Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-13

of the clerks happened to be standing near by when Jones took it. The clerk noticed particularly that MT. Jones seemed to find it all right, but that instead of pinning the lit tie slip of paper with the amount marked on it, which is customary to place around pack ages of money, he withdrew one of the bills and laid the others loose on his desk. The clerk was then called to some other part of the room and can give no further informa- tion. Other evidence conclusively shows that notwithstanding Mir. Jones' previous in- tegrity he has yielded to temptation and gone the way of many others. It is mentioned iri- cidentally that that very morning Mir. Jones had said he was in great need of $9O0, the ex- act amount extracted from the package. MT. Knicker, in consideration of Jones' former uprightness and strict discharge of duty, will not prosecute"
 John read this once, twice, three times. He only uttered two words: My Godl"
 Falling back in his chair with wide open eyes he sat staring at the wall The clock ticked away on the mantel shelf, the fire grew lower and almost died, the lamp sput- tered and smoked, but still John Jones sat back in his chair, staring, staring at the wall. Finally it gradually became light and the noise of traffic began in the street. John moved uneasily, looked around the room and got up. His head, he thought, was aching somewhat harder than on the night before, and he bathed it. There was spot on his cuff and he put on a clean pair. Yes, he was sure his head was aching harder. What was that noises Why, of course, some one was knocking at the door. He would open 1t and see who it was-a messenger boy. He took the message, opened it, and forgot to read it. He was standing still and wondering if 1t was foggy outside or if his eyes were dim.
 ''The lady said to wait for an answer" !" said the boy.
 Oh, yes There was that note. He would read it.
 DEAR JoHN-Come and see me today. 1cannot believe it. BETH. Who was Betha Oh! he remembered now; she was the girl who had promised to marry him, the thief. The word, he thought, sounded well, so he said it over and over again. Thief Thief Thief The boy asked for the answer,
 "Well," he laughed wildly, ''tell her that will be there"
 John sat down again, and again began glar- ing at the wall. It was nearing 10 o'clock now, and John got up and put on his overcoat and hat, scruptulously brushed them and went out. He again took a cab and went to Beth's house. This time he paid the cabman, and as he went in was about to speak to the servant when he saw that it was Beth herself who had opened the door. He, however, was not at all surprised, but said good morning to her much as he would have done to the servant.
 "oh, John, I am so glad you have come, Why, John, are you illT'
 He laughed and again said good morning. He preceded her into the parlor, and sat down in the same chair he occupied the night before. He was laughing quietly to himself all the time. His head was aching terribly now, and that was very funny.
 "John, dear John, tell me ie isn't true. I know it is not. was nasty last night, John; won't you forgive me2'
 John looked at her, brushed speck from his knee, and laughed a little louder.
 "John, John, why don't you answer mel Why don't you tell me 1t isn't truea But no, I won't ask that know it isn't" She threw her arms around him and sank at his side.
 He did not move, but stopped laughing. Oh, how his head did achel No, 1t had stopped aching. Where was hef Oh, yes. Beth was with him, and was sobbing. Why was she cryinga He didn't remember, but thought that he was connected with 1t 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 again, and said: s'Good-by, Beth" .,s
 He could see her lips move, but he didn't hear anything. He went to the door, opened it and went down to the street, and won- dered why the horses and wagons didn't make any noise. How silently they went along; how quiet everything was. He couldn't even hear his own footsteps. He looked at his watch and saw that it was almast 12 o'clock. Tho bank had been open two hours. He would be late for business. Well, he would hurry.
 John had forgotten that he was no longer cashier of the Drovers' bank; he only remem- bered that he would be late at his desk. He reached the bank, walked in, took off his coat and hat and started to go behind the desk. MT. Knicker confronted him, and he sud- denly saw it all again. The note, the news paper and the night before at Beth, This man, this benevolent looking old gentleman, who was drowning at him now, had branded him as thief.
 "It's lie! it's ie!" he shouted. Great God, how his head ached. We'll, he had told Mir. Knicker that it was g lie; he could go now.
 He took down his coat and hat, put them on, and went out into the street. How was this2 This wasn't the city street he had just left; this was the old grass grown lane rum ming before his old home. How the sun shoneI How the birds.sang! There was the yard with the old falm.wagonsa 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 pans, bright as silver, standing in row on the grass by the kitchen door. But best-far best of al-there was his mother; his mother, who had lain in the churchyard up on the hill for ten years, holding out her arms to him.
 ''Oh, mother! oh, my dear old motherI'' All was black.
 When John regained consciousness there were many faces around him, but the light was so dim that he could not see whether he knew them or not. He heard some one say, in soft voice: "He has opened, his eyes. " Then one of the faces leaned forward and kissed him. 1t was Beth. "John, John, don't yousknow meT' .e John lifted his arms and pressed the-sweet | face to his breast. s stJohn, here is Mir. Knicker come.to tell you it is all @ terrible mistake"
 John didn't loolksat Mr. .Knicker, ,,but kept his eyes on the sweet face, close to him. His |