Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-11

more every day. dearest. It was all my
fault. Ethel. ! had been worried anu
vexed by business. and visited II upon
you" 49,
eyes as If it had been privilege ne nad
granted her. Then she said. but not re-
proachfully. Il have been here bali an
hour. had expected you before.
Ibid you ?" he answered Ut was 80
good Of you to be here. generous OF you.
like Yourself! But you must come In Tor
a moment. Ethel. The house is quite
empty. The caretaker | know has leave
to be away this afternoon. and Critchlow.
our cashier, will have left by now
II don't think ought" she said, smil-
ing. -,
must put nv books away now. and come
back after tea And see. if you are think
ing of the proprieties. there is police
man watching us with the most unfiatter-
ing interest. i
He opened the door with his key. and
she came shylv in. Once inside, however.
and the door shut upon the inquisitlve po-
it is no matter to US how
Crisp welcomed her But this satisfacto-
rily performed, they went up stairs, MS
arm round her waist-a strange sight in
that dusty place-their steps echoing
in the empty house. AT the top OF
the stairs the door into the large
clerks room was ajar. Crisp pushed 1t
open and let her in. And this is where
you do your worKp she asked, devouring
with wide open eyes the long bare room.
with its four windows, its rows OF desks
and stools along one side and the glass
box in the far corner.
NO" he answered, laughing. 81 am
supposed to be cut above this, darling.
Only am obliged to be very careful not
TO throw stonesv He led her up the room,
and unlocking the door of his glass house
took her in. How delightful it was to
help her up on this high stool, and held
.omed to it, she might have become
giddy And see her fit her little boots to
he rail Of the desk. and unlock the latter
and come at once face to face with her
,wn photograph and then to see her
blush. and pleasure at his fidelity 1t was
Ill so delightful that he wondered why,
hough they had met in Change-alley on
Saturday afternoons before, he had never
brought her to see his office.
"And where do those doors lead to
Don't. Earnest; please leave my hair
lone. How do yon know, Sir, that there
8 no one therep''
He stopped at once--whatever he was
loing-and dark shadow fell across his
ace. THAT is Critchlow's room." he
aid. "And by Jove. he's left the key
n it. There's nice piece of carlessness -
,ut there was no citation in his voice. 1t
eemed as if shadow had fallen on them
10Th, from the moment her eyes we're
rawn to that door. 1t was not just in
ront of them-the door leading to the
artner's room stood there-but in the
orner on the left. 'I'll take the key and
onvict him at any rate of this" the young
nan said moodily. and went out of his
lass case and crossed the floor to the door.
he girl followed him. strange sudden
ceiling of the emptiness Of the house upon
er. How hollow Earnest's footsteps
ang. The sun. too. had gone behind a
loud. and the room seemed dreary, dusty.
nd cold, too. for she shivered.
Crisp, after trying the cashiers door
nd finding it locked. slipped the key out
nd put it into his pocket. Then he locked
is own door and pocketed that KEY also.
was strange, perhaps, that he took no
arewell kiss in the hall. but opened the
utter door hastily, and seemed to breathe
lore freely when they were out of the
LEY and in the peopled street.
They took so long walk, Ethel telling
er lover of her latest troubles at Main
rec House, a young ladies' seminary
vhere she was tolerated as teacher of Eng
sh, and Earnest confiding the dreadful
natter of the error of his accounts. that
vhen they parted he gave up all thought
f returning to his books.
but you must not be late another day,
'ir." were her last words. He thought
othing of them then, but afterward when
e was alone. they puzzled him. There had
'een no appointment made for that alter
oon, no promise given. no time fixed. So
low could he have been late. 1t was odd.
What did she mean by saying he was late
(To be continued.)