The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-04-21

"if you loved that being with one tenth
of the passion that Is destroying me,
you would cut your wagging tongue
from your gaping mouth ere you would
permit SO tlippantn mention of SO sacred
name"
He started, and stared at me, while
walked Indignantly away.
Did he understand my words? Did
he comprehend them in their breadth
and depthp
Only so far, perhaps, rs u shallow
BRAIN and superficial feeling could
reach, for he was ono entity, and / an
other.
From that moment, however he
ceased to speak of her in my presence,
and I, feeling that she was lost to me
for ever, only secretly worshppcd her
from afar.
So matters drifted on for II time, and
/ became miserable over my solitary
brooding; and while l wished myself
far enough from the scene of Il rivals
triumph, | shrapk from the thought of
going where should never look upon
my idol again.
One night, having forgotten some
thing ut the store, | procured the key
from the porter and entered the build
ing.
To my surprise, soon perceived the
room; and on approaching it cautiously,
thinking there might be n burglar at
work, was still moro surprised TO see
the safc-door open, and my rival seated
on the floor, apparently counting
large roll of bank-notcs.
"Well, this looks like singular night
work. said |.
With q startled cry, he fairly lcaprd
to his feet, letting the money fall around
him, and turned towards me one of the
most gnaStly faces ever bchcld.
After looking straight in my face for
few moments, during which nc shook
and tremblcd, and his very lips quivcr-
cd, he stammercd out:
"Wh-wh-why, is it you? Wha-wha-
what do you want?"
Suppose in turn ask you what you
are doing with that open safe and
money ut this untimcly hour?"
"Oh, that?' he answered, glancing
down at the scattered bank-notcs, and
evidently recovering himself with an
effort. "Ha, hat he affected to laugh.
"Do you know, my dear fellow, l took
you for u burglar!'
Instead of yourself. ch?"
The fact is, you SEQ. my dear friend
-
Suppose you leave the dear friend
out?' interrupted.
"Wcll, then" he coolly went on, "the
fact is that, after going home, the idea
came into my head that had made a
mistake in my money report and rs
the governor, you know meaning our
cmploycr), is very particular about
tritles and might discover it before l
should get chance to make corrcc-
ton, thought had better attend to it
at once"
"And doubtless you found an error,
which you were about to.sct rightr'
said, with snccr which he seemed not
to notice.
ooh, yes, think there was nm error;
but am not quite sure, because of your
interruption, l shall have to 90 all
over the money again. And now that
have accounted for my presence here,
suppose you do the same he added,
giving me II searching look.
''Wcll, came in to GET" Here it
occurred to me that |, an honest man,
was being intcrrogated by one who was
perhaps a thief, and | suddenly broke
off and added: THAT is my business"
"Ohor' he exclaimed with q peculiar
look and lccr.
and l came in by the porter's key"
sharply continued
"Aha! yes, yes. just sou
"And by what key did you come IMP"
81 suppose you are not ignorant of
the fact that there is private keyP" he
answered.
(Which belongs to the governor"
"And which his daughter could get
for me-"
Having every confidence in your in
tcgrity."
"At least she ought to have in her fu-
ture husband, you know
This allusion to his coming marriage
with my worshipped angel nearly drove
me wild.
| controlled myself as we'll as 1 could,
and merely said:
81 hope you will find your money af-
fair aeal correct, and not have to take
away or add anythingr'
THANK you! I hope I shalt" he
blandly answered.
turned away abruptly to seek what
came for and leave the building
AS was about to depart, in no en-
viablc frame of mind, he called out:
81 suppose you will report what you
have discovered, and as much to my in
jury as possiblcp"
probably You are now Judging me
b. Yourself" I angrily replied; but
will thank you to understand that am
too much of gentleman to be a tale
bearer"
"All right, then, and good-nightr he
sad.
Being too angry to respond hurried
out and locked the door without saying
another word.
] returned the key to tho porter; but I
did not mention to him, nor to anyone
else, the fact of my having met my fell
low-clcrk in the building, under circum.
stances so calculated TO excite suspicion
of his being there for an evil purpose.
In this am now certain did wrong;
but | was young then, without expert
cnco in the evil ways of mankind, strict
ly honest and honorable myself, and
possessed too much pride to demean
myself to the low condition of tale
hnarnr