The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-09-29
bLOOMSBORG Pa FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 90. 1882
"You don't say so What luck 7"

have expected an answer off hand"
"Not from so proud girl as Belle
Leonard. Still, you can help me-"
81 will. Don't be afraid; I'm no
anxious for Walter Sterne as
brother in-law, / assure you,"
"Ha, ha don't You worry yoursel
about that"
And so they separated but the next
morning, no sooner did Evan Jones
reach the warehouse than Walter call
ed him aside for private consultation.
Whatever was its nature, even the
countenance of Walter Sterne was un.
able to conceal an expression af aston
lshment and CONSERVATION.
"But why did you not tell me at
once y he asked.
81 new your cast iron ways" replied
Evan, 'and | was afraid you would tell
the old gentleman, and that wouldu t
do, you know
Walter Stcrne was unusually busy
with the accounts that day, aud in the
| afternoon late, Abel Leonard came
down in his carriage He tumbled the
books over, as usual but had little to
say, and he really looked ill when he
started for home.
The ride was not long one, but it
seemed to have shaken all the pride out
of the fat little merchant. As he
entered the hall he was met by Belle.
"Father?"
"Ihe very worst, Belle"
GLOW do you meant"
"The additions and entries are cor
rected, and the cash is all straight
again"
"But how is that the worst p
"The corrections are all in Walter
Stern's own hand. He has been alarm
ed in someway, and has put the money
back to save himself"
"Oh father, isn't it terrible %
'1ndeed it is, Belle. And l loved
that young man almost like son. I'd
have trusted him with all l was
worth"
And to tell the truth, both father
and daughter were thoroughly miser-
able Belle especially looked forward
with nervous horror to the fast ap-
preaching hour for Walters call.
AT last the expected feet were ON
the doorstep, and never had he looked
so near the beau ideal of 'fine young
man" in eyes that already swollen with
tears, looked out at him, through the
curtains. There was even a look of
pride and elation on Walters face as
he entered the parlor, but his counte
nance fell as he cast his on the face
that came forward to meet him.
"Miss Leonard"
"Mr. Sterne--"
Aud for a few minutes neither of
them could say more, and Walters
heart beat almost audibly. Their joint
embarrassment was changed in its ma
ture by the entry of Abel Leonard
''Walter Sterne / will save Belle the
trouble of giving you her answer
Does not yohr own conscience tell you
what it ought to be?"
"My conscience / cannot compre-
hend you !"
"Then will say that l have ex-
amined the books. Yes, you may
well turn pale, for | saw them before
you made the corrections. | may also
add that | have extorted an unwilling
confession from Mr.. Jones-not that
he has done wrong in anything but
his desire to shield you. 1t will not be
necessary for you to come to the count
ing-house to morrow Mr.. Walter
Stearne
While the old gentleman had been
speaking, Walter had been thinking
with lightning speed, and he now re-
piled, in a deep and firm, though
husky voice:
"Mr. Leonard, | see now into what a
snare | have fallen, but see also that
] cannot at once lift myself out of it.
| will only say now, that l have been
utterly honest with you, and more
than honest. There is not one stain
on my conduct"
And so saying, Walter strobe out of
the room, and out Of the house, leaving
a deeper impression behind than he
was aware of. AS for Belle she threw
herself upon sofa in the back parlor,
and all but sobbed herself to sleep.
Perhaps an hour, perhaps more,
passed by, when Belle was awakend
by manly voices, conversing near her
in low tones, in the darkness.
"No you can't Charley; that was
the very money | let you have. l told
him that you helped yourself TO it, and
he made it good to straighten the
books and clear you. 1t was only by
bad luck that the old gentleman found
it out, and it's too late to help it. He'll
forgive Walter in day or so, Then,
you know, it settles the other thing"
Thus far Charles had said very lit
tie that Belle could hear, but now his
voice was raised little.
EVAN Jones, | never did a mean
thing in my life. Do you think III
shield myself, or you either, at the ex-
pense of man that would do so gen
erous thing as that I No, not by"
"Hurrah for you, Charley!" cried
his sister Belle, as she sprang from the
sofa and threw her arms around his
neck-very narrowly missing the mis-
take of hugging the wrong man. 81
knew that Walter Stearne was not
dishonest Go this instant and bring
him back here. Never mind how late
1t is. III go and tell papa at once !"
BY the time she had ceased speaking
there came a loud bang from the front
door, as it shut behind the retreating
form of Evan Jones.
Charley went, as he was bidden, and
If Abel Leonard never again boasted
OF his three fine young men, he had,
IN after year, much to say about "my
son in-law, Mr. Stearne. sir"