The Irish standard., 1888-05-26
so then, instead of bringing this misery

so then, instead OF bringing this misery
upon you-and myself"
/ Now, at last, into that s:rare and radi
anti face dawned melting tenderness
which bewildered and maddened him.
\ ssAlthea! 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 it; if you care for the gift, you shall
i have it forever"
1t 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.
/ ooh, queen OF my heartI' he murmured
with tears in his eyes. "Can you then for
give me2 Can you believe i'll me again?"
Certainly she could give him 10 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 FORE
Presently cloud came over his face.
tHave you thought what the future will
hold for me, Althea?-publ disgrace, even
imprisonment, if those I 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 us.'
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
! o13 IA +b0 1,,.ui
on q basis where could not have placed it
in this time. I trust you are disposed to be
lenient with him. For my part, though
confess that I was shocked and disappointed,
shall give him every chance to redeem this
one false step.o
s'What! even to retaining him in posi-
ton OF trust?'
''Most assuredly. have not lost my
confidence in Lyman"
"Well, if you take that stand, 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."
"It is enough that ain fully indicated"
said Norris, quietly.
(which you are, and the company has
lost a valuable hand, to your gain, sir" as
he turned back to Mr.. Everleigh. cit
would be different in Childer's case had he
belonged to that other lot.'
t'You have secured them all except In
got2''
eyes, and between Stones confession
and Red TOMS statements, will make short
work of them. You have been unfortunate
IN your employees, Mr.. Everleigh; that ez-
book-keeper is @ bad lot"
Gas the street urchins say, you have me
there. Yet don't think Ingot will do mush
harm of himself tits tho pernicious int1u-
ence ho would have upon such men as Ed
son that makes him dangerous. Wen.
don't ask you to spare him if you catch
him"
But catch Mr.. Ingot they did not. Ee
faded out of their knowledge and was heard
| from no more, but atter-explanatlons
brought out the fact that he had been the
author of the anonymous note which .Althea
had received.
IL an ashamed now to confess that cred
tied it to you, LYMAN she acknowledged
"But you know you were jealous of Norris
about that time thought you wanted to
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. I have no doubt but Ingot
wanted to got Bergman out Of the way as
| his rival.'
81 am glad that you have overcome your
dislike to Norris. -
81 will never get to the end Of my con-
! fessions, [ fear. 1t was not SO much dis
like, as that + could not help comparing NY
self with him to my great disfavor. There
is no one to whom I could give my darling
sister so willingly"
"They are very happy; think, almost as
happy as we are.''
"Happier, my Althea, for they have
nothing to regret. But even Norris can
never be so blessed as I a1n.'
! To which assertion Norris would, very
probably, have taken exception had his
| opinion been asked.
| CHAPTER XXI