Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-06-22
LOVE rs FAITH.

interest among the inhabitants. Every
body knew the parties concerned. Slas
Westbrook, the reluctant prosecutor, was
senior partner in an impressively solid
firm which had 1ourished in the borough
for generations. He enjoyed a reputation
for strict probity and broad benevolence
which was singularly merited. His son
Augustus (also in the frm), witness for
the prosecution, was held in much esteem
by certain of the younger sort in Single
bridge, who sympathised with his amiable
wildness and if certain Of the older sort
looked askance at these, why, that was
only natural. About Mr.. Blanchard, an
mother witness for the prosecution, little
was known to the inquiring gossips. He
had been residing with the Westbrooks
for about eight months, during which
period he had. sat alongside Gus in the
Office in business hours, and had been a
good deal about with him at other times
They got on amazingly we'll together,
people Observed but despite all his effol Is
and some of these were marked enough
-suave Mr.. Blanchard failed to captivate
Gus's pretty sister Fanny. As became
her fathers daughter, she treated the
West Indian connection of her fathers
firm with unlaltering graciousness. But
her sweetest moods, her tenderest looks
and gentiest tones were not for him. The
magician at whose bidding they so gladly
came was Blanchard's instructive foe.
From the moment Harold White, conf
dentia clerk to the firm, and ps-
tential partner therein, met and simply
shook hands with the West Indian, they
hated each other with hatred that owed
its sustenanco on the one side to contempt
charitabeness. To day will behold the
triumph or discontinue of Blanchard
In the Police Court of Snglehridge, 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 EN- bezzlement
To the profound chagrin of the magis-
trates, who, cordially disliking Blanchard,
wishes well to the accused, the latter con-
duets his own defence.
"Silence in the Court !"
OF the four actors IN the little drama
old Mr., Westbrook betrays the most agi-
tation, as the opening of u door at the
back of the court heralds the return of tne
magistrates to their seats on the bench
The silence is oppressive when, in n voice
full Of feeling, the chairman turns to the
accused and says:
"Harold White, I, who have known
you for so many years, need not say that
the long examination which my brother
magistrates and myself have this day
conducted to the very best Of our ability
has been to all Of us fraught with consid
cradle 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 conclusion,
actuated by motives which we earnestly
hope you will live to appreciate in a
proper spirit, to dismiss this case. You
may go"
"But my character" exclaimed White,
in a voice husky with emotion ; "who is
to clear that taint ~
YOURSELF" solemnly answered the
/ chairman. "Call the next case"
Dazed, trembling under the inluence
Of warning passions, he left the dock and
passed out of the court into the sunlit
street. Whittier should he direct his
feet? As he slowly and mechanically,
seeing nothing, hearing nothing, with
bowed head and leaden gait, stole along
in the direction Of the river side, he felt
a touch on his arm. He paused.
1t was one of Mr.. West orooll's clerks.
Tho lads mouth was tremulous with
sympathy.
"Mr. Westbrook has sent me with this
note, Mr.. White. Is there any answer"
Eyes" he replied, tearing the paper
into atoms, there is. Mr.. Westbrook
wishes to see me. Tell him that we shall
not meet again until he is prepared to
stand up in that court house and pray TO
be allowed to proclaim my innocence 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 belt
of woods which fringed the further banks
walk. He had held on for miles, heed r
less Of the direction he took, and now he
awol<e from his fit Of passionate bitterness
! TO find himself on a spot that had often
been hallewed by the presence Of the girl
he loved. What did she think of him
"Harold ~
Fanny !"
In those two words all was expressed.
In that fierce embrace doubt was slain.
ooh Harold, | have followed for hours,
fearing to speak, you look so pale and
changed ~
IL am changed. They have not sent
me 20 prision, 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 as
though her voice had never thrilled with
such sweetness before-"I know you"
"And you believe"
"That all will be righted yet. I can