Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-04-01
Why He Did Not Marry Her.
BY OSCAR DALE.
CHAPTER III.

Ashton Cooke, however, protested will
much warmth and apparent indignation hi
entire innocence, and offered ali explanation
ofthe suspicious entries. He stated that Mr.
Chapman had made these entries as he lat
many others on memorandum book, ant
handed them TO him for entry in the books
The explanation was received with incredul
ity by the firm, for they argued, If Chapman
whom they had trusted so implicitly woult
thus defraud them, why should they believe
this young man whom they had known fol
so much shorter period of time.
Mr.. Savage did at last deign to listen with
some attention to his plausible story, and af.
ter consultation with Mr.. Miller, said" Mr.,
Cooke, we do not wish to do you any injus-
tice and, SO long as the story you tell might
possibly be true, and we have no positive
proof to The contrary, we will keep the mat
ter quiet. But, of course, you understand
the impossibiity of our retaining you in your
present position. think you will acknowl-
edgo the justice of our decision when you
come to think calmly over the crcumstan-
ces."
So Ashton Cooke was dismissed. As to
thinking calmly over the matter that was
another affair. He felt that in one short
hour all of joy and love and hope had gone
out of his life, and nothing appeared ahead
but the blackness of desolation, misery and
dispair.
lie passed q long and weary night in
sleepess misery, and In the morning sat
down and wrote long letter to Mr.. Bayne,
giving him his explanation of the suspicious
entries and concluding his letter as fol-
lows s.
"And, now, Sir, 1 have told you the
truth, nothing more, nothing less,-I have
written it for you and for your niece to
whom hope you will read this letter. Your
partners refused to believe it, and l suppose
you will do the same. They have, however,
admitted the 2,tdusibility of my explana-
tion and have ''givcn me the benefit of the
doubt as the lawyers would say, and con-
sented not TO blacken my character on sus-
picion alone. write, Sir, to ask similar
favor at your hands. l ask you for short
time to treat me as an innocent man and to
grant me one interview with your niece |
shall resign all claims to her hand, at least
until / can prove my innocence even to your
satisfaction.
81 have tried to write with calmncss and
sclf-restraint, if have failed, remember the
terrible charge brought against me, and also
remember that l love your niece from whom
this foul and unjust suspicion must separate
mc,-possibly forever. That am innocent,
call ON God and the spirit of my sainted
mother to witness. beg that you will com
ply with my request.
Yours with Respect,
ASHTON Cooke.
Mr.. Bayne read the letter with dsdan-
ful smile. He had come near making fool
of himself by trusting this young man, and
he would have no more of such weakness
After Chapman had turned out to be rogue
he would trust no ne,-except Nettie. Yes,
Nettic was good and honest, but then she
was fool, like all women. Instead of shar-
ing his indignation against this fellow who
had played the rascal, even while he aspired
to her hand, she had seemed utterly detected
and full of sorrow. Mr. Bayne pitied her
but then, confound her, Where was hci
spirit Where her righteous wrath
This letter put him in dilemma. 1t wa!
evidently intended as much for Nettie as fol
himself, and he felt that maybe, considering
her relations towards Mr.. Cooke, she ough
to see it,-besides he felt some scruple
about Withholding from any one what he O.
she had right to,-so he cogitated long ant
read the letter again.
He finally, much to his relief, came to
conclusion, and took a grim satisfaction il
repeating TO himself modified text, ,-''Sh
is of age she shall speak Tor herself" III
resolved, however, to read the letter to he
himself and to explain the transparent so
phistry Of the explanation as he went along
This plan he carried out as far as possible
but felt that he had failed to make the ab
surdity of Mr.. Cookies explanation as plai
as he had wished,-" the affair was so in
geniously gotten up" lac said.
The reading ended, Ncttie said, "I wi
see Mr.. Cooke. viii you let me cxamin
the letter more at my leisure?"
She spoke with the calm dignity of
woman powerful in tine strength of he
womanbood, and without a word of prote!
her uncle handed her the letter.
.sThese are the times that try men
SOULS" in the darkest days of the revol,
tionary struggle, wrote one of the able
political leaders of the day, and so in p,
/, culiar sense they were, but the times til;
try mems and women's souls are alwa.
with us, and each moment of time sees son
soul at the crisis which decides its who
future. All are not thus tested, but IL
greatest and the best are, for, "whom T
loveth He chasteneth.'
The weepinp girl who had left her uncle
nresence the day before stunned and bow,
down with grief now stood before him
r nroud and self-reliant sooman full of fai
,,o,,o,,d r,oos,ro In tho man oba Ioved M,