, 1876-04-14

attention to business and nervous man
ner. 1t was, therefore, with a sad heart
that he summoned him to his private office.
Open-hearted and generous as he was,
Howard freely confessed his dishonesty,
and begged of Mr.. Emerson not to ex-
pose him to the law. He did not once
mention the name of the one who had so
basely misled him.
II being impossible to recover the
money, he was allowed to go unpunished
upon his promise to return the money if
ever he were able to do so.
Flora would not believe him guilty
she declared there was some mistake
about it, and in her heart she fully for
gave him. He left the, scene of his dis
grEce with0Ut even Dluu1ng her good by,
and went-no one knew whittier.
Five years had passed, and Mr.. Emer-
son sat in his Office, gloomy expression
upon his countenance and his'head bowed
in thought. He was on the very verge of
bankruptcy, and how to avert the i'm
pending shock he knew not. Every source
had failed him but one.
Harry Cole had tried every possible
means of winning the affections of Miss
Emerson since Howard's absence. He
offered to save her father from ruin if she
would only consent to become his wife,
which proposition she received with IN
difference. But when her father remon-
Strated with her-pleaded the wretched
condition of affairs, and how she might
easily prevent this ruin-she hesitated.
at is a terrible sacrifice" she MUIR
INJURED to herself, "but l must save him
yes, even if it cost me my own life"
And the noble girl had promised to give
Mr. Cole her decision that very evening.
The afternoon wore away, and still Mr..
Emerson sat in his chair, his head resting
upon his hand, and a vacant look in his
eyes. He could see nothing amiss in
Harry Cole. He was handsome, accom-
plishej, wealthy, and, as far as he knew,
perfectly honorable. Then his mind
wandered back to Howard Moore, and he
wondered if his daughter could possibly
have thought of him still. His revefy
was interrupted by the entrance of a
porter.
"Please, sir, gentleman outside
wishes to see you"
"Show him in, John, " he said, absently.
The stranger made his appearance, aud
taking the seat offered him, asked
"DO you remember met"
"No," was the reply.
"Did you not once have in your service
a young man by the name of, Moorei"
"Yesn
AWhat bacama of hin,qn
"He left me about five years ago, and !
have never heard of him since"
"Why did heleave youl"
No matter; it Is a long time ago"
"Was he an honest youth9n
81 think he was naturally; but he got
into bad company"
"Had you confidence in hint"
''The most explicit; and l cannot
somehow, help having confidence in him
still, and believe he will one day return
and pay the money he owes me-"
"Here it is, principal and interest. /
have come to pay it, and implore your
forgiveness for an early crime"
"Who are you7" asked Mr.. Emerson.
'loward," he replied, "who robbed
you five years ago. have been fortu-
nate enough, in my traffic abroad, to OBJ
tain the means of returning to you the
sum fraudulently distracted from you"
Our hero had changed 80 greatly in
personal appearance that Mr.. Emerson
had not recognized him. But now his
face lighted up wonderfully.
"Heaven bless you, my boyw he ex-
claimed, joyfully. "You have not only
saved me from ruin, but my daughter"
"Ahl what about Floral" interrupted
Howard, eagerly.
ave must 60 and see her immediate
ly,n replied Mr.. Emerson; and he ex-
planned the situation of affairs.
We will not describe the meeting of
those two, as every one can imagine the
joy Of Flora upon seeing once more her
long absent lover.
"You came near losing me, Howard, "
she said, softly, with loving glance from
the gray eyes he admired so much.
"And / will prize you all the more
upon that account" be answered, as he
pressed her to his heart.
1t is proper to add that Mr.. Coles
proposition was ANONYMOUSLY rejected.