Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-09

"Why nOt!' N
Because cannot. can give you no reason"
"You refuse to 1T. Why? Idon't ask you this
time Norah. command you. II you are still to re-
main in my service, undertake this investigation"
81 will not. cannot. l will rather leave your
service"
'erhen before we part. read this paper It was
placed in my hands this mofnngE.by my son. He is
your old friend and companion. Your brother is
also his old friend and companion. Your family
have all been kind to him. Yet he has been com.
PEELED to write this report for me. Read it. Think
of the pain it must have given him to write it; and
the pain yes the deep pain it gives me to read it.
Norah read it. When she came to the place where
the writer spoke of herself she read slowly not able
first to understand it. Then she cried aloud in
amazement from the pain of the blow, which was
like the stabbing Of sharp stiletto But she
cred and went on to the end. When she had quite
finished it, she sunk into her chair and buried her
face in her hands, sobbing and crying without
sraint The man who had told her he loved her and
had inplored her to marry him one day, had done
this thing the next. The boy in the outer fofice
heard her crying, and wondered whether now the
time had arrived for his own appearance.
Not yet he thought; not yet. Above all things an
opportune appearance and dramatic effect
"What have you to sayr asked Mr. Murridge,
"Oh, Dick, Dick!" sr-
twas all she had to say Presently she lifted her
head and dashed away her tears, and proudly gave
back the paper to MI. Murridge.
81 have nothing to say" she replied what
there to say?'
Here is a distinct charge against you. most
0e na hass ss noii1 se" say Yes The baan
clerk, he saws, can identity two persons who pre-
sented checks He need not be called upon to do
They were myself and my brother Hyacfnth. have
nothing more to say will answer no questions.
You must do you please -* Fl
81 have done all could for you. Ioffered you your
chance for confession and for excuses"
Confession! He says confession"
"And you meet me with the daring avowal that
you and your brother presented those two forged
checks Is it possible? You!"
1.-THE two checks. I did not say the two forged
checks 1t is quite true. drew twelve pounds with
one check. and Daffodil drew twelve pounds with
another" ~
The girl repeated this avowal looking Mr. Muir.
ridge straight in the face without the least shrinking
or shame.
have owned so much, confess the rest. Why did you
take those checks2' -.-
"Why did take those checks7 Oh, have been
with this man for five years. and now-now he asks
me why stole his checks
TELL me, Norah. Yes, you have been with me five
years. You have been SO honest and faithful that
cannot understand 1t. Tell me why cannot un-
derstand it."
81 will answer questions. Take up the case for
yourself, Mn. Murridge. You will find at my
mothers or with Calista, when you want me. You
must take it up. You cannot let it stay where it is
You shall not. When you have come to the truth.
you will understand why refused to speak, 4e.
"Tell me the truth now, then Norah.'
Mr.. Murridge, who trusted no one, and thought
love and friendship fond and foolish things was
strangely moved by this business He had thought
that when he could lay his hands upon the person
who had robbed him. he would straightway hale
that person before the magistrate without pity and
indeed, with revengefu joy. But that person stood
before him. convicted by his sons evidence and out
of her own mouth, and he was moved to pity.
"Tell me the truth, Norah," he repeated "For
Gods sake, tell me the truth, and nothing more shall
be said about it! No shall know; it shall be be-
tween us two. We will all go before. Only,
my girl, tell me the truth"
Il cannot-I cannot. You must find it yourself I
presented one Of those checks and my brother pre-
sented another. That is all can tell you"
She was no longer pale. She did not trenlble any
more. In her cheek there burning spot, which
might have been the outward and visible sign of
scfous guilt. AS such Mr.. Murridge read it, On the
other hand, it might betoken wrath too deep for
words. But such he did not read it. Whatever it
was, her eyes were aflane as she turned her face
once more to MI. Murridgc, as she stood with the
door open.
81 advise you for once to follow your own max1ns
You have always advised to trust no one. Yet
you have sometimes trusted me. In this case trust
no one but yourself. When you are satisfied, you
will ask me to come back to you. Till then you will
me here no longer"
The Office boy listened. t.
"Oh miss he said, as she closed the door, "are you
going3 He's gone, too He's done something. Oh
know very WE'LL Are you really gongP
Really going for a time, Joe perhaps altogether"
as there row, miss? Is he"-he jerked in the d.
rection of Mr. Richards CHARTS he in itp
"You had better ask him Joe, good by"
"She's been crying. The tears were on her cheeks
wonder" said the boy, "whefheT ought to go K
now? Oh, if could go in with craass and brace of
pistolsn' H ffrf-
But he was afraid.
ut is impossible said Mr. Murrdge aShe must
have done it. Why did she turn pale? Why di
she trenlble9 Why were her cheeks redo She
must have done it! Why did she refuse to tase up
the case? She must! Very we'll then. there Is
something benin tt-someth1ng that Dick can't find
out. Very well, then; they got TO deal with
now Twill find out the truth for myself"