The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-02-15
yourself" solemnly answered til


and passed out Of the court into the sun
light street. Whittier should he direct
his feet? As he slowly and mechanical
ly, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, with
bowed head and leaden gait, stole along
in the direction of the river side, he felt
la touch on his arm. He paused.
It was one of Mr. Westbrook's clerks
The lads mouth was tremulous with
sympathy.
Mr. Westbrook has sent me with thi:
note, Mr. White. Is there any answer
"Yes,7 he replied, tearing the paper
into atoms, @there is. Mr. WestbrooE
wishes to see me. Tell him that We
shall not meet again until he is prepared
TO stand up in that court house anG
pray to be allowed to proclaim my in
nocence in tones as loud as those which
he used to day in declaring my guilt"
The lad left him. The September
sun was sinking redly behind familiar
tbelt of woods which fringed the further
banks of the river as he continued hi:
moody walk. He had held on for miles
needless of the direction he took anc
now he awoke from his tit Of passionate
bitterness to find himself on spot thai
had often been hallowed by the presence
of the girl he loved. What did she
think of him?
"Haroldl'
"FannyI'
In those two words all was expressed
In that fierce embrace doubt was slain
80 Harold, l have followed you fol
hours, fearing to speak, you looked SC
lpale and changedl'
Il am changed. They have not sent
me to prison, Fan, but the prison-taint
is on me. Why don't you shrink from
the moral leper, as the rest Of them have
done?"
"Because"-and it seemed to him a:
though her voice had never thrilled with
such sweetness befere-4I know you
"And you believe"
THAT all will be righted yet. can
wait, dear-if you will let me. You
never were more precious to me thar
iyou are at this moment"
miss Westbrook-Come, Fanny
this is no place for YOU"
Harold and she had not heard the
footsteps. 1t was Blanchard and hel
brother who had approached unnoticed
And no.place for you, either" said
White to Blanchard"
"Faugh," replied that worthy, Il have
no words to waste on such as you, sir
| l am here to perform duty"
@Scoundrer" Harold began, at the
same time raising his hand. She touched
him, and he was still.
"Sir," said she, Il am mistress of my
own actions. If / choose to acc Jmpany
my brother, it is-because l choose
Harold, good-by! Come what may, my
faith will not falter, my love never
change
1 The last four words were murmured
| As she shaped them she reached forward
and kissed him before her brother
whose surprise at her defiant attitude
was unspeakable.
They parted and went their severa
ways.
The charge against Harold White o
embezzlement, and the result of it, pro
duced wonder that lasted much Longer
than the proverbial nine days. His de
parture, the day after the hearing, NJ
one knew whittier, had the effect o
increasing the number and sympathy o
his friends. 1t was generally admitted
that his defense had been weak-incom
prehensidly weak. But who knew? 1t
might have had his own invincible rea
sons for not making it stronger. WHY
had the brother of his afianced (for sht
was his affianced in all but an opeI
formal declaration of the fact broker
with him so suddenly2 Until Blanchard
appeared on the scene they were insep
arabic. Depend on it, the West Indiar
was ut the bottom Of it. In this fashion
the gossips of Singlebridge discussed th'
events which had led to Harold White
downfall and departure.
Three months had elapsed, and not /;
word had been heard of or from Harold
White; unless, the female gossips sug
gested, he had written to Miss West
brook, which, considering the circum
stances which preceded his departure
he was hardly likely to haye done. Fo
once, however, they were out IN theil
calculations. He had written her let
ter in which these words occurred:
"IfI thought, darling, that you woulC
be happier to be rid of me for good ant
all, our bond should be dissolved. 1t i
your love and simple faith in me tha
sweetens my life and keeps me steadfs
| in my determination to undo the terrible
wrong from which I suffer. They shal
right me YETI
"I have borrowed for the present an
other name-my mothers before he
marriage; but the people with whom
am known that l am Haro,d White, ant
are acquainted with my history. linus
try, dear. to rub on without the consola
ton which your letters would bestow
1t is better that we should see to hav,
parted forever. In the good time w
shall meet-and them"
1t puzzled well-informed Singlebridgt
to hear Fanny Westbrook's cheerful
words, to note her placid brow anC
bright manner. "She never could have
thought much of that Harold White, ,yot
know, or she would have manifested
some regret at his misfortunes."
Blanchard, too, was mystifed by her
What did 1t portend? Had she resigned
all hopes of becoming restored to the
lover whom he had 50 effectually helped
to disgrace and Danish? Was the course
clear at last? He would see. His i'm
petous love for the sunny-haired, Saxon
eyed girl, love which sprang into eI
istence the moment they met,had grown
nightly since the going of White. He
would put an end to this uncertainty
{ He would face his fate.
, "Aninterview with me-" replied Fan
ny to his blandly proffered request
certainly, Mr. Blanchard Her tone
was proyokingly even. and, if you
please, let it take place now. Pray be
: seated"
If she only had been embarrassed.
, -Miss Westbrook, I-I-fear that the
impression which 1 made upon you the
day of that unfortunate recontre by the
riverside was not favorable. J.