Middletown transcript., 1882-01-06
with my new dignity, and l mean to
claim all it's advantages. =
'What With me, Ruth ?"
u ETy.I.:.1 TTbv,of 9J1

"What ? With me, Ruth ~
Certainly. Why not ?"
GIVE known you from childhood
You used to call me your cousin, ant
Marvin. and" There was toucl
of earnestness in his voice and manner
enough to suggest something more thai
a whim in Ruth's forethought concern
ing the concert.
: Her interruption was badly matter
of-fact: " "Oh, yes, Mr.. Belford, that's
all very true but 1 insist upon being
grown-up young lady, now. Call me
Miss Faraday, and tell me whom yor
think you'll take to the concert, now
I'm out of the question"
Nobody on earth"
"Now, Mr.. Belford You're not ac-
quainted anywhere else? p? Why can't
you be good and unselfish just for once,
and go for some homely girl p
II declare, l will III get. the ug-
liest, worst-dressed, most ill-tempered,
cross-eyed--''
"Poor, too don't forget that" F."
The rest of that conversation was not
worth reporting on behalf of Marvin
Belford. 1t was a relief to him, at
last, when Mrs. John Belford came into
the parlor, called him her "dear neph-
ew, and gave him the stately kiss of
an admiring aunt.
1t is quite possible she might have
been doing better service in the library
at that moment in the part Of devoted
wife. There sat the banker yet, by the
table, his gray head bowed upon his fat,
wrinkled hands, and the voice which
came through them almost sepulchral ::
g can't quite make up my mind to it,
but know it's coming. 1t has waited
a long time, but it will not wait much
longer now. Glad can trust Gid. It's
q strange thing to think of, and to know
it is so close at hand, after all these
years. Coming coming. / cannot
make up my mind to it. She is a good
girl, and I've loved her ever since she
was born"
There were five persons whose rank
u duty gave them access to the ample
vault of Belford Brothers, the we'll
Known and highly-respected banking
house. OF these, the first two, the
leads of the house, John and his broth
II William, rarely looked into it.
Those who did 50 more frequently were
he junior partner, Mr. Marvin Belford
he spectacled bookkeeper, Mr.. Ruggles;
md Mr.. Gideon Street, in his confden-
ial capacity of teller. The minor dig
litaries Of the ancient house could all
ay, indeed, that they had often looked
n upon the sombre security of that
ron-bound cell they had even awe
truck memories Of having put their
eet inside it but not one Of them had
,een intrusted with the magic numbers
# the combination which controlled
he opening Of the massive lock. But
N the day after the events just narra-
ed, there were five consecutive visitors
0 the vault, and each in turn found
ONE attraction for his eyes in large,
,blong package, tied with cross-belts
# red tape, which lay little by itself
N one Of the lower shelves.
Theancient bookkeeper did not touch
he package, but he bent his white head
ver it as he said, "Miss Faraday's
,onds Well, they're a special deposit,
'ut wish they were somewhere else.
t won't do for me to meddle but her
lncle ought to look out for that. I for
,ot Mr.. John Belford does not know
xactly."
He shut bis lips tightly and went
'ut, and his place was shortly taken by
he portly form of Mr.. William Bel
ord, more grim and stately than his
,rother John, and more walking as
urance Of financial solvency. He
glanced around the vault, to see that
IL was right, and his cold, brown eyes
ested on the package: "Ruth's for
une, eh ? We must look out for that,
or Marvin's sake. l must tell John to
,ut it somewhere else. He doesn't
NOW the real condition of things, but
can give him a reason for it..
His heavy, stately tread passed out of
he vault, and he may have been cor
ect as to his brothers. ignorance of
oeril to that package, for in less than
en- minutes John Belford was regard
ng "Ruth's fortune with an iron
mile and hoarsely chuckling over it,
That's safe, at all events. I owed
hat much to her mother. I'm glad
lobody can touch it ~
1t was necessary, a little later, for
1ideon Street to carry into the vault
mall japanned tin box, and the smile
le turned upon the tape-belted parcel
would have answered admirably for
kirmish uses at the concert the COM
ng evening "There it is. Ruth is
more of an heiress than 1 thought for.
The old gentleman's managed well for
ler." The smile faded as he spoke,
md its place was taken first by a Grim
on flush and then by singular pale
less. "They're not for you, Gideon,
ny boy. Any fool can see that. Do
our duty, but don't you let it make a
DOL Of you"
Excellent words to be uttered in a
oauk vault, whether as a riddle or an
and when he had taken
me more look, he returned to his post
n the main Office.
1t was late in the day before Mr..
Marvin Belford found any occasion for
,rossing that iron threshold, and when
le did so there were no eyes upon him.