St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-01-13
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leaned against hor chair for support,
while he spoke to her.
Are you prepared to meet all the
consequences Of this thing?" he asked
" Disgrace, Imprisonment, complete
separation from all your friends -
Helen claspcd her hands and groancd
aloud in the anguish of her soul. She
had not thought of the worst consc,
qucnces, and they appalled, her. Al
most she had said, 81 will tell you all >
when the remembrance of her OATH
and the thought that the same doom
hung over Alice if she revealed the
secret, closed her lips.
Do with me as you think best,
cannot tell You anything" she said,
family.
Have you no regard for us all,
Helen, that you will clear yourself ?"
he asked, in n softcned tone. Do
you think this is easy for us to bear,
and that you can go away from Hazel
wood in disgrace, and leave no wretch
ed hearts behind ? Louis has given
his best feelings to you, know, al
though he has not told me. 1t is q
fearful thing to disappoint a first al
fection, Helen. Have you no tender
ness for him ?"
Helen sat still with her hands clasp
cd together tightly, but she made no
answer.
and your sister. This will come
very heavily upon her too. You should
have some consideration for her feel
ings, | think" He paused a moment.
" AS for myself" he said, think it
can be Of no use to plead my feelings.
If you had had the regard for me that
| had hoped, Helen, you would have
given me your confidence long ago.
| had not thought myself of 50 little
account to you"
Not all his sternncss could have
moved Helen so much as the sad
carncstncss of these words.
"Oh, do not think so J." starting to
her feet beside him. Indeed !! in
deed if | could speak to any one it
would be to you, and for your sake.
Do not think me ungratcful and indif-
f.rcnt -
Then why not speak, Helen ?" he
said, persuasivcly, taking both her
hands in his. If there is any involve
ment, anything that has driven you
into what you would not otherwise
have done, tell me all now, as you
would father, and l will promise to
do all that can be done. You can Ger.
tainly confide in me, Helen, can you
not?"
sho i"al-c.l :" his face with such n
stricken, pleading gaze, that he could
not restrain his tears, and then draw
ing away her hands, she turned away
with q passionate burst of tears.
That sorrow he could not withstand
Folding her in his arms, he tried to
comfort her with promises that none
but those who already knew the affair
should ever hear OF it, that if she
would but tell him all, anything should
be forgiven. He called her his dear
child, his darling, and smoothcd back
her hair, and kissed her pale forehead,
almost unconscious of what he did.
And Helen found a strange comfort
and sweetness in his caresscs. She
felt almost as though safety and hap
pincss had come back to her, while he
talked so tcnderly to her, and strokcd
her hair SO fondly. 1t seemed as if
her father lived again, and comfortcd
her as in the days of her childhood,
and new yearning affection for her
guardian, as filling his place, made
her cling to him as her only hope. Al
most, Mr.. Wethcrcll forgot the present
in the thrilling thought, did she love
him as he could wish," and his breath
came more rapidly for an instant. But
the second thought sobcred him. 1t
was not likely that this young girl
would dream of loving him other than
as father. She was in trouble now,
and would cling to any friend in whom
she had confidence. Then came the
thought of his son, and then the CON
ncction of circumstances that placed
her in such a position, and with them
strength to do his duty.
Gently putting her from him, he said
that now she must make her final de-
cision. Ringing the bell he requested
that Hugh and his son might come to
him, and that the housekecper, who
had answered it, would come with
them AS for Alice, he said he would
talk with her, but she must
be spared the pain of being present.
When Louis entered, he went directly
to Helen, and held out his hand.
81 know this is all false. | shall
never believe you capable of such
thing, Hclen," he said, warmly. a.
know it can all be explained"
"Shc refuses to EXPLAIN said Mr..
Wethcrcll. 81 wish you would use
your influence, Louis"
Pm afraid haven't much" said
the young man, sadly. "Helen, |
don't believe you will make us all so
sorrowful when few words will clear
it all up. Only say that you don't
know anything about it, and didn't put
the money there, and that will be
enough for me. l will take your word
against all the evidence in the world" :"
Helen's eyes filled as he took her
hand, and looked earnestly at her,
waiting for her to speak. thank
you for your kindness, Louis" she
said. "But can't say that know
nothing of it, for l do"
"And won't you tell us, Helen !!
There are none but friends here. Dear
Helen, for all our sakes speak and
clear this up"
"I cannot, | cannot don't ask me" /"
she exclaimed again, with such a look
of distress that Louis turned away
with groan, and sitting down, hid
his face in his hands.
Hugh's whole story was told over
again distinctly, and neither Mr.. Weth-
crell nor his son could see any discrep-
ancy in it. The key found had been
altered from larger one, but was al
most exactly like the one belonging to
the Office the belt Helen acknowl
edged to be ehers. There was no doubt
about the money found, there was nc