Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-08-03

prlsed, but said good morning to
her as much as he would have done
TO the servant.
80, John, am so glad you have
come-why, John, are you ill !"
He laughed and again said good
morning. lie preceded her into
the paror, and sat down in the
same chair he occupied the night
before. lie was laughing quietly
to himself all the time. His head
was aching terribly now, and that
was very funny.
"John. dear John, tell me it isn't
true. | know it is not. was hasty
last night, John; won't you forgive
me-"
John looked at her, brushed a
speck from his knee, and laughed
a little louder.
"John, John, why don't you an
swer me? Why don't you tell me
it isn't true? But no, | won't ask
that, | know it isn't" She threw
her arms around him and sank al
his side.
lie did not move, but stopped
laughing. Oh ! how his head did
ache. No, it had stopped aching.
Where was hel Oh, yes. Beth
was with him and was sobbing,
Why was she cryingi lie didn't
remember, but thought that he
was connected with it in some way,
he didn't know how. He lifted her
head from his knee, bent down and
kissed her. Kissed her many times,
and drew her up, folding his arms
about her and telling her he was
sorry. What he was sorry for he
couldn't have said.
He got up and drawing her to
him, kissed her again and said
"Good by, BETH
He could see her lips move, but
he didp't hear anything. He went
to the door, opened it, and went
down to the street and wondered
why the horses and wagons didn't
make any noise. How silent they
went along; how quiet everything
was. He couldn't even hear his
own footsteps. lie looked at his
watch and saw that it was almost
12 O'Clock. The bank had been
open two hours. He would be late
for business. Well, he would hur'
ry.
John had forgotten tnat he was
no longer cashier Of the Drovers
Bank; he only remembered that he
would be late at his desk. lie
reached the bank, walked in, took
off his coat and hat, and started to
20 behind the desk. Mr.. Knlcker
confronted him, and he suddenly
saw it all again. The note, the
newspaper, and the night before at
Beth's. The man, this benevolent
looking old gentleman, who was
frownlng at him now, had branded
him as a thief.
"Its lie its a lie " he shouted
Great God, how his head ached.-
Well, he had told Mr.. Knicker that
it was lie he could go now.
lie took down his coat and hat,
put them on, and went out into the
street. How was thls7 That was
not the city street he had just left
this was the old grass-grown lane
running before his old home. How
the sun shonel How the birds
sang. There was the yard with the
old farm wagons and haystacks
standing at one side, and yes-yes
there was the old tortoise shell
cat summing himself on the fence.
There were the old milk cans,
bright as silver, standing in a row
on the grass by the kitchen door.
But best--far best of all-there was
his mother; his mother who had
lain in the churchysrd up on the
hill for ten years, holding out her
arms to him."
80, mother! o, my dear old
mother y All was black.
" hen John regained conscious
ness there were many faces around
him, but the light was so dim that
he couldn't see whether he knew
them or not. He heard some one
say, in soft voice: ole has closed
his eyes," Then one Of the faces
leaned forward and kissed him. 1t
was Beth.
"John, John, don't you know
met"
He lifted his arms and pressed
the sweet face to his breast.
"John, here is Mr.. Knicker come
to tell you it's all a terrible mis-
take,n
John didn't look at Mr.. KnickeI
but kept his eyes fixed on the
sweet face close to him. His hand
gently smoothed her hair, and he
kissed her lips.
"Beth, my darling Beth, l love
you. OF course forgive you, and
we will go -" His voice sound
ed strange and weak. How hard
it was to talk. 1--WE will go and
pet married. won't we dear WHY