Litchfield enquirer., 1880-06-03

tM6DAC, ciuCC uC C6uuUt UGllctS bildb uly udp- piness lies where it does; while as to making me an allowance on which I could marry, it is the simple fact he has not guinea to spare, so we must not be too hard upon the gover- for'' ~'+' @7 '' "'
 He would have guineas to spare," said |, bitterly Qor 1 felt for poor kitty), if he did not throw them away upon the Ojibbeways and other unconverted tribes.
 Well, it is his own money, Frank, an- swered Fred, gravely, land he thinks he is doing good with it." -..-.- .....r.
 And Kitty of course took the same view of the affair as Fred. She worked her fingers to the bone in making articles of fancy work Gin which she had very pretty taste), and dis posed of them for such prices as she could get, in order to have a little purse by the time those terrible two years should be over; and though 1 discountenancel her in SO doing, 1 believe the constant employment saved her a deal of fretting. The toll too seemed to do her no physical harm; her blue eyes were as bright as ever, and. her little mouth had al ways cheerful smile for me that had far morG of hope in it than of resignation. Her only hapiness for the present, however (exCept what lay in looking forward), was, l verify belits2s to hear me talk of Fred and his do- ings how the dear creature looked, what he said (and. in the case of message even how he said it), and how he kept up under his disap- pointment.
 Now, as matter of fact, had very little to tell her; for though, of course, saw Fred at the office 1 saw him nowhere else. He would leave directly his work was over, and come Ill the morning as punctually as usual, but what he did with himself in the mean time could not find out. From certain ap- pearances, however, had misgivings as to his course of life he had wan and dissipated air, and would sometimes fall asleep over his ledger in way that seemed to me to hint at very late hours overnight 1 thought it quite possible. knowing his natural love of pleasure, that he had overrated his own strength of character. and was striving to drown his sense of disappointment and injustice in the usual manner. Young as I was, and not, I am afraid of too strict principles myself, thought it my duty as Kitty's brother to hint my sus- piciols, but Fred assured me that they were groundless.
 ''l have no heart, my dear fellow, just now," he said' "for any amusement, whether harmless or otherwise, aud 1 find it best for me to be alone and at home."
 1 was bound to believe him, for had never known Fred to tell lie, but week or two afterward had good reason to conclude that he had deceived me. l was fond of little gaiety myself, in which Kitty encouraged me as l am how firmly persuaded in order that she might have the more opportunity for sit ting up to work, for when l was at home would not permit it-and on a certain occa- sion 1 had been to the Adelphi Theatre. As was walking home, and passing the doors of a music hall, l could have taken my oath that saw Frederic RaynOr in the crowd that was emerging from it; the next moment lost sight of him, but if had spoken to hlm could not have been more sure of his identity. He was at the office at the usual hour, looking very much as if after the music hall, he had been at the cider cellars Gas the late supper houses were called in those days), but of course had no right to dictate to him as to how he should spend his evenings
 ''So you were at the Harmonium,' my friend. last night" said I, half in banter, half In renionstrance.
 "Indeed I was not" said he, looking me straight in the face, as was his custom. '1 went home from the office, and remained there all the evening, except for half an hour, when I went out" he hesitated, then added, ''on business"
 Then somehow I felt, not because of the music hall, but because of his lying to me in that composed way, that Fred was going to the bad. At the same time little guessed how very far he had advanced that way, and
 
 taken.
 It was about six months after communica tion between Fred and my sister had been cut off, that for the first time since had been ill the employment of Halland Brothers, Mir Ja- cob RaynOr did not appear at his desk at his ordinary. hour, or rather minute, for he was punctuality personifed We all concluded that he was iii, particularly as Fred was also absent but the case of the non appearance was, as it turned out, much worse than any thing which we had imagined Both the members of the firm were in their usual places, and when the time for closing arrived word came to us that all the clerks were to remain, as there was something of importance to be communicated to them. Even then few of us associated the matter with the RaynOrs, and perhaps one or two had qualms of con- science as to whether some piccadillo of their own more serious than common might not be the cause of so portentous an announcement.
 never saw Mr. Halland. the elder, so moved as when he began to address us.
 "A great misfortune, my friends, has be- fallen us all" (we thought the house had failed). Dishonesty, for the first time, as believe has crept in among us. One of our number, hitherto trusted on his own account, and much more so on'account of his relation ship to another, has betrayed his trust. It is easy to say that such d wretched termination of career that promised so brightly should be warning to us all; but it is an example bought at dear rate indeed, at the cost (fer one thing) of a fathers misery. l left our dear and long tried friend, Mr. Rayner, this morning, we'll night heart-broken man that will never be himself again. His-son Frede- ric has falsifed his accounts, with the object of procuring money, no doubt for the purpose Af Qalf. .infn tUpDop and 6iSclnofI0n "
 What he said more did not rightly under stand the announcement of Frederic's guilt fell on me like blow and stunned me. l was pained and shock upon my own account for he had been my nearest friend, and until lately my most constant companion; but my great distress and wretchedness arose from the thought of poor Kitty. pictured to my self how she would look that night when I should tell her, Frederic is thief; you must forget him."
 saw her large blue eyes staring at me in mute despair, and the work dropping from her little hands in horror-the work at which there was no need to toll in future, since he for whose sake she wearied herself had proved unworthy of her. Proved? No. It was not proved, and before that was done I would tell her nothing
 1 asked to have few words in private with my employ CTS, liberty which nothing but the urgent necessity of the case would have me to do; for though knew. them to be just, their manners to their interiors were somewhat austere, and filled but very humble place in their service. They gave permission at once, and found myself alone with the two brothers. They looked at me very gravely my impression is that. having perhaps heard of my intimacy with Frederic, they expected me to confess to some conni- vance wi.h his evil deeds. This made me feel more embarrassed than ever; I stood speeches.. ,..sa
 What have you got to say, MT. Clayton ?'' asked Mr. Haland csldly.; tour time is pre- cious"
 "Sir, " cried I, scarce knowing what said, "I speak on behalf of another, of my sister Kitty, who was engaged to be married to Frederic Raynor. She loves him with all her heart and you were talking of broken hearts. Oh, pray have mercy upon her. Do not pass sentence upon Fred unless you are quite sure." 5 The brothers exchanged significant glances with on another -ss.,