The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-11-17

pied, and society began 70 look upon
them as belonging 10 each other, al
though no engagement was ever ans
nounced.r
Hsrry's face was turned away
from joe, but the latter saw a slight
shiver eanvulse the BOYS frame,
while q hand was tightly cIinebed
in the pillow under his head.
Zone night Charley zane home
and passing nv room On his way to
his own, stopped for q moment. /
missed the usual bnoyancy from bis
quick, elastic step. and the pleasant
whistle that nearly always announc-
ed bis coming. Looking up at him,
| saw a sad, troubled look In his
handsome eyes, and struck by the
change in bis manner, asked him
what was the matter. 1t was some
thing so unusual to see him anything
but cheerful and happy.
al don't quite know be answer
ed, in the low sweet voice that was
one of his greatest attractions. Ally
promised to be at home tonight, and
when l went TO her house she had
gone out-'with a gentleman was
told
as there al engagement, Char
ley?" | asked.
II suppose | may tell you. Joe"
be replied: "but the little lady will
not have it announced publicly"
Why not?" / asked him.
II don't know. You-you don't
think she can mean to break her
promise, do you, Joe?" he asked, in
a troubled, hesitating tone. ''She
HASN'T seemed quite the same lately"
And a heavy sigh broke from his
lips, and there was a slight evidence
of tears in the depths Of his soft
brown eyes.
That was the beginning of the
end. From that night a change came
over Charley. The brilliant light 10
his eyes faded away, the sound of his
football grew heavy and weary as be
dragged himself hopelessly about,
and bis merry whistle never woke
the echoes in the old boarding house
again. Alice Remson's falsehood
and treachery had broken his heart,
aud a few weeks afterwards cost him
his life
at is false-as false as hell!"
With a sudden bound Harry sprang
from the bed, his eyes glowing with
the fury Of a maniac.
With a sudden jerk be seized Joe
by the shoulder, and, dragging him
to his feet, threw him fcrcibly back
against the wall with a resisiless
strength born Of the madness of pas
sion that engulphed his soul
How dare you tell me such a
wild, false, wicked lie: Do you
stand there with such a vile, base
falsehood on your lips and tbiGk that
| shall not XIII yoU?n
Joe warded OF the fierce blow that
would have fallen on his head with
his leh srm. and exer,iug the full
SsrsuSA o, rs heavy muscular frame
g,aiooe5 UG--ys arms to his side.
and GAe3 ki1 back to The bed. where
be bsl5 him BY the force Of one pow
eFtol hSs6
Are Won mad, Harry. that YOU
wooli strike yoar best friend. Con-
Jroi yoarself Instantly aad Joe's
sierra gaze looked iato Harry's pas
senate ewes With 4 calm. determined
forcs TIA; woali have sabdued a ma
lure even more violent Than poor
Harrys
The boy WINGED under the severe
glance bent upon him, and twisting
himself away from The resolute grasp
that held him, buried bis face among
the pillows. while a deep groan came
from his lips.
Harry" said Joe, while the tears
gathered in his eyes, and bis voice
quivered at the sight of the poor
boys suffering, here is q package of
letters, the evidence | have to offer
you of the truth of the sad story !
have told you tonight. Among the
FIRST you will find Alice'5 confession
of love for Charley, her sweet ex-
pressions Of devotion and affection
for the man she aiterward ruined,
then the cruel letter that blighted his
hope and destroyed his ambition
Next a few cold, business ike lines
from Mr.. Huntley, informing him
that his services are no longer of
value to his employ srs, aud regret
ting the necessity Of discharging him.
Last of all, q few disjointed words 10
Charley's own handwriting, in which
be announces his intention of self-de-
struction, and begs me to break the
story of his death gently to bis moth
er, and shield his memory, if posi-
BILE, from the obloquy that attaches
itself to the name o. asuicide. Then.
Harry, here is a newspaper. In one
column you win find a paragraph
headed Fatal Accident-Found !
Drowned, and description of how
poor Charley's body was discovered
when the waters gave up their dead,
and all that remained Of the beauti-
iul form and gentle soul that so many
had known and loved was q mass Of
blackened and swollen corruption,
cast by the waves on the harsh stones
OF Staten Islard beach. In another
column you will see a description of
Miss Remson's elegant toilet as she
appeared at the grand charity ball at
the Academy Of Music"
Joe might have spared him this
last pang. He had done bis work
thoroughly. He bad torn the veil of
romance and purity away from Alice
Remson's life and character, aud ex.
posed her to Harry's gaze as a wo-
mai guilty Of the crime of driving a
weak and gentle soul to destruction
by her heartlessness aud per6dy.
When Joe ceased speaking Harry
lay for q few minutes motionless. His
fierce passion had subsidized, and with
a noble effort he rallied his power of
endurance and self control, to ena-
ole him to face in a manner becom-
log a man the misfortune that had
fallen upon his life. Then be raised
himself from the bed 10 weary, la
borious manner, ike an old man. lie
took the package of letters from the
table, and sbuddered as bis fingers
came in contact with the black band