The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-09-12


For an hour the Office clock tieked
solo 10 the quietuess, when Walter
Maitland rose slowly from his chair,
with the Times unfolded in bis hand,
and, letting the paper fally came and
stood upon the rug beside his friend,
who had Just re.entered from the bank.
Very gently he laid his hand upon his
seniors shoulder. Jg #r
"Dart, old friend want to speak
o fe,g words TO you in great earnest
meas. Since we met yesterday morning,
l have grown to feel quite certain Of
one thing--quite. The time has not
in reality been very long, but it seem.
cd so, aud gave me plenty Of opportu.
nifty for thought; and what | have
grown to feel so sure Of is this, l shall
never marry now."
"Nor /, replied Maurice, meaning
it as men do not often mean the phrase,
though they utter it as firmly.
"I-fancied not. Now, we are both
wealthy men, Dart" continued Wal
ter, bravely and gently, "and this
wealth we offered day or two ago, to
Isabel COnyngham. You guess what
am going to say? Shall she benefit
by our--love for her ?'
The senior partner looked up slow
ly, questioningly. A thought which
had been haunting him all night made
the full meaning Of these words quite
plain to him.
Eyes, see you have felt this" re-
sumed Walter, quietly, Gust as l have
felt it. | see that my words only came
as aD ending to your thought. un.
derstand how it put itself to you. Les.
lie has invested all his fathers savings
all his patrimony, as one may say.
in our bank, and spends his whole days
here most conscientiously, most trust.
worthily. All he draws for this can
not keep a>house which we-you and
Like to picture as IsabePs home.
And then his mother has to be provi.
ded for. You think. Dart. that it
would not hurt us and could not make
any difference to Captain Dart, who
has no voice in any bank matters, if
Leslie had power to draw what would
keep them more comfortably. In short
lin short, old fellow, you would make
him equal partner with me-"
"With ourselves" said Mr.. Dart,
shortly, with ourselves, you mean? If
we were all equal partners"
"Let US discuss it this afternoon.
Think it over till then, Maurice" put
in Walter, feeling that the senior part.
ner should have time to make his de-
cision eve will talk it over again."
The discussion WIS duly held that
afternoon in the partners private
room. Then Tom was summoned to
hear the result of it. Though not a
long interview it was one impossible to
describe, fer how could any words
show the utter failure of Mr.. Darts
effort to maintain his grave reserve
through Toms extravagant, boyish,
humble, proud, ridiculous gratitude !?
Or describe Walter Maitland's persist
snt (thougb always disregarded) assu-
rance that as Mr.. Dart had decided TO
make this arrangement, he was very
glad to accede to it? And, after that
interview, who could repeat the limit
less promises Tom made to his fel ow
clerks when he told them of his mar
riage2 Or tell how he reached home
in half his usual time and put his arms
around his mother, with his eyes full
of tears, just as if he had been thirteen
instead of fthirty.
But above all, who could describe
Isqbel's mute, wondering gratitude to
the two men whom she had given so
much pain II am very, very crate.
ful, Tem," she said, appealing TO him
with tears thick upon her lashes "but
/ would rather not talk about it
yet. Let me have time to think about
it."
Quick to understand her wish, and
delicate in carrying it out, Tom left
Isabel, delighted that bis news had
moved her so, yet wondering little
over it, too-because the secret of the
partners was so safe in the keeping OF
the girl whom they had-not unwor.
thiiy-loved. But hardest of all would
it be TO describe how brilliantly before
Toms eyes that night there came a
vision of that Identical brass plate
which really met him face to face
when, after his holidays" he 6rst
reached the heavy, familiar doors of the
RighborOugh Bank-"Dart, Maitland
Dart g. Leslie" Go" was no more
The exiled Modocs are living peace
fully on their reservation ia Kansas
and occasionally turn penny by sell
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