The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-19

me-" Clement turned about, surprise
and perplexity giving him an involved
expression. he had the air of one
"Mr. Clement smithers9" said one Of
the officers, approaching. "You are
suspected of having tampered with the
safe of the Bank of Shekels on the seven
teenth of June. It becomes my duty to
detain you for examination" :
What folly" cried Clement, hotly.
"I can explain it all. The lady who
was with me at the bank is my witness.
! can give my affidavit"
But you must come with me; them's
"How do we know but the lady's
your accomplice, eh?" put in his COM
panion.
"But I am to sail in couple OF
hours" objected Clement.
"Ay, the ships to sail, but We'll give
you another sort of BERTH"
"Tell them," gasped Dora" make
them understand that pulled the bell,
opened the door by mistake, for fun"
Eyes, we've heard that pretty story
before, but it won't bear washing. Per-
maps you tOOh Ile JULIUS GulIe Oil AiooihS
too?"
Clements heart stood still. Are
there any bonds missing?" he asked.
"Just as if you didn't know better'n
us! If the wind hadn't hauled round
you'd got off splendid with 'em."
1t was all abroad and in the 0aily
papers by the following day; everybody
was talking about it. Mr.. Cleverly
stepped into Aunt Hitty's to give the
latest particulars and assure Dora that
she should not be annoyed.
"But Clement is rs innocent as you
are; it was I who opened the door," she
explained.
Nobody suspects you of taking the
bends, child. You wern't about TO sail
for foreign shores-there's the rub. I'm
afraid you'll have to 60 into court and
give testimony"
You don't believe that Clement is
guilty?"
"It looks black for him. l suspend
my Judgment"
"But you believe me when I assure
you that he never touched the safe."
II believe every word you utter. But
that will not convince the directors or
the Jury. If no bonds had been missing,
of course opening the door would have
given no concern"
1T is 80 unexpected, so undeserved!"
"That must be proved"
"Mr. Cleverly," she asked one day
later. what will they do if Clement is
is found"
"Severai years in the State-prison at
hord labor I believe "
"And:nobody to keep up his heart, to
encourage HIM. He will get hardened
by such Injustice she sighed.
AS the time of his trial drew near,
everybody spoke of Clement as one al
ready condemned. "Poor misguided
fellow" they said; and even Aunt Hitty
hoped he was supplied with tracts. In
the mean time it almost seemed rs il
Cleverly had stepped into Clements
mich. He was always at Aunt Hitty's,
and going away late; and Aunt Hitty
was usually i'll with neuralgia, which
prevented conversation on her side,
while Dora had nothing to do but keep
the ball rolling, and was never weary OF
talking of Clements case.
you are profoundly interested in
this affair."" Cleverly said to her one
night when she had stepped out upon
the pizza to wish by the new moon, and
he had followed.
Nothing interests me so much" Mr..
Cleverly WINGED.
What would you do to prove his in
nocence?"
"Anything-that was right"
"Would you marry some one else, il
that would save him?"
"Some one I do not love? Would
that be right?"
Where would be the harm, if he
preferred to marry without love, rather
than not at all?'
"These are mere idle words, Mr.,
Cleverly."
"No, they are not mere idle words.
Listen; you will do anything to save
Clement Smithers. Is it wrong to make
another happy, and save friend from
ruin? Then marry me, Dora, and
will save him; I give you my word"
"Why will you make such condition
| if it is possible for you to clear him :
Why wilr.you not accomplish it gratu
itously?"
Because love you, and I am not
Quixotic. At present your story is not
credited; you are suspected of weak
ness for the prisoner. Were you my
wife, that prejudice would be cancelled.
Marry me-. dear Dora, and I swear to
save his name and credit, or forfeit my
own"
"How could I do such thing, even
to save Clement?"
"It is in your power to decide whether
he shall spend his best years in prison,
in the pursuit of menial tasks. in a con.
vict's garb, in the society of abandoned
men, imbittered by injustice. 1t seems
to me that you can not hesitate"
Was it true, then, she asked herself,
that it was in her power to save Clement
] from ignolniny, and did she hesitate:
Did she not love him we'll enough to
sacrifice everything for him? Daily she
reached the heights of remuneration,
daily she slipped back into the valley ol
humili .tion and self-love. Every day
Mr.. Cleverly pressed his suit, waxed
eloquent, convinced her ignorance by
plausible proofs apd promises, and one
day he carried his point.
"Yes," she assented, feebly;. Il viii
marry you to save Clement"
| dCCcpG LuS Lclluo, lC Sitlu. W
will marry me for Clements sake; by.
and-by you shall love me for my own
She could make no objections to ar
early wedding, since it was only rs Mr.
Cleverly's wife that she could influence
Clements fate, while Aunt Hitty, un
aware of the conditions Of the contract
at that time, pressed the matter forward
with feminine alacrity. I'm sorry fol
Clement Smithers," she confessed, "bu
you couldn't marry felon if you lovet
him to distraction. Mr.. Clcverly say
he prefers wedding in church. Shal
it be satin and tulle?' But it seemed a
If Dora had but shadowy interest i,
the preparations, such as ghost Nigh
have.
It was toward dusk of dark after
, noon, always darker in the place wher
Clement awaited his trial than else
where, that Mr.. Oliver, one of the banl
directors, was admitted to an interview
with the prisoner.
"You have come to beg me to confes
. what have done with the bonds?
f laughed Clement, bitterly.
, NO." replied Mr.. Oliver; II hav
! come to tell you that the bonds hav
been found"
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