The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-09-13

admission of his villainy toward my poo
dead sister, If he will go with me, wei
and goodj shall go alone. have hear'
what sort of a man Oscar Clayson IS. Wher
he Has listened to my story it may alter Nh
Roy Melford's future Prospects"
A little silence followed. and then bit
ter laugh broke from the woman's lips.
"oh, know why you are here" she wen
on. at is to offer me a bribe. Roy Mel
ford has sent yot But you can go bacl
agaiii and tell Him that would fling hi
dollars in the dirt if he prolfered them t.
me No what want is revenge for my
poor dead sister-and mean to get it th
night only heard of the coming marriag,
yesterday. wish I'd known of it sooner
But perhaps it is not yet too latel"
A sileHce followed. fheh Mark Sinclair
calm Voice said
al caiHe to ofet you no bribs. Roy Mel
ford will not go with you to Mr.. Claysoh's
but l. his friend, will go. You shall tel
your story; and then we will see just wha
happShs :"
"You say, Martha wiimot, that you werc
absent from home, in situation as factory
woman, when all this sad affair occurred p
Oscar Clayson spoke. He was standing
in the centre of his library, facing Marth;
Wilmot and Mark Sinclair, who stood neal
her and looking as pale as death. He wa!
man who lad been handsome in his day
but slow mortal malady had for severa
years been gradually sapping his strength.
"Yes," answered Martha, 81 returned
home to find my sister dying. And thi
mans deceit had killed her. He is the
man, Mr.. Clayson, who is to marty yoti
daughter tomorrow"
Mr.. Clayson now spoke somewhat hoarsely
.'You mentioned some letters" he said
"Let me see them"
Msrtha handed him small packet.
dMy mother could also have given hei
testimony" she went on, of her death tat
not happened few weeks ago. But these
letters, think, arc ehodgb proof: You vii
no doubt recognize their hand"
al do recognize it."
The words left Oscar Clayson's lips few
mintite5 later. He had been reading severa
of the written pages. He sank back int
his chair and the loosened sheets fell from
his half-nerveless fingers:
"Poor Viola p he murmured. "What
wedding day she will have"
Mark Sinclair drew several steps nearer
to the old gentleman, at this.
"Mt. Claysonj" he said, "do you mean
that you will forbid your daughters mar
riageT
Forbid it," was the quick, imperiou'
answer az w,uld rather see Viola dead
than the wife of one who could so soil him
sef'
But if he ias repented bitterly" urged
Mark. "If-"
"Repented! If he reTented Thousand
times the dshonor would still be the same
No, my mind is made up. The wedding
shall not take place"
A silence followed. Martha Wilmot'i
face was lit with a saturninej triumphant
smile.
In moment ese can commit deeds of ut.
ter basetiess. And it requires but momen
also for IFS 10 decide upon our actions wherC
the loftiest sublirhity is shown.
Mark Sinclair loved Viola Clayson will
a profound, overmastering love. A selfish
nature might have seen in this old mans
decision the chance Of future personal bene
fit.
But Mark suclair's nature was not mere
ly unseliih. 1t was capable of splendid
herioc rehunciation, ofhigh, supreme gener
osity. Roy Melford, too, was his friend
He meaitated for a brief space, then he
acted.
"The truth must be told !" he said; ~ wrote
those letters"
'Youl" exclaimed Mr.. Claysou.
"You I" echoed Martha.
Yes, |, Mark Sinclair. l confess it; they
are forgeries. ] have never been Roy Mel
ford's ftiend. Years ago he injured me-u'
matter how. vowed revenge upon him
and when we were at D together saw
the chance of thus harming his fair fame.
wooed Sara Wilmot under Roy Melfordt
name. lie never went near the cottage, ol
very rarely. If fMrs, Wilmot were alive she
ceuld identify me as her daughters deeeiv'
er. | Afterwards forged his name and hand
writing. now tell the truth because
have grain of conscience LETT and canno
see an innocent creature like Viola Claysor
suffer, even though it would bring disaster
upon the man still hate"
at is no. true" gasped Martha.
But Mark had acted his part magnificent
iy. Oscar Clayson was wholly deceived BY
him.
"I believe you, however" cried the Ole
man, starting to his feet. "Never enter my
door again" he went tn, Indignantly "nol
dare to speak to me while live"
"As you piease,' said Mark, in humble
crushed tones. "But now that have con
| fessed the truth, at least conceal my shame
and give ne those letter5,'
i Take them" cried Mr., claysOn, " am
goP'
Mark seized the letters before Marthi
could re-secure them. And an instant late
he had torn them into small fragments, an'
] t-ioa from, the rnom with these graspeC
in his hands.
But Just before going he turned and spok
the following words:
"Roy Melford did not betrsy me whel