The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-10-20

lett tne lawyers OlUce ana went DacK 10
her home,
But, strive as she might, she could not
silence the singing bird in her heart the
sweet, low-voiced singer who told her of
the gift Of love from the heart of good
man.
ole is so noble and truew she whis-
pered softly, faint flush tinging her
cheeks "a could not drag him down in
such way But OH papa-papa! don't
believe that you were guilty. | will never
believe it. Aud | mean TO prove my
fathers innocence to the world'i
Her eyes flashed with a loyal light; she
shut her white teeth resolutely together,
and a look Of firm determination settled
over the pale, sweet face.
She was only twenty, and had no legal
claim upon any living creature; but her
faith in her dead fathers innocence was
firm as the everlasting hi!ls.'
When she reached home-soon to be her
home no longer-she found John Arnold
there.
dark, sinster-looking man, who had
been her fathers friend, ard assistant
cashier in the bank. But Norine had
never trusted him, and of late she had
grown TO dislike him intensely. He came
to her side, his unpleasant eyes gazing
into the girls white face with keen serum
ity,
'Aly dear Miss .ynnn--in a smooth, oily
tonc-"I have been waiting to see you.
Miss Norine," trying to take one of her
cold trembling hands in his own, ~ have
heard of your trouble-the discovery of
your fathers guilt
'llusb!' she commanded, stenly "My
father was not guilty. John Arnold"
(she flashed abont with resolute light in
her dusky eyes) "my father was innocent,
and you know it, He smiled.
"Norine, can lay my handson pceur-
tain facts which will clear your fathers
name from the stain upon it," lie said
slowly, gazing into her white face with
eyes all afire. 81 promise to do this; |
swear to clear Warren Lyun's honor, and
set him right before his fellow -men-that
the name which shall be carved upon his
tombstone shall be clean and honest; all
this | will do, Norine, upon one condition"
THAT condition is" She stopped
short.
"That you become my wife. Marry me, !,
Norine. and | will do all this for your
sake" Her white face did not relax
muscle; her voice was low, and clear and
calm, as she made answer:
"Do so! Let my father be exonerated-
pnblicly-then come to me. | will be your
wife, John Arnold, if you are willing to
marry me knowing that l do not loye YOU
| can never love you"
mo matter. am willing 10 take you
as you are, knowing that in time loye will
come. Before tomorrow night Warren
Lynn's name shall be cleared from the
stain upon it,"
She shiycred all over as she heard these
words, but she turned her face away and he
did not see the heartbreak in her eyes
The next day the community was elect
rifed by the strange news that Warren
Lynn had been wrongly accused. The
real culprit came to the fore with his con-
fession of guilt, and ample restitution was
made. So Norine did not lose her home,
nor was she forced 10 give up The compe-
tency which was lawfully hers. Her face
was pale as marble, but her eyes shone
with the light of triumph. She would
have ruined her own life willingly to see
her fathers name cleared from the shadow
of crime she had ruined ana darkened
her life. The criminal was sentenced to
prison; and Norlne prepared for her mar
riage with John Arnold.
1t was the night before the sacrifice was
TO take place. All day Norinc had been
haunted by a strange persistent feeling
that something was going 10 happen, some
thing destined to influence her whole life,
Sometimes God sends these shadowy warn
ings to us-if only we would heed them.
She went out into the grounds at last, tc
try and fight out the battle alone in tn,
open air, with only God to see.
she did not love John Arnold; and OH
it was bitter confession which she made
to herself--she did love Neil Alden.
Yet here she was, about to chain hersel
for life-perhaps II long life to the maI
for whom she felt only aversion.
The sound of hurryng footsteps mad
her start and glance up. She saw Nei
Alden coming rapidly Toward her A tall
fne-lool<ing fellow ono of Natures noble
mer.
"Miss Norine,"- in trembling voice
Il have news, dreadful news-for you
John Arnold has been injured. Their
was a railroad accidcnt-you know that II
had left town, and was nov on his wa
home?-and-he was mortally wounded
, Norine-he. is dead! And-doE't look a
me with such frightened eyes-befoIe h
died he made a confession, which, painfr
as il must be to you-you still must know
Norine, he confessed that he was tn
) criminal who had defrauded the bank
That he threw the crime upon your fathel
S who was as innocent as a babe; and the
: another man to confess the crime. Ths
man is in prison, but was soon TO have e.
d caped-sO Arnold confessed-and above
y TO leave the country with a goodly sum Z
e money as remuneration. But death hi
4 oyer.aken John Arnold, and Norin
g Norine, look up and tell me that you dl
S not loye him-and that you do care lit
+ for me?'
] His arms were about her: the dark hea
c upon his breast, while low, tremblir
= voice falte, ed:
d Not little, Neil-but with all II
II heart"
Is And he was satisfied.
IS They have been married for long yea
now-and Nohne never thinks of the pa
without shudder, aud a prayer Of than
Is to Heaven for her escape from a fearf
1r -. g .faf