The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-04-04

ployer he wished me to take the
note again, supposing | had given
it to you in payment of your salary"
Take it again?"
you, of course, were not aware
that the note is counterfeit. How
did it come into your hands ?"
Alfred told the story, but confused
by this most unexpected turn of
affairs, he told ii badly, flushing
with embarrassment, and choking
more than once over the recital.
The old gentleman listened grave
~. ~ have liked and trusted you,
Alfred Sears he said, when the
young man paused, land | was SO
unwilling to injure you that ! have
paid Mr.. Watts, allowing him to
suppose this note came from me.
But you will not blame me if | say
that you must seek a new situation,
and not refer to me for your recon-
mendation. will keep silence, but
| can promise no more"
"You discharge me? | had no
idea the note was not a good one
but l will repay you, sir, every
penny"
81 do not discharge you because
the note is not good, but because it
was stolen from my private desk"
'Stolen"
1t was not strange that the ashy
paleness that spread over Alfred's
face at this revelation should have
looked like detected guilt, to eyes SC
prepared to read it, and before he
could recover himself to speak again
Mr.. Walker was gone, his own kind
heart deeply grieved at administer.
ing what he believed to be strict jus,
tice, tempered by mercy.
1t would be vain for me to try tt
picture the despair in the littl,
. home when the dreadful tidingl
were carried there. In vain thu
brother and and sister tried to fine
some clue to the mystery. 1t was al
dark to them. Day after day ALFRED
spent in the endeavor to procur'
another situation, but the fact of hi
sudden unexplained discharge wa
too much against him, and he re
turned home sick at heart, disap
pointed,
Three long weary weeks had pass
ed. Little articles of value, save,
from the wreck of former luxury
were sold to supply the daily neces
saries of life, and the gaunt vol
poverty, drew closer and closer t
the little dwelling, where two will
ing hearts tried so faithfully to sup
port and protect three helpless ones
Three weeks passed, too, owe
Edward in New York, weeks full {
gayety and pleasure, for his letter
admitted him to the best society
and he had business enough onl
for a mere pretext to prolong hi
stay. But the morning that ende
the third week since his departur
found him again in the countin!
house talking to his uncle.
"And by the way, uncle, l m,
some of Alfred Sears friends. He
late this morning, is he not?"
What did his friends say of hin
Ned?"
"They all spoke in the highe
terms of him. must tell you h
story. His father was merchal
and one of the wealthiest; and the
say his mother was one of the mo
beautiful women in New York, bl
not particularly blessed with brain
Two years ago the old gentlema
failed, and committed suicide in IL
presence of his wife and tw
weeks old baby. The shock was tC
great, and she has been an almo
idiotic invalid ever since. Of cour
she must be a terrible care to !
and his sister, of whom they spea
as having inherited her mother
beauty without her Stiffness. The
is another child, and AL supper
the whole family, though how
does it on his salary, l cam
imagine. But where is he?
Binding him first to secrecy, N
Walker told the story of Alfred
discharge.
Uncle! Oh, uncle, what have
doneP groaned the young man.
You!
Yes! L sent the note for joke
A joke, Edward? 1t strikes I
AS very poor way of joking,
send counterfeit notes to a you
man iii embarrassed circumstance
But it was an April fool tri
He defied me to fool him, an,
thought, of course, he would {
cover its value before attempting
pass it. He is generally so quick
detect counterfeit.
w, 800. I'll - - zxoo