The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-12-05

"You will find they are not idle" h,
turned. "lll make you repent thi
day, if have to wait half my life fot
! / disdained to hear more. | left tn,
room, LOCKING the door behind me
Mscfarlano made no resistance; h,
knew escape was impossible. Tc
reach the street he would have TO ira
verse room full of men, even sup
posing | could not have prevented hin
from leaving the room.
An hour atterward he was given in
to custody. When the trial came or
there wa no difficulty in proving his
guilt it also came out that he had
squandered the money he had appro
priated in dissipation, and that he was
even a more worthless character than
had believed. felt no compunctiou
for the part had played. had only
fulfilled my duty. Nor did | anticl
pate that his threats were anything
more than the expressions of the hate
which he naturally felt toward me
He was condemned to two years
mprisonment with hard labor
The two years passed swiftly by. ]
had nearly forgotten Macfarlane. The
only result of the affair as regards me
had been that my partners conceived
an exaggerated notion of my ability
and tact, and reposed greater conf
dence in me than before.
The firm OF which | was Junior
partner was an old.established one.
Oar business was that of manufactu-
ing goIdsmiths, ani was profitable
one. However, trade was by no
means so prosperous as it had been in
spite Of unremtLing forts the income
OF the firm gradual. sank. Oar only
consolation was the knowledge that
our rivals suffered even more than we
did.
Personally l spared no pains | was
not by nature business man, prefer
ring the professions to manufactures,
but circumstances having led me to
embark IN business | determined to
make the best of it at all events.
Naturally | was dissatisfied with the
recent course of things, and cas- my
eyes round in every direction for a
tro Sh field Of activity. AT the same
time it behooved US t. be careful {:
more than one firm had recently come
to grief, driven into dangerous specula-
tions by the necessity of doing some
thing.
was in the refroshment room at
Futon one day, taking q hasty lunch
or my return from journey to Bir-
mIngham, when | was conscious of
som" on looking at me
turned round and faced man who
seemed familiar to me. A moments
reflection and | recognized him-Mac-
farlane.
lie hesltated moment and then
lifted his hat to me. Almost uncon-
sciously gave him sign of recogni-
tion. lie at once came forward.
How do you do, sir ," he asked. II
was afraid you would not care to rec
ognize me-"
II am scarcely sure do" was my
reply. | wanted to let him see that |
was not anxious to renew our acquain-
tarce. At the same time the meeting
hal taken me SO by surprise that had
no. made up my mind to cut him
dead
you've every excuse for not recog-
nizlug me-" he said. MY face is a
lit ed altered, isn't it?'
1t certainly was. He wore a beard
and moustache instead of being clean
shaved, His hair was differently ar
ranged, his whole dress and appear,
ance were quieter and more gentleman
ly than formerly. He had immensely
improved in every respect.
1T is some time since we met" he
continued.
Eyes, l suppose it is" | replied,
wishing he had avoided the subject,
for l felt very uncomfortable.
ut is nearly four years. he said
"Fonr years make good deal of diff
ference to man, especially when two
of them have been spent in prison"
What could say? 1t would have
be n insulting, even crnel, TO say that
| vas sorry.
You don't mind telking to a jail
bird, hope ?" he said with smile.
"You need not be afraid of my being
recognized no one but you has recog-
nized me, yet l don't think you would
have done so if | hadn't fixed my eyes
on YOU
Il should have thought that 1t would
have been you who would have been
the first to object to our meeting"
said. 'The sight of me can't be very
pleasant to you, I'm afraid
He almost laughed.
you're mistaken, I'm glad to say"
he replied. my one hope lately has
been to meet you. We can't talk
quietly here" he added; there is
such crew. Could you spare me
half an bour7 | think | can promise
You won't regret it."
II wanted to get back to my work,
but Macfarlane interested me. had
been severe perhaps with him in old
way " HllSlL ~ al c. tlls ~ iul lillli
the small favor of an interview now.
We took cab to his hotel-a quiet
one in q street off the Strand. He had
a private room, and he ordered up
some coffee. Evidently he was in diff
ferent circumstances than when a iu-
nior clerk and traveller in our firm.
"Try one of these" he said.
He produced some cigars. l took
one; it was in the green condition that
love.
"Not dry enough for you7" he ask
ed.
at will suit me admirably re-
piled. Didn't you get these in Amer
lea ?"
"Yes; | only crossed a week ago
I've been there for the last two years
or so--ever since-you know what
81 am glad to see tnat you have not
been so utterly ruined as you anticpa
ted" said, conscious that the remark |
was in bad taste. But | was in a false
position, and everything ! said must be |
either stupid or awkward,
do you remember" he asked, "the |
lay when you had me up in your