Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-11-16
HAROLD WHITES ENEMY.
BY aIARSDALE.

w. a. JACKSON, Recorder.
HAROLD WHITES ENEMY.
BY MARsDALE.
The three magistrates had sat un
iDterruptedly far into the autumn
afternoon, and had now retired tt
! consider their decision. 1t was +:
/ distressing case that had occurred
in Singlebridge, which is a mere
handful of a town, and provoked in
tense interest among the inhab
itants. Every body knew the parties
concerned. Siias WestbroOk, the
reluctant prosecutor, was the Sc
niOr partner in an imDreSsiveIy
solid firm which had flourished in
the borough for generations. He
enjoyed reputation for strict pro-
bity and broad benevOlence, which
was singularly merited. His son,
Augustus (also of the firm) wit
ness for the prosecution, was held
in much esteem by certain of the
younger sort in Singlebridge, who
sympathise with his amiable wild
ness and if the older sort looked
askance at these, why, that was
only natural. About Mr.. Blanch-
ard, another witness for for the pros
ecutiOn, little was known to the in
quiring gossips. He had been a
resident with the WestbrOOkS for
about eight months, during which
period he had sat alongside of Gus
in the office in business hours, and
had been a good deal about with
him at other times. They got on
amazingly well together, people OBJ
served 4; but despite all his efforts
and some of these were marked
enough-sua Mr.. Blanchard fail
ed TO similarly captive Gus pretty
sister Fanny. As became her faith
er's daughter, she treated the West
Indian connection of her fathers
firm with unerring graciOusness.
But her sweetest moods, her ten
derest looks and gentlest tones We're
not for him. The magician at
whose bidding they so gladly came
was Blanchard's instructive foe.
From the moment Harold White,
confidential clerk to the firm, and
potential partner therein, met and
simply shook hands with the West
Indian, they hated each other with
d hatred that owed its sustenance
on the one side to contempt, and on
the other to malice and uncharita-
bleness. To-day will behold the
triumph or discontinue Of Blan-
chard. In the Police Court of Single
bridge, in the presence of a crowd
of people, the majority of whom are
personally known to him, Harold
White stands accused on the united
testimony of the WestbroOks, father
and son, of embezzlemenl.
TO the profound chagrin of the
clerk, who, cordially
Blanchard, wished well
to the accused, the latter conducts
his own defence.
'FSilence in the court"
OF the four actors in the little
drama, Mr.. WestbrOOk betrays the
most agitation as the opening of a
door at the back of the Court, her
aids the return of the magistrates
to their seats on the bench. The
silence is oppressive, when in a
voice full of feeling, the chairman
tuTIlS III iilC dt&ISttl anu
"Harold White, j who have
known you for so many years,
need not say that the long exami-
nation which my brother magis-
trates and myself have this day con-
lucted to the very best of our abiIi-
Iy, has been fraught with consider
able pain. And we are bound to
admit, in your behalf, that nothing
has transpired in the course of this
hearing which reflects in the least
on your conduct during the period |
to which | refer. We have given
due consideration to this fact in
your favor, and have come to the |
actuated by motives
which we earnestly hope you will /
i've to appreciate in proper spirit, /
to dismiss this case. You may /
60"
''But my character" exclaimed |
White. in voice husky with emo |
lion. "Who is to clear that of /
.aint ?''
YOURSELF" solemnly answered /
he chairman. "Call the next /
.ase."
Dazed, trembling under the in
1uence of warning passions, he left /
he dock and passed out OF the court /
ntO the sunlit street. Whittier I
should he direct his feet? AS he /
slowly and mechanically, seeing
hearing nothing, with bow
ed head and ieaden gait, stole along |
N the direction of the riverside, he (
'elt touch on his aim. He paused. /
1t was one of Mr.. WestbrOOk's /
Jerks. The lads mouth was trem-
llOus with sympathy.
"Mr. WestbroOk has sent me with |
his note, Mr.. White. Is there any
answer ?"
YES" he replied, tearing the
paper into atoms, there is. Mr..
wishes to see me. Tell
aim we shall not meet again until
ne is pi epared to stand up in that
court House and pray to be allowed
% proclaim my innocence in tones
IS loud as those which he used to-
lay in declaring my guilt"
The lad left him. The Septem-
Der sun was setting redly behind a
amiliar belt of woods which fring-
ad the further bank of the river as
ne continued his moody walk. He
mad held on for miles needless of /
he direction he took and now he /
,woke from his fit of passionate Bit /
.erness to find himself on a spot
hat had often been halIowed by
me presence of the girl he loved.
Harry ~
"Fannyv
In those two words all was eX-
pressed. In that fierce embrace /
loubt was slain.
go, Harold, / have followed you
or hours fearing to speak, you
oOked so pale and changed
81 am changed. They have not
,ent me to prison, Fan, but the |