The Penn's Grove record., 1885-10-24


to notice the poor struggling architect.
For instance, Lady Blake had always
sent me a card for her annual ball.
Sometimes L went, sometimes not.
That spring l took 1t into my head to
go.
81 did not car much about dancing,
and was sitting alone In a recess watch
ing the dancers as they whirled by me
and listening to the waltz music, when
my attention was attracted by a beauti-
full girl, who kept glancing towards me
IN each round. When the waltz was
over, and she passed, leaning on her
partners arm, she turned her head, and
looked again.
81 was not vain enough to imagine
there was anything about my appear
ance which attracted her, and thought
she perhaps took me for some n else.
AS for me, my eyes followed her invol-
untarily--she wa so very lovely. Her
face seemed just an open book, in which
you could read the thoughts as they
passed through her mind; and, strange
ly enough, l had the impression of hay-
ing seen her before. As she was APP
preaching my recess again, I heard the
gentleman sine was with say, i viii
bring it to you immediately
'''I am sorry to trouble you she re.
turned, but | should be so much oblig-
ed. | will SIT here till you return
"As he went away she came towards
the recess, and sat down by me. | saw
the color rise in her chesks, and she
seemed to struggle for courage or self
command; but, after a moment OF in
decision, she turned towards me.
"'I have the pleasure of addressing
Mr. Jervis, the architect, have / notp'
she asked in a tremulous voice.
81 bowed / n acknowledgment.
"I must apologize for speaking to
you,' she began a~gain-'but l have a
motive. Have you not in your en-
ployment a gentleman of the name OF
Hugh Giaham2'
"sHugh Grahamp' / repeated. No
1 am not acquainted with any n of
that nsIne.'
"'Nop All, then l fear / have been
wrongly informed, she said, turning
away her head with q sigh, while al
expression Of distress and disappoint-
ment stole over her sweet countenance
AS | caught that view Of her features
l at once recognized the face. Shewas
the original of the photograph | had
seen In the desk of my junior clerk.
"'StayP / exclaimed. 1 have a gen
tleman in my office who calls himself
Henry Green. l know nothing of him;
1t may be a feigned name, perhaps. He
is tall, has light brown hair and a
moustache, and has a habit, when he
is impatient, of jerking his head back
so,' and l initiated a familiar gesture
of Green's.
"a smile fitted across my companions
face for a moment. but the thoughtful,
anxious expression soon returned
"tIt is he,' she said. what l wanted
to tell you is that he has an enemy who
will, if he finds out where he is. no
doubt try to poison your mind against
him. But, if you should receive any
letters or hear any reports do not be
lieye them. He IS innocent; but he has
been very, very, unfortunate. You will
not fCrsake him, will your
81 would have promised far more
than she required, with those soft a r
nest, wistful eyes looking into mine. |
gave her the promise that l would not
forsake Green, or rather Graham, as
shall henceforth call him, unless l my
self proved him unworthy. l was about
to add more, but she hastily placed her
finger on her lip, and | saw her late
partner approaching.
az am sorry to say / can't find it
anywhere, Miss Fraser, he said as he
came up
"tOh, never mind, thank you,' che
exclaimed, as she rose; lit is very stupid
of me not to remember where laid it,
and, taking his arm, she walked of
with a light inclination OF the head
towards me-.
1.-The little deceiveri She had sent off
her cavalier on a fools errand that she
might have an opportunity OF speaking
to me. / speedily left and returned
home.
"a very few weeks had passed, when
/ received an anonymous letter. The
writer thought it his duty to warn me
that | had taken into my Office a man
of infamous character. and to put me
on my guard against him--so the letter
ran. | scarcely knew what effect this
might have had upon me a few weeks
previously, but a pair of dark brown
ewes seemed looking into mine, and |
heard again the pleading voice whisper,
YOU will not forsake him, will your
and | felt very much inclined to dis
credit ANYTHING that could be said
against one who had so lovely an advo-
cate. | thought the best plan was to
be perfectly open in the matter, 60 |
called Graham INTO my room, and
placed the lett. In his hand. He
turned deadly pale as he read 1t.
"'Good heavensI' he exclaimed MY
suspicious are true, thenl The traitor
has forgotten to disguise his handl
owe you more than l a tell you, sir,
for showing me this-and yet how to
unmask him?' He had laid down the
letter, and stood for some minutes, his
hands clasping the back of a chair in
front OF him. i need scarcely ask what
steps O intend to take after the re-
ceipt of that precious document he re.
sumed at last, raising his head proudly.
Il am deeply grateful for what you
have already done for me; l cannot ex-
PEG YOU to trust me further In the face
of accusation | have NO present means
of rehuttIng.'
"sBut suppose | do trust y0uI' said
|. sAnd to show you what l think OF
this precious document. as you call it
here goesl' and, crushing the letter in
my hand, l tossed it into the fire.
Tears sprang to Graham's eyes, and.
stepping forward, he grasped my band.
How can | repay your kindnessS' he
exclaimed.
".Tut-tut-never mind about that,
/ replied. 'And now, if you please, get
the plan of the Heatherhill Station
traced out; tn. original must be in the
contractors hands Tonight
81 continued occasionally to receive
similar letters; but they made no i'm
preston upon me; forewarned, fore
armed, proved a true proverb in this
instance.
At last n morning he entered my
room abruptly, evidently In great per
turbation of mind, to ask for a weeks
holiday. 1t happened to be very ineon
yenient Just then, and l told him 50
Ua ayDresSed himself sorry, hut at the