The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-12-06

fancies which every girl cherishes about
her future III was arrogant and ambitious.
II did not please me to think of surrender
ing myself for only mans true heart !
yet it would have been better If had done
so then, instead of bringing this misery
upon you-and myself"
Now, at last, into that "rare and Badi
anti face dawned melting tenderness
which bewildered and maddened him.
"Altheal do you mean that might have
had the love that / would have given my
life for, and now have lost forever"
"Not might have had,' Lyman. You
have IL; If you care for the gift, you shall
have II forever
II was the penalty Of his sin that that mo-
ment, which should have held for him the
greatest bliss OF life, was fraught quite as
much with pain and shame.
"Oh, queen Of my hearti" he murmured
with tears in his eyes. "Can you then for
give me! Can you believe in me againf'
Certainly she could give him no greater
proof than she had already done, for had she
not put aside pride and maidenly reserve to
offer, with her own white hand, the priceless
boon which he in his disgrace would never
have asked fori
Presently cloud came over his face.
"Have you thought what the future will
hold for me, Altheal-public disgrace, even
| Imprisonment, il those ! have wronged
choose to bestow that punishment upon me-"
You have done the right thing in con-
| Tossing your error; let what will come OF it,
it can make no difference between u.s.
But at that very moment Mr.. Everleigh
was summing up the case against him in
these words:
He has done wrong undoubtedly, Mr..
Starr; and yet the wrong seems to me to be
| more against himself than either Of us. He
has not defrauded me OF one penny; he has
restored every thing, and, besides, has given
| all his energies to the business, and put it
on basis where could not have placed it
| in this time. trust you are disposed to be
| lenient with him. For my part, though I
confess that was shocked and disappointed,
shall give him every chance to redeem this
one false step"
aWhatl even to retaining him in q posi-
ton of trustln
"Most assuredly. l have not lost my
confidence in Lyman"
swell, il you take that stand, l can
scarcely do less. The fact that he only
robbed us Of his own property, presumably,
leaves me free to say, give the young man
his chance. BY the way, this young man
declines to let US do as much for him,
though in his case the fault lay with u.s."
at is enough that am fully vindicated,r =
said Norris, quietly.
"Whish you are, and the company has
lost valuable hand, to your gain, sir" as
he turned back to Mr.. Everleigh. at
would be different in Childer's case had he
belonged to that other lot"
"You have secured them all except In
gotw
"Yes, and between Stones confession
and Red Toms statements, will make short
work OF them. You have been unfortunate
in your employees, Mr.. Everleigh; that ex-
book-keeper is bad lot"
"As the street urchins say, you have me
there. Yet don't think Ingot will do much
harm of himself. 1t Is the pernicious infu-
ence he would have upon such men as Ed
son that makes him dangerous. Well,
don't ask you to spare him il you catch
him."
But catch Mr.. Ingot they did not. He
faded out of their knowledge and was heard
from no more, but atter-explanations
brought out the fact that he had been the
author of the anonymous note which Althea
had received.
"Iam ashamed now to confess that l cred
tied it to you, Lyman" she acknowledged
But you know you were jealous Of Norris
about that time. I Thought you wanted tc
undermine him as rival, though the idea
was absurd HIS preference was apparent
enough from the first"
THAT note was the product of jealousy
nevertheless. l have no doubt but lingo
wanted to get Bergman out OF the way a.
his rival,n
al am glad that you have overcome youi
dislike to Norris" f
II will never get to the end Of my con
fessions, I fear 1t was not so much dis
like, as that could not help comparing my
self with him to my great disfavor. Their
is no one to whom could give my darling
! ! sister so willingly"
"They are very happy; think, almost a
happy as we are"
,, ''Happier, my Althea, for they hav
! nothing TO regret. But even Norris cal
never be so blessed as am"
,. To which assertion Norris would, yer.
probably, have taken exception had hi
opinion been asked.