Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-07-07

and cried all night before she could induce
her husband to consent.
CIVIC, you don't understand, said John,
with careworn look on his brow. 1--WE
must study economy, OF we shall go tic
ruin ~ ~
Economy! sharply retorted Viz; 81
AIN sick of the very word! !"
Her husband turned silently away; it
was hard, Just when he had most need OF
sympathy, counsel, and advice, thus to be
repulsed.
"They tell me-" said old Mr.. Hardie, the
senior member of the firm of Hardie,
Blocke & Co., ''that Hale's wife dresses
the most elegantly of any one at Yarmou nth
this season y
"What, Hale, who keeps Denny sbooks:
Young Hale ~
eyes !"
"The deuce she does How can he at;
ford it ?''
'sAh!' said old Hardie, taking snuff,
UlIo ~ uillOlOAU l1teUUC1. GOl U hllO w
how he affords it. If were Denny, I
should keep an eye to things!''
"They've had some serious lessons al
ready, I'm told, said the other. "That
burglary last week cost them a thousand
pounds"
"Any trace of the burglars as yet ?''
sNo. The safe must have been opened
by skeleton keys, Denny thinks"
"Humph p. grunted old Hardie. eff the
cashier WAS any one but Hale, that Denny
trusts as he would trust himself -
s'Oh, nonsense, nonsense !" cried the
other old gentleman. .'There's such a
thing as being too suspicious, Hardie J
You'll be saying next that Hale is at the
head of a gang of burglars %
ssHe may be for all [ KIN oW," said Har-
die, dryly.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Reginald Denny be-
gau to be strangely mistrustful. Not of
John Hale-he would as soon have thought
of doubling himself-but Of others about
him.
"Hale," said he, sometimes think these
knaves of burglars are nearer home than
any one imagines !"
'sDo you, sir? ?" A CHASTITY look came
over the young mans features, as if he
were in pain. ''impossible!"
"'At all events, it is worth.looking into,' y
said Denny. 1.-THE circle of suspicion seems
to be narrowing down. Do you mind sit
ting up for night or two?"
'Not at all, sir. if you desire it,"
"I'm sorry to ask it of you, as you haven't
seemed well this last week or two"
''Pray don't mention it. I am well
enough said Hale, almost impatiently.
1t was the first night of his vigil-a dark,
tempestuous midnight, with rain falling
outside, and the rush Of equinoctial winds
wailing down the chimney. Mr. Reginald
DeRny had gone home, but some unana-
lyzed notion induced him to return, quietly
and by stealth, towards two O'Clock in the
morning. Letting himself in by his own
private key, with word Of reinsurance
to the alarmed Waterman who paced the
warehouse, he noiselessly entered the
counting house.
sThe safe where the moneyand valuable
papers we're kept was wide open. Kneel-
ing before it, with both hands full of bank
notes and bills, 'hurridly transferring som e
to an open leather case on his right hand,
and putting others back, was John Hale
himself.
In an instant, Mr.. Reginald Denny's
iron grasp was on his arm.
$50 l have got at the root Of the matter
at last," said he in deep, stern voice.
$50 you are the burglar, John Hale!"
"Ah!" exclaimed the cuiprit in dismay,
"Have mercy ~
"Mercy on a heartless etch?-never!
You shall pay the full penalty Of your in
gratitude and crime"
s'Think for one moment, sir, Of the
situation in which I have been placed by
an extravaganza wife, whom 1 fondly, ten
derby love-"
''Her follies are no excuse for your dis
honesty. have placed unlimited trust in
youths is my reward. Had 1 not fortu-
nately arrived on the spot, tomorrow
morning would have found me beggar,
and the viper have warned and nourish-
ed, laughing at his dupe.''
White with rage and dismay, Hale
sprang to his feet, and confronted the man
whom he had so long been Systematically
robbing.
''You have discovered me-" he cried in
stifed accents, "but you never shall convict
meP'
There was vivid flash, the report Of a
pistol, and the next instant John Hale lay
dead before the eyes Of the Mortified mer-
chant.
cit was not SO much his own fault as it
was his wife's,' people said, when the ugly
facts connected with John Hale's suicide
leaked out. "He was weak, but not ma
turally wicked. and she prosecuted him
mercilessly for money. Poor girl her
dress, fashion, and luxuries were dearly
bought"
And Victoria Hale, sitting, pale and ago
nized, in her deep widows weeds, knew as
well as if supernatural hands had written
it in fiery letters on the wall, that she had
killed her husband
WASHINGTON KNOCKED DOWN. - In
1854, Washington, then in command OF the