The Mineral argus., 1885-04-30

answered.. Bat nave taken meH urcs
to get at the bottom of this mystery, ere
long. Florine herself, slow as she is IL
suspect evil of anyone, sugge~ri that
the culprit was Will Akin"
NY heart grew cold within me. and
that evening at the tea table. studied
Wills boyish face intcntly. Oh. it was
impossible, quite impossible that he
could be-a fcrger!"
willie" said to him. when We were
quite alone together in the freight
Florine and my husbrnd had gone tc
some evening concert together-you re-
member our father?"
"Of course do, Allie"
That he was an honorable. honest
man, who would have scorned to dos
mean or treacherous action?"
"Yes, Allie"
"Oh, Will, Will, hiding my wet eyea
upon his innocent upturned face, "you
will be like him?" You, too, will b
nm honorable man?"
I'll try, Allie," the boy answered.
earnestly. And knew then that Will
was neither thief nor forgerI
"Allie," sail my brother, when the
conversation had turned upon other
and Indifferent topic. II wonder where
that volume Of selections from American
poetry H.? Florine had il yesterday
I'm her room, I suppose. Shall ]
60 and get it for you?"
II wish you would"
So went upstairs. The door OF the
room was locked-but I happened to be
the fortunate possessor Of skeleton key
which admitted me into any room in my
bouse-and without ceremony entered.
The fire burned low upon the marble
hearth-the shaded lamp cast a circle
of rose-colored flame upon the little
round table drawn up beside it. where
Florine's portfolio and scattered papers
lay. What special impulse it was that
drew my attention in that direction ]
cannot say-but as l looked toward il
one loose sheet of paper, slightly sep
aratesl from the rest, caught my eye.
Three successive words, repeated over
and over, seemed to cover its expanse.
Il was not an honorable thing to do,
but ] took it up and glanced ct the
cabalistic occurrences. It was the name
Of Charley's sirm-Ellington 4 Eaton,
written again and again, in bold. mas
culine hand, as unlike as possible 70
Florine Fayall's struggling, semi Italian
chirography. And yet, when ! looked.
I knew that Florine Fayall was the for.
ger who had been fattening on the funds
Of Ellington & Eaton.
At tho same instant heard Florine's
light, silver-sweet laugh downstairs.
Catching tho paper once more from the
pile, hurried downstairs to where my
husband and cousin, just return ed from
the concert, were standing before the
parlor fire.
"Charles." I cried, breathlessly, u
have detected the forgery"
Florine gave low, involuntary cry,
and turned deathly pale, as she clutch.
ed ut tho back Of chair for support ;
but was pitiless.
"Look !" I added to my husband, who
evidently thought Twas o little demented.
"See what found in Florine Fayalls
portfolio. She is the base, mean forg.
er! She Is the backbiter who would
fain hide her crime beneath another's
downfall! Speak, girl! is this your
work."
And 1 held up the mute witness Of he,
guilt.
Florino burst into tears.
II couldn't help it," she sobbed. 81
needed money 80 much; was in debt
everywhere, at st. Augustine, and they
threatened to send officers north to ar.
rest me il did not send remittance al
once. And was always good at mi.
tating other peoples handwriting, and
knew Cousin Chsrley's signature well,
and-and-I never thought it would be
found out! Don't be harsh with me,
Charley don't let Alice look at me sol
Sha navar hal INV charity for mn
"Charity!" repeated, bitterly. "Waa
IL Christian charity, think You, Florine
Fayall, for You to try to shift the blame
upon an orphan boy like Willie Akin ~
II hated him because he was Your
brother" Florine answered, sulienly,
as she read in Charles pale, shocked
face that there was no hope OF interfer-
ence in her favor in that quarter. II
hate your"
"Florine." sternly intorposed my
husband, "let there be no moro of this.
My eyes are opened ut last, and I must
confess that Alico's instinct was more to
he trusted than my reason. You are
women, and my cousin, therefore ]
shall not prosecute you on account OF
this disgraceful business. But one
thing have to say can no longer har.
Dor such serpent in my home. You
must leave this place Tomorrow"
But" whimpered Florine, "whera
am to gop'
"TO-France, for what I care," re-
sponded Charles, with very unnecessary
emphasis.
And the next day Florine took her
departure. Welearned afterwards from