The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-16

riches Of CrJrsus were TO bar the way"
"It canuot-cannot be, Reginald. Oh,
| am sorry Won ever loved 50 feeble
creature Nou DO not knOw-you cannot
understanding immense Is the IntiU-
cncr oi my fathers mind over nae. Were
! 10 DEFY him, a, yOu Su@g 81, 10 the hit-
ter end, / should perish with dread and
apprchcusion. The bare thought OF his
wrath would withcr me. ! should dwell
in constant terror OF hearing his iooistep
and the sound OF his voice. Reginald,
the very imagination OF il makes me
shudder."
"Do not weep, darling; I was wrong 70
propose such = course to yOu; hut II
spring from the extremity ot my dcsOIa-
tion. ! know well YOU are too gentle, too
fragile. 10 brave the rough winds that less
delicate plants may court. But l. there
nothing we can do Edith, nothing
"No. dear. We can only part now auT
at once, never to meet a-ain-nuvcr a.
we have mct-as we have met. II would
hc w0g~. than foolish, ii would be wicked.
And, weak a. am, cannot hc that
"Oh. tins hupclca-ucsS-ih hnpclc~
ness 1t is more drcary than DEATH
"Ana one day, Reginald wc shall hav.
to face death. Whcn that hour comes
We shall strive to face it with faith and
coura"n. Let us try 10 accept our destiny
i'm the same spirit. Surely ii j. moi who
need direct yDu into the path oi rigllt.
Reginald, Reginald. This meeting is break
ing my heart! Give me but one kiss, tho
l.;zt-Ihc last and let me go
lie pressed her 10 his bosom and held
h.r with a long. earnest clasp Ia his
kiss there was nothing but ecstasy of pain.
At lcu.th with a faint cry she broke from
HIN and fed. Then the crcpusculc Of
despair began 10 deepen over the soul OF
Reginald Gwynnc.
As he quilted the grounds OF Davcn-
port Lodge, where this interview had
taken place, lac passed Mr.. NIn BlarcOm
in close conversation with another gentle
man, both OF whom politely inclined
towards him. But he SAW nobody. \
film seemed to obscure his sight. lie
moved On like a man walking in his
sleep.
Didn't see us, Checketts," said 8Ir
Van Blarcom, following Reginald with a
palciul glance. strange We were near
enough. That Young fellow hangs about
the place far more than l care about. lie
Will not do il much longer, that IL Il CON
ISOLATION. | fancy / smclt out his little
game long while ago, sly as hc thinks
himself"
We seize the opportunity Of introducing
Mr.. Ch"ckctts - Mr.. John Chcckctts,
prlVat" secretary TO the great davenport,
that great founder and chief shareholder
i'm the great UIm Of Davenport and Com
pun-.
lie was Il short man. rather inclined To
bc stout and comfortable in figure, with
smooth face, pug nose, keen little eyes OF
no pronounced co.Dr-altuOu-u had YOU
ask "a lis opinion upon that point hc
would have said. "Ilalcl, sir: decidedly
hazcl'-aud hair Of a hue quite - doubt
ful which lac would have declared 10 be
"dccilcdly brown" Mr.. Chcckctts con
sidcrcd himself goOd-looking that was
natural. We don't-that is also to be cx-
Cuscd.
Whatever he was in this respect. he
WAS something which many people would
like 10 be considered. Nobody questioned
it-cycryhody agreed in it. lie was Il
treasure
Fancy man being able to parade be
fore the word as an animated diamond
a sort OF walking gem OF the first water
a kind OF intelligent pearl Of great price
What occasion had such a rcsplcndant
being To wear two remarkable rings upon
/ his lat fingers, or display q siX-ounce
! gold chain and 4 most eccentric locket
! upon the cxpanse OF his waistcoat? We
refrain from making any reflections
about painting the lily because Mr..
! Checketts did not in any wise resemble
that farcst among flowers. Never mind.
lie had the satisfaction OF knowing that
| he WAS i treasure
/ Eighteen months previously Mr.. Van
! BlarcOm had introduced him to Mr.. Da-
! vcnpOrt, who was then on the lookout
for u new private secretary, as a man OF
| large business capacity, a genius OF cor
! rcspondenCe, clever HnguIst, and 4
prodigy at figures.
Mr. Davenport felt that he had g
treasure" in his private secretary, il
whose acumcn he placed rs much con.
fidcncc rs lac could in anybody's.
"Checkctts," said Mr.. Van Blarron
rcsuminE the subject which the appear
ancc Of the abstracted Reginald hal fol
the moment interrupted, Il am not refer
ring 10 the past with any want or desire
To hurt your feelings, which | know are
sensitive upon that point but must
remind you that yOu owe your present
position TO me. Where would YOU have
been but for my generosity ?"
''robahly in Sing Sing" returned tn,
,thcr, dryly.
To be Continued