The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-03-12
has happened that is not past ali help. What

pihf0i NOuiu spare yVu WV AhS"iSNbN
If could, Gracel'' She signed TO him to
60 on. "well, then, you have noticed me
often at your house Of Iate7'
eyes, yes"
at was not alone my love for you that
brought me there may do not shrink from
ine SO II is we'll for you now, Grace, that
love you dearly9 But came also on busi-
ness of the bank. Various sums Of money
have been missing"
"oh, my God r.
"And I consulted privately with your
father, whom l trusted without reserve
Yesterday-oh, Grace, be brave and calm !;
remember, no one knows but ourselves
yesterday thirty thousand dollars werc stolen
fium the safe, to which your father had the
key--and he, Grace has abscondedp
But, even as the last word left his lips, a
wild shrek echoed 1t, and Grace was lying
senseless at his feet. When she recovered
she found that he had summoned no help,
but was supporting her in his own arms at
the open window. She struggled to he. feet
with a sense of loathing that she dared not
show for her fathers sake, half suspecting
and resenting the hot kisses that had been
pressed ON her UNCONSCIOUS lips,
"You said there was a remedy" she gasp
ed, as soon as memory returned. "Let me
know what it is, sir, in mercyP
He did let her know, plainly and pitless-
ly. He loved her For her sake her faith
er's guilt should be condoned and concealed,
he should escape the just punishment Of his
crime, keep his ill-gotten gains, and take
his place among men, once more, in safety,
on condition that she became, within three
days, Hugh Milfords wife.
"And if / will nut--do not-cannot wed
you"-she gasped-"I, who love another,
who am another's promised ridel--what
then 2"
"Then the law must take its course.
have been basely deceived and foully robbed /,
and know where TO lay my hands upon
the robber. If this mans daughter becomes
my wife, can forgive her fathers crimes
for love of her; but will not spare him
otherwise. Grace Wills-no; ifyou persist
in rejecting my true love, let your father rot
IN prison, as he deservesl 70
And this was why-on the very evening
after she had SO strongly and tenderly as
sured him of her faith and trutb-Grace
Willis went back 10 Charlie with his pretty
engagement ring il was nclosed in brief,
heart-broken note, thatgave no explanation
her copductbu simply and sadly told him of
they must part, and babe him farewell for
ever.
The lover was half frantic with rage and
grief In vain he came TO Grace, and fore
ing himself into her presence, appealed to
her love, her justice, her sense Of truth and
honor. He won from her nothing but tears
not even an explanatory word.
Reproaches were not more successful.
"Deride me-blame me--hate me, If you
will" she sobbed. "Perhaps you will for
get me the more easily for that, and suffer
less. Nothing can change my resolution;
blight has fallen upon my life which |
cannot explain. Heaven grant that may
soon carry. both my secret and my sorrow
to the grave2"
THUS they parted, wretched and despair
ing, they who had been SO happy but few
hours ago. Charlie, in his despair, blamed
Mr.. Willis as the cause of Graee's fckleness,
and sought him everywhere, for the purpose
Of reproaching him, but the old gentleman
was nowhere to be found.
Four nights later, however-on the night
preceding the day that had been fixed for
Grace's miserable marriage to man she
hated, but who held her father in his power,
--as she sat alone in her little cottage par
lor, praying and weeping late into the night,
a sudden tapping on the window made her
start, and there, pale in the pale NOON
beams, was her fathers face.
With a scream she sprang to welcome
him; his guils forgotten in the joy of meet
ing-kisses instead of reproaohes on her
white lips.
"My child, my love, how anxious you
have been r. he cried, as he embraced her
tenderly. "IIas my absence frightened you
SO much7 1t is not more incomprehensible
to you than it has been to Inc, my darling"
Then strange story was told. How on
the day of his diappearpnce, Mr.. Milford
had called him TO his private Office, and
confined to his care thirty thousand dollars,
| tyft ira fn FOL 10 n oarla -,
firm in distant city without an instant Of
delay.
ale was unwilling to wait long enough
even to give me letters and credentials u
said Mr.. Willis, "but refused to accept the
charge without them, and hold them and
the money in my possession STILL
ARRIVED at my journeys end, went to
the address he had given me, and on enter
ing the house found myself prisoner.
was assured that no evil was intended me-
but that should be liberated in few
days"
"Crazed with anxiety about you, yester-
day | eontrived to liberaLe myself and came
home at once, Oh, child. has danger threat
ened your"
When Grace told him her story his rage
was terrible.
al suspected something of the sortl" he
cried. "The man has long been madly in
love with you. His frequent visits here
were made for the purpose of inducing me
to brake off your engagement with Deane
and give you to him. III expose the heart
less villain to the world 70
But such exposure never came. Mr.. Mil
ford's agents informed him OF his clerks
return, and next morning, instead Of eom-
ing in person to marry Grace, he sent the
following letter;
am beaten, and retire from the field.
loved you madly, and deemed "all strata
gems fair in love or war" Had succeeded
In my plans, you would have won tender
husband, and should have been happy
As 1t is, am so miserable that you may al
ford TO forgive one whose chief sin was love
for you. Keep the $4,000 for your dowry-
your father is good honest man-if you
can be SO generous, keep my secret, too, and
farewell. 1 sail to night for Europe.
Grace kant his secret fssfe from Charlie