The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-10-09
Perfect Love is Simple
Faith.

Il " te Il distressing case ana occurring IA
Siuglebridge, which i a mere handful Of "a
town, provoked intense interest among the
Inhabitants. Every body knew the partie,
concerned. Siids Westbrook. the reluctant
prosecutor, was senior partner in an inn
pressively solid firm which had fiOurished
IN he borough for gene atoms. He enjoy
ed a reputation for strict probity and Dad
benevOlenee which was singularly meriteG
His son Augustus (also OF the firm, wit
ness tor the prosecution. was held in much
esteem by certain OF the younger sort in
SingIebridge, who sympAthIZed with his
amiable wildness; aud if certain OF the
older sort looked askance at these. why.
that was Only natural. About Mr. Blauch-
ard, another witness for the prosecution.
little was known % the inquiring gossips.
He had b. Ell resident with the Westbrooks
for about eight mon las. during which peri
Oh he had sat alongside Gus in the office in
business hours. aud had been i good deal
about with him at other times. They got
on amazingly we'll together, people obServ-
cd, but despite all his etforts-and some OF
these were marked euOugh-suave NJ.
Blanchard tailed TO similarly captiVate
Gus's pretty sister Fanny. As became her
fathers daughter, she treated the West In
dian connection of her fathers firm with
nncrring graciOusHeSs. But her sweetest
moods, her tendeTeSt looks and geutlest
tones were not tor him. The magician at
whose bidding they 50 gladly came was
Bianchard's instructive foe From the mo-
mcnt Harold White, confidential clerk to
tho firm. and potential partner therein,
met and simply shook hands with the West
Iudian, they hated each other with hatred
that owed It's sustenauce on the one side To
contempt; and on the other 10 malice and
all uncharitableGeSs To-day will behold
the triumph or discontinue of Blanchard.
Ia the police court of Siuglebridge 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 embeZzlement.
To the profound chargin Of the magis
traLes' clerk, who, cordially disliking
Blanchard, wishes wei to the accused, the
latter conducts his own defence.
''Slleuce in the court"
Or the four actors III the little drama, old
Mr.. Westbrook betrays the most agitation
as the opening of door at the back of the
court heralds the return OF the magistrates
to seats ON the bench. The silence is OPP
pTesSive when, in a voice full of teeling,the
chairman turns TO the accused and says:
Harold White, |, who have known you
for so many years, need not say that the
long examination which my brother magis-
trates aud myself have this day conducted
to the very best of our ability has been TO
all of us fraught with considerable pain.
And we are bound to admit. in your behalf,
that nothing has tranSpred 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 apprcci-
ate in proper spirit, to dismiss this case.
You may 60"
'But my character" exclaimed White, i'll
voice husky with emotion, "who is to
clear that OF faint p
yourself" solemnly answered the chair
man. "Call the next case
Dlzp1 from bIiptr under the in fiupnpp of
warning passions, he left the dock and pass
ed 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 touch on his arm.
He paused.
1t was one of Mr. Westbrook's clerks.
The lads mouth was tremulous with symp-
athy.
MIR. WeStbrook has sent me with this
note, Mr.. White. Is there any answer"
Yes" he replied, tearing the paper into
atoms, ''there is. Mr.. Westbroon wishes to
see me. Tell him that we shall not meet
again until he is prepared to stand up in
that courthouse 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 san was
setting redIy behind familiar belt of woods
err, as he continued his moody walk. He
had held on for miles, needless of the di-
rection he took and now he awoke from his
fl of passionate bitterness to tiud himself
on spot that had often been hallOwed by
the presence of the girl he loved. What
did she think of him?
''Harry !"
Fanny -
In those two words all was expressed. In
that fierce embrace doubt was slain
80 ! follnxUal x~nt for hours
fearing to speak, you looked so pale and
changed -
Il am changed. They have not sent me
to prison, Fan, but the prison faint is on
me. Why don't you shrink from the NOR
al leDer, as the rest of them have do ne ~
"Because"-- and it seemed to him a;
though her voice had never thrilled with
such sweetness before-''I know you
And you believe"
THAT all will be righted vet. l can wait
dear-if you will let me. You were never
more precious to me than you are at this
moment
''Miss Westbrook- Come, Fanny, this is
no place for you.
Harold and she had not heard the foot
steps. 1t was Blanchard and her brother
who had approached unnoticed.
And no place for you either" SAID
White to Blanchard.
"Faugh," replied that worthy. 81 have
no words to waste on such as you, sir. L am
here to perform duty"
"Scoundrel," Harold began, at the same
! time raising his hand. She touched him anC
he was still.
Sir" she said, II am mistress of my
actions. If | choose to accompany my
brother it is-because | choose! Harold
good bye, Come what may, my faith will
not falter, my love never change
The last four words were murmured. As
she shaped them she reached forward anC
kissed him before her brother, whose sur
prise at her defiant attitude was unspeaka-
Bile.
They parted and went their several ways
The charge against Harold White of EN-
bezzlement. and the result of it, produced 3
wonder that lasted much longer than the
proverbial nine days. His departure, the
day after the hearing, no one knew whith-
err, had had the effect of increasing the
mum Der and sympathy of his friends. Ii
was generally admitted that his defence haC
been neutrality-suspicious. weak. Bat
who knew? he might have had his own in
Vincible reasons for not making 1t stronger
Why had the brother of his afidnced (fOr
she was his affianced in all but an open and
formal declaration of the fact) broken with
him so suddenly. Until Blanchard appear
| ed upon the scene they were inseparable
Depend upon it, the West Indian was at the
bottom of it. In this fashion the gossips OF
! SinglebrIdge discussed the events which
had led to Harold Whites downfall and
departure.
Three months had elapsed, and not a word
! had been heard of or from Harold White
unless, the female gossips suggested, he had
written TO Miss Westbrook, which consid-
ering his departure, he was hardly likely to
| have done. For once, however, they were
out in their calculations He had written
| her letter, in which these words occurred
"If l thought, darling, that you would bt
happier to be rid of me tor good and all oul
bond should be dissolved, Ii is your love
for the sim pie faith in me that sweetens my
| life, and keeps me stead fast in my determi
nation to undo the miserable wrong from
witch | suffer. They shall right me yet.
II have borrowed for the present another
name-my mothers before her marriage
but the people with whom / am know tina
l am Harold White, and acquainted witt
my history. [ must try, dear, TO rub OF
| without the consolation which your letter.
| would bestow. Il is better that we shnule