The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-10-14

ure is Your love. Ask your own heart,
Warren, aud tell me, once for all, the
! truth.
"Your own faithful HELEN"
With this note in his waistcoat pocket,
but with no definite intention in partic-
ular, Ten Eyck lounged into his friends
studio, late at night, and found Hobart
smoking by the open window.
Broadway was almost quiet at this
hour, and the star.lighted sky above
was very quiet, indeed, with the peace
not known to mortal life.
On Ten Eyck, Hobart's personal charm
was potenta as ever. The habit of friend
ship is wonderfully strong in some
natures. These two had been comrades
since boyhood, had played, studied,
travelled, planned, executed, enjoyed
and suffered together, and, to his sur.
prise, Ten Eyck discovered that the fact
Of Hobart's treachery had not uprooted
his old clinging affection for the man.
After the first fierce uprising of in
dignation came a deep and settled sor-
row. He knew the time of his associa-
tion with Hobart must now be short,
but meanwhile their intercourse should
be the same as ever.
He could not do without the support
of this nature that had been so long the
counterpart of his own.
As he entered the studio and saw
Hobart sitting alone and thoughtful,
there was positive stirring of tender
ness in his heart toward the man who
had wronged him.
"Hellop p was the comprehensive
greeting exchanged, as Ten Eyck
dragged a chair forward and lit his
cigar, throwing his hat behind him on
the floor. 81 was wondering if 1 should
find you in or awake. What cigars are
these? Not the same old Irvings, are
they"
THE very same. I Think they i'm
prove on acquaintance. Odd you should
come in at this moment, Warren. I was
just sitting here, remembering the day
at Milford, when you fished me out of
SINNERS Pond. 1 was going over the
whole thing. You hung your life on a
thread for me that day, my boy"
81 think my mode of rescue was rather
peculiar. know / dragged half your
clothes off in the struggle. 1 made
havoc of your wardrobe, whatever else
l did"
"You clutched mo back from death.
1 shall never forget the moment your
arm came around me. Warren, from
my heart wish you had let me go uu-
der-I wish to God you had w
"Well, why, in heavens name? But,
of course, you don't mean what you say !"
eyes, ] mean it, indeed. See here,
Warren, there is something that has
got to be spoken between us. Before
you came in ] had made up my mind
that il must be spoken, and then you
as if in answer to my very
thought, Warren, you have always |
trusted me. You have given me your
confidence full and free. You have re-
lied perfectly on my truth and friend.
ship. Is it not SOP,
"Nced you ask that question, Grant ?"
"Well--your confidence was mis-
placed, l have deceived aud betrayed |
you. | am unworthy of the trust you
have bestowed, / am scoundrel, War
rem"
"You have betrayed meY" repeated
Ten Eyck, quietly, I'm what manner?
How was it possible you should betray
me ?'
"You must not ask me that ] tell |
you that / am not worthy of your friend
ship, that / am disloyal-Good God
when you come here and hold out your
hand to me, and look at me with your
honest eyes, l feel that my place is in
the dust before you. / can't bear it.
Warren, you have never known what it
is to be tried and conquered by temp.
tation, 1t all came upon me suddenly,
Until six months ago, my life was hon
est and open to you day and night.
Then something happened, and almost
before l knew my own danger l had
forfeited my own self-respect, my honor
the dear right to call myself your
friend, If I could tell you all-if l had
had courage at the beginning to speak
truth to you perhaps you could have for
given me. But the rights Of another
were involved. ] can't even explain or
ask your forgiveness -"
Suppose there is no need to ask it ?
Suppose forgive you and let you keep
your mystery all the same? Look here,
Grant, you are not very disloyal when
you make confession Of your disloyalty|
He held out his hand suddenly, with a
sort of eager smile on his face. "If
you were not still my friend at heart,
would you care to ma Ike this confession
or grieve because it needed to be made
Take my hand, old fellow Grant,
am more glad than if some one had
niYen me hnlf million of dollars thnt