The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-04-14
UNDER A CLOUD;
Clearing Himself.
A Thrilling and Absorbing Story
Of a Great Crime.
BY JENNIE DAVIS BURTON.
AUTHOR OF HER LIES SECRET,
AND OTHER STORIES.
Copyrighted. 1899, by the A. n Kellogg News
paper Company, All Rights Reserved.
Il aid not expect to see yoe here" he
said, with u level look Of jnsolence into Nor

ris' eyes.
'sEhe pleasure is reciprocal 1t did not
seem necessary to explain that Mr.. Ever
leigh is an old family friend during your
call this afternoon. / think if ] desired d
situation in the bank that he would give it
to me-"
and Morris retired best from the en-
counter. il one We're TO judge by the culver
about the coarse lips, that had . trick Of
turning pale with unpleasant en!otlon.
He dropped back unnoticed among the
guests, waiting for an opportunity to make
his adicux ana retire quietly, fo2 it was no
part OF his purpose to drink to intoxlcatlon
out of this pleasure cup.
1T was only an impulse which led to bis
comm --t!,e Irresistible wish to meet Caro-
on equal gyo,,ni, Il little pride, perhaps, in
showing l.er .!la,i her brother how he stood
with tie Fverleiglls and now that this
much was accomplished. nc was ready to
go back to the sphere which, il manly indie
Dendence he l;ll, chosen for himself.
"Rather ia expensive fandango for a
man WHO is on the verge OF bankruptcy,
isn't it,"
S'Ch, depend on it, this is the daughters
dol1gs. These von,en They're the ruin
of 81 struggling ,ntn.S
Ono don't suppose she knows Of the
straits he 3 it., bur ANY one who ISL Will
fully blind would see there. is something
wrong. Is yyilj be Il toinc-tiown for her
l;dysuipif there should be a crash, don't
suppose she knows what it is 20 have 81
within Of hers denied.'
The speaker drltted away, leaving Norris
shocked al this wor<iny Of i. whisper which
:'au iii an un(ercurrent through tllos5: love
ly. fower-decl1ea rooms. a great feeling Of
sympathy rose III him for the proud bcall-
Eful girl WHO had been the friend ana play
mate of his childhood. He felt that he could
not Leave her indferently, aud he fingered
al her side when he rejoined ne2, bringing
slp instances Of their old association, !ee1n~
iEg like the friend he one; had been, and at
last taking a regretf,tl Leave, which lett q
brighter bloom on thu: cheeks Of -Althesa Ever
leigh ana d pleased smile lingering about
her ripe, REQ mouth.
One l,ther person besides Hiram lngc5
Mad t;4zen note oi young Fierg1nan's pres
t.5,ce aud felt in {, n,easurs nggrioved by
it, This was Lyman Chiider, and it is safe
*, say that jealousy WIS at the bottom Of
his sentiments, for Miss Everleigh had
given him only such smiles rs she had FOR
ali her guests. while that upstart Of al ex-
uissst,nyg. hati claimed her attention. for u
full half hour, ana left her brighter than he
had ever seen h0I--.With that soft light Oh
iac,r rather cold, rather naughty face.
RE t3ia not turn to her, however, when
Ti; chance came. He got hs eyes On the
aisoonso]ate figure Of the banker, and fol-
lowed Ili,u into a. side room which was not
o1,au TO the guests. F'ancyins himself
alone, the: elder man had dropped his mask.
EIe looked Old, and gray, and miserable.
shrinking as it seemed. before thai i'npend-
ing blow from cruel fortune, but 4 fush Of
iutlign;ltiun m;alltiud his check as he faced
about when his ua1lc W:ts spoken.
ooh, you, Chl'der! You made q mistake
In the room, I suppose. AN Old fellow like
me wants 10 get out Of that crowd fcr Il
Little qyllct.'
staarsion inc, MI EYerleigh. | saw you
cov1its in here and followed to peak to you.
s:Yo11 you haven't any bad news?''
s:Nothing Of the kind, unless; it is bad news
80 SLY that know something OF the dittjcni~
ties which are around ycn.' Nm
He broke CT, hes::tting, as if i'll scaEgf4
for words With which to express himself.
The banker leaned toward him, III the t?lu-
griness for sympathy which Il Man feels
who has held himself forciio.v aloos FROM, IT,
.'Do YOU know thai those people are bla,l~
ing me for thus atfair to~night2 Tney say !!
am cheating my creditors by JUST So much.
J suppose it is tue ruth, but I was deter
mined she should have this last birthday.
unciouded: to remember, AFTER
sis it really So had as all that, Mr. Ever
leigb2''
The gray-haired man struggled with the
emotion which was choking him.
ssJlnless some 1niraclt: irtervenos, shall
60 TO the wall within: L; week. Edson's chi
beZ3lenant Of a year ago was what shook
me first, and there las been Il :crrible
shri1ll1age i'll values since. II j had oee1, an
unscrupulous man / might have recovered
part. but,'hero his head lftedS' thou Oh
am ruined myself. no other man sha, be
Yrcnged by me-
''ln that case it would not require very
Large sum to tide you over. would it!'
''Lcss than that thieving cashier took
with him when he abscouded. I've hoped
to the last that he might be discovered. and
compelled TO disgorge. A vain hope! Heel
Like cursing him and MY blindness; but that
don't help Matters
81 have a hope that may. My sister and
have lately fallen heir to quite little fort
une, left to lis by an uncle III the far West.
1t is in available form, and Carols share is
placed l1nreservedly III my trust pending
lSE maJOllty. can place Il uuHuEGt! tiou-
sand dollars in your hands in q few days
time, if that will be sufficientto carry you
over.'
''It is more than enough cried Mr..
Everleigh. in q quick revulsion from despair
to happiness, SEEING and yvringing tue
hands Of his cashier till the latter WINGED.
ssBelieve me, Chider. L would never take
advantage of your most generous offer if
had any doubt Of the result, and I will see
that YOU are secured before make use of a
dollar What a fortunate legacy! How
grateful aln-to you and to Heaven'
Those guests who were supposed to be
knowing ones looked at each other in aston
ishment when Mr.. Everleigh appeared
among them again after a short interval.
He had got rid Of his harassed looks; he
was quite the genial, watehful host-a role
which he had not performed to perfection
in the earlier part.o the evening
Il But for man who had just done an un-
called-for; generous act, Lyman Childer did
not seem to have derived'sthe spiritual COM
fort which might have been expected from
h II. AZ He took an early OPP tunity to with
Il draw his sister from the gay scene, after
L saacknowle the pleasure which the
evening had given him to q Miss Everleigh