The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-19

but TO ask your Aid in exposing . william .
perfdy," continued the woman. This In
Miss Bella LAthrop's Wedding day"
Il believe 30, was the young mechan-
les gloomy response.
And you love her r persisted Rsu-
ben's strange visitor.
Reuben flushed hOtly.
81 am not accustomed 10 discuss my
private affairs IN public, he replied coldly /"
Pardon me, replied the woman. In
my anxiety to gain my end have been
too abrupt. II you would save Miss La
throp whom you love, Or rumor speaks
falsely, from Wedding o william; II you
would see yourself Set free fr ON any sus-
picion Of having fired the office, come with
me-"
Something in the wOman's manner i'm
pressed Reuben with . strange conviction
that what she sald was the truth. Giving
orders to the men TO pursue the work Of
the day, he donnsd his coat and accompan-
led the woman cut into the open air.
"What time is it nOwP qusrisd the wo-
man, coming to sudden halt.
Ten clock
- hen there Is no time for delay.
Come"
''Wheref
''To Mr.. LathrOps"
Reuben drew back in dismay.
I'm this dressf he said, glAncing ut his
common working clothes.
Certainly"
He hesitAted
What" cried the woman, with harsh
unnatural laugh, cynical in the extreme.
Are you, too, like the rest Of mankind,
preach principle, but fear TO act up TO i'll
Bah! you men are al alike. You were
prsting Of eqtsaiity week Ago,-do clothes
make . differencsr
''You seem to have general knowledge
of me, although never placed eyes upon
you before" sharply retorted Reuben,
stung by the hidden taunt in the woman .
words. II care not for clothes, q man In O
man in any guise, only"
The weddingl" interrupted tho woman.
''Do not fear, We will stop that before the
guests have arrived"
"At what time does ii OCCUR r. asked
Reuben.
AT half past eleven, ct the church.
Come"
Without . word Reuben followed the
woman. Not word was spoken until they
reached the LAthrop mansion.
The front door stood open. The woman
darted scross the threshold, her eyea
cleaning wildly, and Reuben following.
There in the drawing room sat the fami.
ly party. Mr.. Lathrop, his partner, MIR.
CRANKY, and Colonel Lionel Darrel. AT
one emf Of the room sat Bella pale as mon
umsntal marble.
Darrell started TO his feet, his features
becoming ashy pale NJ the woman entered
the room.
"Who IN this womanl' sternly demanded
Mr.. LethrOp, Of the servant, who now ap-
peafvd.
"Who am II" cried the woman, POINTING
her finger 1t the craven-hsarted Darrel
who stood with distended eyes, QiarinR n
her. 81 ana yOssdcr psan's scite!''
A scream Of agony, JOY and amAzement
rang from Bella Lathrop's lips at the an
nouncement, a. Ghe arose excitedly to her
feet. Mr.. LAthrOp and his partner stood
gazing in utter bewilderment and horror
at Darrel. who stood transfxed. Reuben,
with Huttering heart, stood in the opeI
doorway.
'Is this wOman's word true7' demanded
Mr.. LAthrOP, turning sssrnly upon hi
boek-keeper.
The miscreans wFithed under his glance
and uttered IN oath under his brsafh.
Yea" be said, desperately. 'Ths
games up, and might - we'll confess ths
truth"
Mr. LAthrop creased the rson 10 whsr'
his dsughtsr StO6d
THANK Godrs 10 isrvsaely sjaculated,
enfolding her u closs and tslAdsr EN-
breOs, ..thAt We have foaad out ths trutl
bs6ogp II was Too lats.
SClsss the door, Daltoa," said Mr.