Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-06-22
MONROE FARNLEY'S DEBTOR.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

BY ANNA SHIELDS.
GA lady, sir, who wishes to speak to
you"
! The clerks respectful voice reused Mon
roe Farnley from a long fit of abstraction
most unusual in his busy life. He looked up,
and passing his hand across his forehead
as if to drive away painful thought, he
said:
"Let her come in.''
Then he moved some papers upon his
office-table to conceal the writing, and
waited.
He was middle-aged man, handsome
and yet care-worn, a bachelor, and at the
head of an immense mercantile house, from
whose resources he drew a handsome in
come. A man who was known to be strict
ly upright in all his dealings, but who was
not credited with much benevolence OF
kindness of heart.
His face was set in stern, hard lines as
the lady entered. She was young, about
twenty, very lovely in feature and form.
tall, slender and blonde, But the deadly
pallor of her face. and unnatural dilation
of her large, violet eyes, the painful COM
preston of her delicate mouth, detracted
greatly from her beauty. And yet her face,
her graceful figure in it's cheap dress,
printed themselves upon Monroe Farnley' S
heart in one brief glance that he took as
he motioned his visitor to be seated. 1t
was evidently so difficult for the parched
lips to speak that he waited patiently
scanning the white, quivering face with
the same troubled glance that had proceed
| ed the announcement of her arrival. But
she spoke at last.
''You do not remember me, Mr., Farm
ley?
''Have we met before ?'' he asked; eva
sively.
"Not for ten years. When I was a lit
tie girl you were often a visitor at my fa-
theirs house. l am Geneva Wallace"
He only bowed grayely.
You know my errand,' she faltered.
sI-heard- only-this morning.
The broken words seemed to choke her.
but after moment she continued:
'You have had my brother arrested ,:
Again the same grave bend of the state
ly head.
''For-for-''
s.Theft ~
The word, sharp and clear, cut the air
like the report of a pistol. Genevra Wal
lace shivered at the sound and hid her
face.
Miss Wallace said the grave voice,
"you have come to remind me of my prom
! Use to your father, of your brothers. claim
upon my forbearance. Listen first to me.
! loved your father, and when he died I
promised to give his son my care and aid
in a business career. AS soon as your
brother left school, 1 took him into my
store, and have had my most trusted clerks
to teach him, and help him forward. [
gave him double the salary I usually pay
boys, and have faithfully tried to treat him
as your father would have wished. For
five years have had all patience with his
glaring faults, his insolence, his disobedi-
encc, his laZiness. But in return he has
robbed me, not once, not twice, but sever
al times, of money, till encouraged by his
knowledge of my reluctance to prosecute
my dear old friends son, he has grown
bold, and day before yesterday stole five
hundred dollars from my private desk.
Had he been starving, had he even been
helping you I might have again forgiven
him, but he took the money to gamble
with and lost it all at cards in one night.
I had him watched, that fact proven, and
then had him arrested
The white, despairing face was lifted and
the faltering voice asked:
s'And you will prosecute him ?''
There was no answer, and soon the low,
sweet voice, strained by agony of plead
ing, said
II do not come to ask justice, but mercy
My brother is very young, not yet twenty
five, and he may reform after this fright.
have tried to save him by sisters love
and prayer, but there were stronger intlu-
ences amongst his associates outside his
home, and he went astray. I came to-day
hoping you would release him if paid the
money"
( "You 1 understood, pardon me-that
you taught music for your own support
"That is true. [ could not pay the money
at once, or in one large sum, but every
month 1 could save llttle.''
Monroe Farnley wondered at himself
! feeling the thrill of delight that held him
at the thought of the frequent meeting his
acceptance of the proposition would in~
volve. A softening Of his face encouraged
Genevra, who continued:
my class of scholars is amongst DOOR
people, WHO cannot pay high prices, but if
you trust me will bring the money as fast
as I can save IT,
s'And your Erother-where will he goP"
! "Before this trouble" said Geneva. tive
had a letter from my mothers brother in
Kansas, offering to pay all my brothers
expenses, if he would join him and help to
carry on large farm there. Out of the
way of all city temptations, hoped
''The very thing"
The kindly, cordial tone broke through
Geneva Wallace's forced calmness, and
the tears rolled down her cheeks as she
said, family:
"You will let him CO."
Eyes. He is my old friends son, and
will not prosecute him, if you will assume
the debt"
| For he could not let her 90 altogether