Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-16

Mm6 against auyDOuys were Buey really
forgeries! You may have forgotten, you
know. They may have been your own.
How do you know for certain that they
were forgeriesF'
What did she mean? What on earth did she mean
by talking in this way?
They we're not my own. They were forged" he
repeated, sternly. 81 know that from the dates and
from the number of the checks"
"Norah " he said, presently, "you have been a good
glri 10 me- a very clever and good girl you've been
10 me Tor nve years. acknowledge i'll feel IT.. l
wish l mad raised your salary before. You deserve
moroi you've been a very good girl. You have car
Ileu through many difticult cases for me | don't
know what | should have done in lots Of cases with.
our your help. This robbery distresses me. I did
NOT think could have been so much distressed by
ahythlhS. ! say 1t Is a most distressing thing to me-"
he repeated his words, and seemed Mt a loss how to
express himself. Now will give 0 uone more sign
oImy confidence in you-a complete proof of my con
Hdehce IN You. will put this case, too, into your
for me-"
she made no sign whatever.
VIII give 1t to you for your own investigation.
lou snail md out, NOrah, who took the checks from
my cheek book, who filed them and signed them,
VINO presented them. You shall help me to bring
thls Villain 10 Justice" The girl sat before him with
pale cheek ana eyes d~Owndropped, and she trem.
Died, Her hands trembled, her lips trembled, her
shoulders trembled. st shall be your task. viii
you undertake it?'
Stlll she made no sign.
ut may bel say 1t NAV be-that some excusas
what men call eXcuses-idle things. but they are
sometimes accepted may be found. The thing may
nave oeen done by some one to help another person
IN trouble. On, there are people 50 foolish and weak
mat they VIII even incur the risk of crime and dis.
grace and punishment for Others. Women have
been known to do such things for their prodigal
lovers and their unworthy brothers. Find out, il
you can, such an excuse, and when YOU bring me the
name OF the guilty person | will consider how far
that EXCUSE NAV avail in ca vipU hin, FrD,, ,,n,;cL.
ment."
spare me.' cried Norah. "Oh, 1 will do ANYTHING
else that you ask me-anything else; but | cannot dc
this"
"Why not?'
Because l cannot. lean give you no reason"
You refuse to do 1t. Why? Idon't ask you this
tlhle' Norah. command you. II you are sti | to re.
man In my service, undertake this inve, t%igation."
i VIII not. l cannot. l will rather leave your
service"
Then, before we part, read this paper. It was
placed In my hands this morning by my son. He is
your old friend and companion. Your brother is
also his old friend and companion. Your family
nave all been kind to him. Yet he has been com.
PEELED to write this report for me. Read 1t. Think
OF the pain 1t must have given him to write 1t; and
the pain, yes, the deep pain, it gives me to read it."
Moran read 1t. When she came to the place where
the writer spoke Of herself she read slowly, not able
at first to understand 1t. Then she cried aloud In
alnazement from the pain OF the blow, which was
IKE the stabbing of a sharp stiletto. But she recov
cred, and went on to the end. When She had quite
Finished 1t, she sunk into her chair and buried heI
face in her hands, sobbing and crying without re-
straint. The man who had told her he loved her, and
mad lmplored her to marry him one day, had done
thls thihg the next. The boy in the outer office
hear1 her crying, and wondered whether now the
time had arrived for his own appearance.
Not yet, he thought; not yet. Above all things ar
opportune appearance and a dramatic effect.
What have you to say?' asked Mr.. Murridge.
"Ch, Dick, Dick"
1t was all She had to say. Presently she lifted her
head and dashed away her tears, and proudly gave
back the paper to Mr.. Murrldge.
"Well?'
81 have nothing to say" she replied. "What is
there to say?'
Here is a distinct charge against YOU. A most
serious charge. The most serious charge that could
be made against you"
II have nothing to say. Stay! Yes. The bank
clerk, he says, can identify two persons who pre-
sented checks. He need not be called upon to do so
They were myself and my brother Hyacinth. | have
nothing more to say. | Will answer no questions
You must do as you please"
81 have done all could for you. Iofrered you youl
chance for confession and for excuses"
"Confession, He says confession"
"And you meet me with the daring ayoyyol thot
you and your brother presented those two forged
checks, sit possible? You"
THE two checks. | did not say the two forged
checks. 1t is quite true. drew twelve pounds viii
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.
Forged or not, 1t is the same thing. Since Won
have owned 50 much, confess the rest. WHY did Won
take those checks?'
why did l take those checks? Oh, I have beor
with this man for five years, and nOw-now he ask
me why | stole his cheeks
Tell me, Norah. Yes, you have been with na FIVE
years. You have been so honest and faithful that
cannot understand 1t. Tell me why. cannot I'm
derstand IT,"
u Will answer no questions. Take up the case for
yourself, Mr.. Murridge. You will find me Mt nv
mothers, or with Calista, when you want me Won
must take 1t up. You cannot let it stay where it is
GU snail not. When you have come to the truth
you VIII understand why l refused to speak"
TELL me the truth now, then Norah."
Mr.. Murrldge, who trusted no one. and Thought
love ana friendship fond and foolish things, wa,
strangely moved by this business. He had thought
that when he could lay his hands upon the person
VINO mad robbed him, he would straightway hale
mat person before the magistrate without nifty and
indeed, with revengeful joy. But that person stood
before him, convicted by his sons evidence and oul
OF her own mouth, and he was moved to pity,
Tell me the truth, Norah,' he repeated. "FcI
Gods sake, tell me the truth, and nothing more shall
De sald about 1t. No one shall know; it shall be be
tween US two. We will all go on as before. Only
my girl, tell me the truth"
Il cannot-l cannot. You must fad II yourself
presented one OF those checks, and my brother pre-
scented another. That is all | can tell YOU
She was no longer pale. She did not tremble any
more. IN her cheek there was a burning spot, which
might have been the outward and visible sign OF con
scious guilt. As such MIR. Murridge read it. On the
otheF hahn, IL might betoken a wrath too deep foi
words. But as such hedid not read it. Whatever II
was, her eyes were ahGne as she turned her face
once more to MIR. Murridge, as She stood with the
door open.
i advise you for once to follow your own maxims
You have always advised me to trust no one. Vel
YOU nave sometimes trusted na In bfgooea Ar.t