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About Cottage Grove leader. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1905-1915 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1908)
3 i^ — ■ FROM DEATH TO LIFE S Y N O P S IS O P P R E C E D IN G CH APTERS. EJwmrd T y l -r. a >min* teller In lit* National Hank, is toM >.y tho cashier. Robinson to Ro to the r S ' k track an.l bet on- ttUMHRM ilollars on a horse name»! Sellnt Bay. RlvlitR him the money with which to bet. Selim Bay Tyler. Roing to his loctRlngs a fter banklna hoar», learns that his accounts have been thousand short, while Robinson has to the president. Mr. Ellis, that T yler had Rone away under plea of sickness, and later had been known to have lost the n.lssin* sum at the race track. Tyler, feeling that circumstances are overwhelmingly against him, determines to take his own life. He goes to a hotel In a » “ Durban village, writes snmo letters, then starts for tna river. On the way a stranger Joins him and forces his acquaintance. He has seen and rec ognized the young teller at the track and divined his Intention, supposing, of course, that ne is foolish and guilty. The stranger confesses him self Charles Brewster, a man o f wealth, who has become engaged to a lady of bis own social set and. later, under an assumed name, to a poor salesgirl, who has won his heart. Rather than face the odium of exposure, he chooses death and makes the fantastic proposal that they die together. T y ler agrees, and together. In the moonlight, they walk to the river. In rftwrn for Brewster’ s confidences. T y le r rarrates the circumstances o f which he is the victim. A t the very brink o f death Brewster. after T yler swear to the truth o f his tale, forbids the act o f death, and they return to the hotel. Here Brewster writes a letter to the president of the bark. Inclosing a check for a thousand dollars, which he Intimates was overpaid him by mistake. This will relieve T yler from the charge of cm- bexxlement and bring him back from death to life. Brewster, however, persists In his own de termination to die. T y ler strives desperately with him. seeking to save the life of the man who has saved his own He persuades Brewster to take brandy to steady his nerves and succeeds In rendering him intoxicated. In this condition BrewBter Is forced to go to bed. while retaining fu ll control o f his mental faculties and persist ing In his determination to act as soon as the effects of the Intoxicant have gone. feel that you are a criminal, deserving and doomed to death?” "I certainly do." “ Very well. Last night I was to all intents a dead man. A benefactor ap peared and brought me back to life. Now, if I permit him to die I am a criminal, deserving death. If I deserve that death I will receive iny desert. You proposed going in my company. I will go in yours if you persist in going. I have said it.” Brewster looked at his companion in silence for a brief period. Then he spoke quietly. “ You are a fool," he ¿aid. “ Even so.” “ Do you really mean to persist in such folly?" “ If such you term it." “ And render valueless the sacrifice I made in consenting literally to die a sec ond time in order to save, not only your life, but your honor?” “ My honor is saved. You will not undo what you have done. My life has been spared thus far that I may make one supreme effort to save you. When I have made that effort, whether successful or not, the worth of yo.tr sacrifice lias been proved. Last night you insisted on bearing me company through the white moonlight to the river. When all was ready you proposed half an hour's wait. I assented. Then you proposed still further delay. Now I propose that next Saturday night we again walk to the river at midnight. The moon will be shining them.” "But it might be raining! U gh !" “ Then we will go far away and await another night such as last. But if in that time I can lay before you proofs—you to be the judge—that you can happily and honorably live, you will not refuse to do HE gray light o f morning had come, the ncwsdalear had- ar rived with his bulky Sunday papers, the village was astir with the life, drowsy and slow, which betokens the morning o f the day o f rest. Tyler so?" moved to and fro upon the sidewalk in “ O f course I would not. But what ceaseless vigil. At last he went up to you mention is absurdly impossible.” Brewster’s room and knocked at the door. “ Nevertheless, it is my only chance for Brewster, half feverish, half stupid life. I ask you, in view o f that fact, to from the effects o f his recent intoxica agree to next Saturday night." tion, opened the door. He had not un “ What do you intend to d o?" dressed when going to the room. “ I hardly know. But I will do nothing “ What do you want?" he asked, irri which is not honorable, place von in no false light, tell no lies. With these con tably. "I want." Tyler firmly replied, “ my ditions I ask liberty ” hreakfast and you in my company. V on “ W clL" said Brewster, “ you have won are ill. and for a few hours you are in again. Yon are a foot, but a game and my charge. Whatever you do, you must chivalrous fool. Saturday night let it be.” restore your, strength of mind. A quick, The meal was finished almost with cold bath while f wait outside, then cheerfulness. Then. Brewster agreeing coffee and food and you will be yourself to remain at the hotel, Tyler returned to and know what to do.” his lodgings where he was promptly Brewster hesitated, then closed the door placed under arrest cn a warrant sworn with an abrupt promise to appear soon. by Robinson, charging him with the theft He came out a few minutes later, hag of a thousand dollars. But, as he knew, gard. with bloodshot eyes, but calm and bail was already provided, Brewster rational, though his features were set and having telegraphed a friend for that pur stern. pose. “ I think," he said, in quiet tones, “ that Next morning he unflinchingly present you are very impertinent in your inter ed himself at the bank. There was much ference with my affairs." staring and whispering, and then Mr. “ Quite as much as you were when you Robin-on. red-faced and awful, appeared interfered with mine,” Tyler answered “ I am astonished, young man.” he quite as calmly. “ Let us go to the dining room. My interference will not go far. said, “ that you dare to show yourself I have done what I believed was right. after what has happened f “ You mean after losing the thousand The coffee will clear our minds and we dollars you gave me to bet on Selim will know what to do.” Bay?" Tyler responded, coldly, but in The two men went to the table, and for a while they ate little, gulping down tones which could be beard by all near. quantities o f coffee and nibbling at the "W hat do you mean by such inso buttered toast. lence?" Robinson blustered. “ Do you Then first Brewster and then Tyler be think in that way to account for the gan in real earnest to eat. thousand dollars you were short?" “ I have heard that criminals, on the “ I think that is a very good way." morning o f execution, usually eat well,” “ D o you mean------ " Brewster grimly remarked, cutting at his “ I mean that it is your word against steak. mine. Yon know as well as I who is the “ So I believe. And usually, I have liar and thief." heard, they take ham and eggs," Tyler Robinson stammered in his anger, and responded. while he was hunting for words to express “ I think you arc right. Waiter, bring his wrath a clerk came to ask both o f them me an order o f ham and eggs.” to appear before Mr. Ellis. “ And me. also," Tyler said. “ So you were at the racetrack Satur “ Don't trouble to accommodate yourself day?” the president asked. to my taste.” Brewster said. “ I am only “ For Mr. Robinson.” trying to carry the fashion ” “ And bet a thousand dollars on Selim “ And I also,” Tyler replied. " I f the Bay?” "F or Mr. Robinson " comparison applies to you. it does to me as well. W e can speak plainly. You still “ You know that my invariable rule is T the discharge o f any employee who bets at the tracks?” “ I do. It is a good rule.” “ And yet you broke it?” “ For Mr. Robinson." “ And you now expect charged?” “ I certainly do." “ And you acknowledge the discharge just?" “ I do.” “ And what have you to say o f the thousand dollars in which your cash was short ?” j “ By advice of my lawyer I say nothing. I believe a criminal charge lies against me.” “ Mr. Robinson,” said the president, turning sharply upon the cashier, “ did you give this young man a thousand dollars to bet at the track?” "I did not. I hope you don’t be lieve------” "D o you think he had a thousand of his own to bet?” “ I am sure he had not. You know that he came here just from college penniless, and that he has had only his salary since.” “ Yes I know. But where did he get the money he took to the track." ‘ Well, of course, you know that the cash was a thousand short." “ Yes, Mr. Robinson, but that was by your act.” said the president, sharply. “ Look at that letter.” He handed over Brewster’ s letter, which had come in the morning's mail. “ Well. I—I------’’ stammered the cashier in bewilderment. * “ And here is a letter for you in the mail," Mr. Ellis continued, handing over Brewster's letter addressed to Mr. Robin son, and watching the latter closely as he read it. "Well. I—of course. I’ m sorry," he said, very pale and trembling, “ but under the circumstances I will acknowledge iny mis take and will offer my resignation." “ Which is accepted," said the presi dent, curtly. “ And you will go to court at once and withdraw your charge against this young man. Mr. Tyler, f helieve that you have told the truth. Whether you have or not. you have broken a rule, for which the penalty is loss of your po sition. I will give you recommendation as far as possible, and if I can assist you in any way I will do it. But I positively never will have in this bank any employee who ever places a bet on horseracing.” “ I appreciate your justice and thank you for your kindness," said the young man, and. bowing, made his departure. Outside the bank he stood for a moment with a kind of mistiness before his eyes as he realized that he was breaking irre vocably with the associations o f his past business career. Then he went unhesi tatingly to the railroad station and after an hour alighted at the village to which Brewster's letter to Miss Catherine Ball had been addressed. An inquiry of the first passer-by and ten minutes' walk and he stood before an old mansion in the m.<Lt of beautiful ground-. “ I must see Miss Ball." he insisted, in reply to all the servant's inquiries, and at last a handsome woman o f about thirty years, with a refined, intellectual face and somewhat sad expression, came to the door. “ I desire a conference with you," he said “ It is a matter, pardon me, o f life and death. On your decision rests the matter o f two lives." “ Come into the library.” she said, lead ing the way. “ Now what have you to say?” "I have a letter for you,” Tyler began. “ A letter from a friend who contemplated suicide, but has been prevented for a time from aprrying his plans into execution. He believes that his letter has gone by mail I come to you in the de-perate hope of assistance in overcoming his disposition for another attempt." “Gnre me the letter ” He handed it to her. She read, then laid the letter in her lap an l rested her cheek in her hand. “ It Is what I expected," she said. “ Pardon me, Miss Ball. I do not know what the letter contains, but I know the history upon which it is based. The case seems nearly hopeless, but I must do what I can. 1 would spare you. but I would save my friend.” “ Tell me frankly what you know.” “ I know that he has long been engaged to you.” “ Yes, and what else?" “ That he has—has----- ” “ Has engaged himself to another woman?” “ Yes.” “ I knew that he did not love me." she said, still dreamily looking out of the win dow, “but I did not think this of him." “ It is an infatuation, a blindness,” said Tyler, with all the sage wisdom of his twenty-five years, “ to which men have been subject from the beginning of the world.” “ Why do yon speak so? What do you know o f the young lady?" “ I know nothing, save that she is a salesgirl in a department store." “ And does that prove to you that she is unworthy ?" “ God forbid!” said Tyler, flushing hotly. “ My own mother, now among the saints o f heaven, was once thus employed. I said that was all I knew. I believe her worthy. I used the word infatuation, partly because I could not understand— pardon me. I speak sincerely—this is no time for mere compliment—because I could not understand, after seeing you, why he should care for another. Partly. I believe because I wished to use soothing words, knowing how you were hurt." “ I atn not hurt," she said, in her soft, quiet way. “ I am I, she is she. Charles Brewster loved her for some qualities I d o not possess. All women cannot be alike. He is entitled to his preference. But he should have told me long ago.” “ That is true. But it was his desire not to hurt you which held him back." "W ell, there is no reason why he should not marry the girl he loves. You can tell him so. I have never loved him any more than he loved me. But f liked him and i believed him an honorable man. I had, perhaps, a natural human desire to marry. But I see now that I was wrong to eugnge myself without love, and I am glad it is all over." The man was by this time so fascinated by the noble and beautiful woman that he could not resist the desire still to preserve the engagement between her and Brewster. “ But, Miss Ball,” lie said, “ suppose that I prove that Miss Latighlin is not really in love with Mr. Brewster, as he sup poses ?” “ That would have no interest for me.” “ Would you not marry him if he should return penitent and ask your love?” “ N ever!" He was silent, for he felt that her word was irrevocable. “ Now tell me.” she said, “ how he was resented from suicide after writing this e tlcr“ fe Tyler sat s in embarrassed silence. I n this letter.” she said, “ he says that he is going down to the river in company with a hank thief.” Tyler flushed so painfully that Miss Ball instantly divined a part of the story. “ And yon exchanged confidences," she said, sarcastically. "F ar nohile fratrum.” Tyler’ s flush departed, leaving his face deadly pale. “ I lieg o f you. Miss Ball," he said, “ to hear mv story to the end I am not a thief, though f contemplated and still c m ; err plate suicide.” Something in his manner checked her rising scorn. She felt that she was indeed in the presence o f trigedy. 1 hen in a few words he told her o f hi* misfortune at the hank, o f his rash deter mination, of Brewster's action In saving him. ( CtntmutJvn ftgt I t . )
