It means disgrace
—probably imprisonment—if I stay here.
I have thought it all over, and I am going
to disappear. far away, change my
name and try to earn money to pay back
thla sum. It will take me years and
years no doubt. I release you, and God
knows I want you to be happy. Simply
forgot me. ARTHUR.
Stunned by the blow, the girl sank
into a chair. She thought It over.
There must be some other way. It
"I HAD HOPED TO ASK YOU TO BE MY WIFE."
could not be that Arthur was going l
away—had gone already! She would
try to help him. Hastily dressing, she
called at the brokerage firm's offices
and was received by the senior part
ner, who had just arrived. Like her
self, lie was greatly perturbed.
The girl handed Arthur's letter to
Mr. Meredith and tearfully made her
plea. The broker laughed scornfully.
"I have Just received a letter from
this young rascal with a similar story,"
lie said brutally. "Going to get mar- (
rled soon, was he? Ah, needed money,
—I sec!"
"Mr. Meredith," said the stricken
girl, "I want to tell you that Arthur
Walnwrlglit is the soul of honor. He
never stole a cent, and he never will.
I am nvr to stand by him and help
him in some way—l don't know Just
how. I am going to prove that he lost
this money, as he says he did,"
"Well, I wish you success, for we
certainly need that money, and the
only way you can help this young
scoundrel is to find the money and re
store it."
"I wish to find Mr. Wainwright
first," she said, "and let him know
that I am going to help him."
"Oh. that will be easy! "We already
have the police after him, and quite
probably you will find him in Jail by
flight."
As Miss Morton was about to de
part she was requested to step into
another room, where a coarse looking
man from police headquarters ques
tioned her roughly, plainly giving her
to understand that he regarded her rft
an accomplice of Wainwright in ap
propriating the money. She was high
ly indignant. When at last she was
permitted to depart a handsome young
detective, who hud lieen present dur
ing a portion of the questioning, but
had taken 110 part in it, was sent along
to eseort'her home. He explained that
lie had been assigned to this pleasant
duty and to the most disagreeable task
of searching her lodgings.
A matron from police headquarters
was already on hand nt the hoarding
house to assist in the search. Under
tlio eye of the detective she ransacked
every 11001-: and corner of Mis-- Mor
ton's room. Several times the deiec
tlve apologized and when the party
returned to the parlor he said with feel
ing:
"I ilo not believe, Miss Morton, that
you have the slightest guilty knowl
edge of this affair, aud, though it
looks bad for Mr. Wainwright, I can
Bee that it was quite possible for him
to lose the money."
"Thank you, Mr. Sherwood," said
Mary. "You will help ine, then—help
us?"
"My present duty Is to try to find
Mr. Walnwrlfcht."
"Kind hlin!" she cried. "Find him
for me. They can't prove that lie stole
the money, while I am sure that In
time it will be found. Then"—
"But If a dishonest person fin is It
or has found it?"
For a moment she was overcome by
"HK DESF.UVKS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
WOMAN I* TIIE WOULD."
her forebodings. Then she sat up
right and said:
"Mr. Sherwood, only last night Ar
thur Wainwright sat upon that sofa,
in the very spot where you are sitting
now, and talked with me about our
future happiness as tna«i and wife.
We were children together in the town
up the state where wo were born.
We met again a year ago in this great
city. We have been much together
since. I know that he Is Incapable of
doing wlnit be is at present accused of
doing"—
"I do not accuse him, Miss Morton.
I simply do not know."
"But 1 know, and I shall stand by
him."
"Even ff you should come to know
that he is guilty?"
"He Is not guilty!" almost shrieked
the girl.
The young detective departed, ex
pressing the hope that all would come
out well. Miss Morton was grateful.
Senior Partner Meredith was mis
taken when ho intimated that Wain
wright would lie in Jail by night. A
young man of high intelligence and
quick perceptions, he apparently had
escaped from the city and from the
country.
Young Sherwood called at the board
ing house a few days later "to report
progress," ho said. Plainly touched by
the beauty of Mary Morton and by her
poignant grief, he lingered a little
while to speak words of comfort, to the
girl.
"I shall call again if anything turns
up," ho said.
Nothing turned up, but he did call
again and again during the next few
vionths. always acting the part of a
lourteous gentleman. One evening he
said to Mary:
"You may be pleased to learn that
after the tirst of next month I am to be
the assistant chief of detectives."
"I am very glad to know it," sho re
plied. "I believe you are an honorable
man and deserve promotion."
"Thank you," he said rather awk
wardly. "You see, I—lt brightens my
prospects."
"Mr. Wainwright was to have been
promoted, too. next New Year's, as you
know,"the girl said sadly, "and we
were to have been married 011 New-
Year's eve."
"Yes." responded Sherwood, plainly
embarrassed. "Miss Morton, 112 am go
ing to start tomorrow on :i long voy
age. I -hall lie gone two months, and
1 shall think of you often. When I
return I may—be able to do some
thing for you. You will regard 1110 as
your friend V"
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 1906
"Certainly. You have been most
kind."
It was the last day of December
when Mary received a note from Sher
wood. lie wanted to call that evening.
It was to have been her wedding night,
she recalled, and her heart was inef
fably sad. Perhaps Sherwood couiil
tell her something that would be o(
comfort—something about Arthur. She
bade hi 111 come.
The assistant chief of detectives ar
tived late, explaining that Important
business had detained him. He talked
about his voyage. He had been to
Australia on an official mission. He
had visited the greut gold tields, where
some men make fortunes In a day and
others toll for a lifetime without strlk
lug It rich.
"Now, Miss Morton," he said, his
voice shaking with emotion, "I had
hoped to come here upon my return
and ask you to be my wife. YOll know,
surely, that I love you. I cannot help
that. I'.ut I know you are true to him,
and I have ceased to hope for myself.
If it wvre in my power I should gladly
do something to prove my great love
for you. If"—
"If what, Mr. Sherwood?" the girl
asked eagerly.
"If we could prove that Wainwright
lost that money," be said.
Sherwood sat upon the old sofa, the
girl occupying a chair near by. He
leaned heavily against the back of the
old fashi mod piece of furniture, and it
creaked Kmdly. A gap opened between
the sen and the back. Sherwood put
his hand down into tlie opening to as
certain if lie had broken the sofa.
"Well, somebody's pocket book!" lie
ejaculated, drawing forth a long, flat
wallet. "Whew! Arthur Wain wright
—his name is 011 it!"
"Open it. quick!" the girl cried, lean
ing forward tensely.
One by one the detective counted out
twenty-live bills of the denomination
of SI,OOO.
"Miss Morton," he said, rising, "you
win; 110, we both win."
"But Arthur—can we find hhn?"
"I have found him. I arrested him
in Australia at the gold fields. lie sold
his claim for $'20,000. lie said tlint
was not enough, and he was eager to
stay a little longer, but of course I
had to do my duty. He is now at the
Vandeventer hotel. I let him stay
there overnight for your sake on his
own recognizance. Let us go and meet
him."
Together they went out Into the
night. It was another glorious night
for Mary Morton. As they passed by
the "Little Church Around the Cor
ner." where so many romantic mar
riages have taken place, they observed
that a watch meeting was in progress.
It was within half an hour of mid
night. In the doorway stood a tall,
bearded man, looking within upon the
impressive scene.
"Why, there is Mr. Wainwright!"
cried Sherwood.
"I don't see him. Where?" excitedly
cried t lie girl.
"The man with the beard. Hey,
Woodson!"
The man turned suddenly at hearing
his Australian name. A moment later
the lovers were embracing. The flip
pant, unknowing people who stood
about the door snickered.
The little party entered an unoccu
pied vestibule, where Sherwood told
Wainwright about the finding of the
money. Then the detective excused
himself, went forward and consulted
with the pastor of the church. Just
after the solemn bells pealed the mid
night hour and the new year was ush
ered in the pastor requested the con
gregation to remain seated.
And Sherwood, who had earned the
place of honor, was best man.
The New Year's Resolution
BR] NO out the resolution
We made a year ago;
Dust off Its cobwebbed features
Its smiling face to show.
The dust of months—remove it «
And bring the thing to view.
That good old resolution—
'Tls Just as good as new!
THE glad day that we made It
How well we recollect!
We deemed that thence forever
Wo would walk circumspect.
It threw upon our future
A brilliant, rosy hue,
But now that we behold it
"i'is Just as good as new!
BUST OFF ITS COBWEUBEI) FEATURES.
THAT good old resolution—
How soon we laid It by;
How soon Its hopeful virtues
We ceased to even try;
How soon our wayward footsteps
Turned oft trod highways through!
Th.il good old resolution—
'Tls Just as good as new!
UPON the shelf it's gathered
Sonio dust as there it's lain;
We take it. down (to shelve it,
Quito likely, soon again)
Anil sec 110 mark of usage;
4 It still is good to view.
f'» oacc again we'll use It—
"i'is Just as good us new!
ARTHUR J. BURDICK.
1 CRAMER'S I
I Semi - Annual Clearance Sale I
jgj| Of Ladies and Children's Trimmed and |g§
l|p Untrimmed Hats, Coats, Skirts, Waists, ill!
Furs, Underwear, that we arc going to dis~ 111
P® pose of in the next two weeks regardless of gsjj
pS Cost. 00
Igj Millinery Coats |£j
Ladies and Children's hats. Ladies SB.OO Coat now $4-98 jffiy
HM Ladies $ 2.00 and $3.00 hats gS Ladies 10.00 Coat now 6.00
Ladies 4.00 and 5.00 hats. .. . $1.98 Ladies 12.00 Coat now 7-9^
OSH Ladies 6.00 and 7.00 hats. .. . 3.19 Ladies 16.00 Coat now 11.00
gP Ladies 8.00 and 10.00 hats .. . 4.98 Ladies 20.00 Coat now 1 3-5° BQyB
rCyij Children's $2 00 and $3.00 hats.. . 89 Children's $4.00 Coat now .... 1.98 j|jK3
Children's 4.00 and 5.00 hats . . 1.99 Children's $ 6.00 Coat now., .. . 3.49 SS
gyS ——————————————Children's SB.OO Coat now 4.98
H| Furs ' |P
ITlgj Ladies $3.00 furs now $1.49 Waists
ESJI Ladies 6.00 furs now 3.78
Ipl Ladies 10.00 furs now .6.39 Ladies sr -°° white lawn waist now -49 ggS
|S3j Ladies 15.00 furs now 11.00 Ladies J -5 0 and * 2 '°° wllite lawn gSjj
Children's $3.00 fur set now . . . 1.49 waist now 78 jj£v3
Hgj Children's 5.00 fur set now .. . 2.98 Ladies $1.25 white Madras waist . . .75 gH
Children's 7.00 fur set now .. . 4.00 Ladks 2.00 white Madras waist .. 1.19
ECVS —_____________________________ Ladies 2.50 white and colored
Ircl Shirts wool waist 1.69 e3i
v 1 Ladies $3.50 white and colored silk
Rq Ladies #3.00 skirts now $1.69 waist 2.49 Kagfl
jjknj Ladies 4.00 skirts now 2.39 Ladies $4.00 white and .colored Kw
Ladies 5.00 skirts now 3- ; 9 silk waist 2.98 |£f>g}
Ladies 6.00 skirts now 4.00 Ladies $5.00 white and colored RjJj
Ladies 8.00 skirts now 4.98 Silk waist 3.89
WE have also the largest assortment ever brought to j||||
PS Emporium, in Ladies, Men's and Children's dressed and
undressed Kid G-loves, G-olf G-loves, Mittens, Underwear, ifffl
|lg| Hosiery, Neckwear, Ribbons, etc. ||j|
II Christmas Goods 11J
fiE® For the shoppers of Holiday Goods it will *
to your interest to see our display be
ffigS fore purchasing, as we have the largest
assortment ever shown in Emporium. §E|f|
I Bargain© for all. M
You Get the Profits 11
We Invite you to call whether you buy or not.
No trouble to show goods. IBS
W.H, CRAMER 1