Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-05-29

lOOklng LOT ner nuSDdlu. All, Gilele was ~
loving eye to watch for Charlie Gerard's
erring footsteps.
At length he came, welcomed home by the
glow of freight and the sunny voices OF
children and the peaceful calm Of Alice's
smile. The world called Frank Ennis
lucky because he had prospered exceeding,
ly in the paths of commerce; but what
would the world have said could it have
peeped in his bright home circle? There
must be yet an undiscovered word to eX-
press such happiness.
"But, Frank, something has annoyed you
you look grave and thoughtful, !" said Mrs.
Ennis, when at length the noisy crew OF
little ones had been piloted to bed and hus-
in velvet easy chair, and Alice on low
ottoman beside him, her cheek resting on
his knee, as she had been used to sit in the
days Of her bridehood.
aYou are veritable witch, Alice" said
Frank, laughing. II believe you know ev-
cry thought that crosses my mind. Yes,
dearest. / have been excessively annoyed. u
"Tell me about it, Frank; you know you
never have any secrets from me-" She put
her little hand caressingly into his; he
stopped and kissed the diamond-sparkling
fingers.
81 have an opportunity, Alice to pay off
very old debt-to pay it off with interest.
What do you adviser"
! "Don't talk in riddles, you provoking
fellow; speak plainly or 1 shall never be
able to comprehend you," said Mrs. Ennis.
"Listen then, my dear wife" said Frank,
suddenly growing grave, almost stern in
his manner. "You know that have been
in the"habit of depositing from time to time
any unappropriated sums of money in a
New York bank. Well, I had occasion not
long since to send for a supply; it was duly
forwarded to-day with notice that had
slightly Overdrawn my account. l knew
this to be impossible, as the balance lying
there was nearly ten thousand dollars and
my order was but for five. On examining
the statement Of accounts sent on with the
funds I discovered that a check for five
had been presented and cashed some six
months previously. Now, I never heard
of the thing nor signed the check"
"Well?" said Alice, her lips apart and
her eyes fixed earnestly on her husbands
grave face.
"The name of the man who presented the
check-this forged check, remember-was
Charlie Girard."
Alice grew pale and clasped her hands
tightly together. "Good-heavens, Frank,
can this thing be possible ?"
"Not merely possible, but true. A fit
winding up of his career of recklessness and
dissipation"
"But, Frank, what measures have you
taken?" asked Alice, who seemed scarcely
able to realize the fraud.
"None, as yet, but at the earliest practi-
cable hour tomorrow morning [ shall set
the officers of the law upon the track of this
now detected felon."
hot icf fhn
imprisonment for life," was the stern
answer.
Alice trembled and half opened her lips,
but there was no gleam of encouragement in
the dark brow of her husband.
"Oh, Frank, dear Frank, to think that l
might have been the wife of this man."
Mr.. Ennis passed his hand fondly over
his wife's hair and drew her closer to him,
as if he would avert the very thought OF
danger from her.
"if YOU please, ma'am," said the servant,
putting his head in at the door, ''would you
step into the hall minute? The house
keeper wants to speak a word with YOU"
Mrs. Ennis arose and quietly passed into
the hall. Frank remained In his old posi-.
ton, gazing into the fire with set teeth and
returned with White shocked face.
Frank, husband, l have sad story to
tell you. The servants have brought in a
poor, foot-sore creature, wearied with trav-
el, and fear, on the verge of fever. He
fell on the Wayside little way below, and
Bruce found him as he came back from
stabling your horses he is worn to skele-
ton with fatigue and privation. Shall we
take him in ?"
Certainly" said Mr.. Ennis, rousing him
self with an effort from the train of thought
- sol, lo hol icrho ohSnrhpl .
"let the servants see that he has every care" "
"But, Frank, dearest" pleaded the wife,
looking with grieved, terrified eyes, into his
own, "will you come and see him? We
have laid him on the sofa in the ante-room.'' -
"It you wish it, my dear, certainly"
said Mr.. Ennis. Why, what is the matter,
you tremble like leaf?"
"Oh my husband, "murmured Alice, paus-
ing as their feet touched the threshold of the
door, "only remember the Bibles words,
Blessed are the merciful for they shall OBJ
tain mercy"
Frank Ennis had not time to ask what her
words meant ere he found himself in the
ante-room, from which the servants had all
been dismissed. Upon the sofa lay wild
eyed man with dusky garb and bleeding
feet. his clothes in tatters and his face
shadowed by a beard of several days growth.
AS Mr. Ennis approached he gave faint
cry, and tried to spring from the sofa, but
weakness and coming sickness overcame
him, and he sank back on the couch, cover
ing his face with his thin hands, and as he
did so, Mr.. Ennis saw that it was his dead
liest foe, Charlie Gerard.
"Have they come to arrest meg" shrek,
ed the half delirious creature. 81 have fled
long but was not fast enough for them. !
am i'll, 1 think am going to die, but send
him away, don't him see me. knew it
would be detected, but thought could
replace the money before he found it out
I did not think that it would all be swal.
lowed up in that miserable speculation, n, Is
it he, or only another troubled vision?"
coldIy. : What have you to say foryourself"'
''I can say nothing. 1 have no excuse to
plead, but for Gods sake do not deliver me
into the hands of the law. 1 would have
fled beyond its reach, but you see how weak 9s
I am, have mercy on me. on, Frank IN; In;
mis- have mercy for her sake, l shall
soon be beyond the reach of earthly aid or
pardon"
His piteously imploring voice almost alb
iact in its antraatv-iarred on Ennis ear