The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-01-23

Economy sharply retOrted Vic
toria; 90 am sick of the very word J"
Her husband turned silently away
it was hard, just when he had mos
need Of sympathy, counsel and advice
thus to be repulsed.
"They tell me- said old Mr.. llardie
the senior member of the firm of llar
die, Blocke & Co., "that Hale's wifi,
dresses the most elegantly of any on'
at Yarmouth this season."
"What, Hale, who keeps Denny
books? Young Hale?"
4" Yesw
"The deuce she does How can HI
afford it,"
"Ah :" said old Hardie, taking snuff
"that's different matter. ] dom
know hon he affords it. If | were
Denny, | should keep an eye to things.
"They've had some serious lessons
already, Pm told," said the other
"That burglary last week cost them {
thousand pounds"
"Any trace of the burglars as yet?'
"No. The safe must have beer
opened by skeleton keys, Denny
thinks"
Humph !" grunted old Hardie. " II
the cashier was anyone but Hale, thai
Denny trusts as he trusts himself"
"Oh, nonsense, nonseuse" cried
the other old gentleman. "There's
such a thing as being too suspicious
Hardie! You'll be saying next that
Hale is at the head of gang of burg
lars"
"He may be, for all know" said
Hardie, dryly."
Meanwhile, Mr.. Reginald Denny be-
gan to be strangely mistrustful. Not
of John Ilale-he would as soon have
doubted himself-but of others ABOUT
him.
Hale" sail he, sometimes think
those knaves of burglars are nearer
home than any one imagines."
"Do you sir?" A ghastly look came
over the young mans face, as if he
were in pain. " Impossible !"
CAT all events, it is worth looking
into" said Denny. "The circle of
suspicion is narrowing down. Do you
mind sitting up for night or two?"
Not at all, sir, if you desire it,"
"I'm sorry to ask it of you, as you
haven't seemed well this last week or
two"
"Pray don't mention it, Pm well
enough, said Hale almost impatiently.
1t was the first night of his vigil-a
dark, tempestuous midnight, with rain
falling outside, and the rush of equin-
octial winds wailing down the Chin
neys. Mr.. Reginald Denny had gone
home, but some unanalyzed notion in
duced him to return, quietly and by
stealth, towards two O'Clock in the
morning. Letting himself in by his
own private key, with word Of reas-
surance to the alarmed watchman who
passed the warehouse, he noiselessly
entered the cOunting-rCom.
The safe where the money and valu-
able papers were kept was wide open.
Kneeling before it, with both hands
full of bank-notes and bills. hurriedly
transferring some to an open leather
case on his right hand, and putting
others back, was John Hale himself.
In an instant, Mr.. Reginald Denny's
iron grasp was on his arm.
SO have got at the root of the mat
ter at last" said he, in deep, stern
voice. $50 you are the burglar, John
Hale? ?"
"Ah! !" exclaimed the culprit, in dis
may. "Have mercy"
"Mercy on a heartless wretch p.
never! You shall pay the full penalty
Of your ingratitude and crime"
Think for one moment, sir, of the
situation in which l have been placed
by an eXtravagant wife, whom fondly,
tenderly love-"
"Her follies are no excuse for your
dishonesty. ! have placed unlimited
trust in you-this is my reward. Had
not fortunately arrived at the spot,
tomorrow morning would have found
me beggar, and the viper | have
warmed and nourished, laughing at his
dupe."
White with rage and dismay, Hale
sprang to his feet and confronted the
man he had so long been Systematically
robbing.
"You have discovered me !" he cried,
in stined accents, "but you never shall
convict men
There was vivid flash, the report of
pistol, and the next instant John
Hale lay dead before the Mortified mer-
chant.
" IT was not so much his own fault as
1t was his wife's," people said when the
ugly facts connected with John Hale's
suicide leaked out. lie was weak, but
not naturally wicked, and she pcrse-
cuted him mercllessly for money. Poor
girl her dress, fashion and luxuries
were dearly bought.H
And Victoria Hale, sitting, pale and
agonized, in her deep widows weeds,
knew as well rs if supernatural hands
had written it in fiery letters on the
wall, that she had killed her husband
s=------m-=--=--------
ALTHorGH MANY are piedsposed TO lung trou.
bles from BIRTH yet even Sucn may escape con-
sumption or other Pulmonary or Bronchial dis