The anti-monopolist., 1876-06-01

ised her daughter, till evening shadows fell.
They were sitting together iu the parlor,
waiting fer some triting message TO be de-
iivered before going to their room, when
Mr.. Raynor came in with an ex ouisite bass
ket of flowers.
Permit me, he said ''tc make a trifiing
gift in honor OF the day
II wonder how he knew" Ellie thought,
sure that She had not mentioned the fact,
that it was her mothers birthday, to any
one. She drew hack little, watching the
stately old man as he made deep bow, and
placet the basket upon the liable. And she
wondered at the flush upon her mothers
face, the trembling of the hand that hovered
over the beautiful blossoms. With strange
feeling of weight upon her own heart, she
recalled the facts connected with MIR. Ray
nors coming to the house two years before.
Since that time his delicate attention to her
mother had been unceasing. he had shown
her ever the most dellcate Difference, had
paid her aiberal price for her best suit oi
rooms, and made her many little presents OF
10 wers and books.
81 am sure he loves her, and she likes
him" Ellie thought, greatly puzzled, land
yet he does not ask her to be his wife, aad
she looks ready ,o faint if speak OF s4ch
a thing
While she still watched these two, her
own lover yoEng lawyer came IN, and
the four gathered around small table and
entered into a general conversation. Bat
Louis Salon was pale, too, this evening,
and had an abstracted all. Suddenly he
said:
Mrs. Morton VIII yeu think me- imper-
tinent if | ask you few Questions. will
explain afterwards %
Certainly not" was the gentle answer,
though Ellie saw a startled look IL her
mothers eyes.
did you ever Know d Lawrence Nor
TONI"
II knew him well.
Her very lips were white as the words
passed them
"Do ycu know where he can be found ~
| at Is sixteen years since he left this
city"
True He may be dead 1t IS a curious
case, Mrs. Morton; but since it will soon
be public, | will tell you now why ! am
anxious to find Lawrence Morton. I was
called upon today to draw up the viii CT the
millionaire, Preston Pratt"
Here Mr.. Raynor turned his face from
the light aud took up q newspaper, But
ellie, watching him, saw that he listened
intently, with face rigid and white and
eager eyes.
Mr. Pratt said Louis, male a very
curious confession, which drew up 10 the
presence Of two witnesses. 1t appears that
some sixteen years ago he was the Junior
partner Of a large wholesale business IN this
city-one OF. the firm Of Marvin & Co"
Mrs. Morton shivered moment as if
chilled, and locked towards Mr. Raynor,
but the newspaper screen his white face.
Ellie waited with fast beating heart til her
lover spoke again.
"Mr. Pratt confesses, now that be Is
dying man, that he gambted heavily, and
t1nding himself unable to meet his labiG~
ties. fearing detection, he forged check Of
the firm for ten thousand dollars. H. gave
the check to the head clerk, Lawrence Nor
ton, to take to the bank, selecting a time
when they were alone in the counting house.
The check was detected as q forgery the next
day, and Lawrence Merton was arrested.
lie gave true account Of The manner III
which the check camc into his possession and
Preston Pratt denied it. 1t was absurd,
people said to suppose Il partner ia the firm
would rob the firm, and Lawrence Morton
was locAed up Tor tf!ai
Again Mrs Morton stole timd LOOK al
the old gentleman opposite her, and again as
once before the paper b,lttled her bu. tilie
could the old gentleman teeth hard sci
and his breath coming in pautng gasps
'.Bu. the case was never tried, continued
Louis, "tor the prisoner escaped /, vas
ascertained afterwards that Mrs. Morton
procured the money 10 orIhe the warden,
selling her Jewelry, and The suspected forser
escaped. But Preston Pratt lived here
frightened from his e .mhling propeuslties,
working steadily TIL the retirencn, Of the
senior partners gave hin the entire control
If business He has made mammoth for
tune. and having never married leaves the
greater portion t. public charities but he
wishes thss confession published. 10 remove
the stain from Lawrence Movtons name or
memory And he leaves ;eu thousand doi-
lars, with compound interest for sixteen
years. to Lawrence Morton. il h. caa he
found. or his heirs Il he IS deaf
AS ii that could atons!' cried Mrs Nor
ton, with her eyes blazing W III his mon
ey give back to Lawrence Morton the years
he has spent IN exile under .ao shadow os
uumeritel disgrace viii u Civ &c his
wife the tender love the sweet con pan.ou>
ship She has missed for sixteen years Hsll
il lift from her the burden OF pa;u, ssrrow
and toll she has borne n loneliness ar
,earss Will it bring 10 Iawrence Morton
child the fathers love, that shoan ave been
the most precious memory Of her caildheod
her girlaood, her maidenhood7 Out uuon
such piiiful comrea.A WITH tue terror G:
death, prsstoa Pratt has done justice to III
husbands name His money may g ~hs-s
i. will want none oFit
"Your husband
MY father =
My husband and yo.r father sad Mrs
Norton putting her arms around no- uaagt
ter "My husband, who remained IN e1l.e
;i.l he was 50 aged by sorrow and suffering
that eyea his best friends have failed to re-
coyaize him. Your father Ellie. WHO, st4rv-
Ing at las, for the love from which ae was
thrust GU. by such cruel fraud, stoie aack
under false name, that he uIga. see the
wife he loved, the child ~he nst forgo.i en-
| him, though. he might never reve.l 10 them
4 - t>~