Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-08-04
On, yes. There was that note. He
would read it.

On, yes. There was that note. He
would read it.
DEAR JoHS-Come and see me today.
cannot believe 1t. BETH.
Who was Bethl Oh, he remembered
now; she was the girl who had promised
to marry him, the thief. The word, he
thought, sounded well, so lie said it
over and over again. Thief Thief!
Thief. The boy asked for the answer.
"Well," he laughed wildly, ''tell her
l will be there"
John sat down again, and again began
Claring at the wall. 1t was nearing 10
o'clock now, and John got up and put
on his overcoat and hat, scrupulously
brushed them and went out. He again
took cab and went to Beth's house.
This time he paid the cabman, and as
he went in was about to speak to the
servant when he saw it was Beth herself
who had opened the door. He, how
ever, was not at all surprised, but said
good morning to her much as he would
have done to the servant.
80, John, am SO glad you have come
why, John, are you Ill Z
He laughed and again said good morn
ing. He preceded her into the parlor,
and sat down in the same chair he occu-
pied the night before. He was laughing
quietly to himself all the time. His
head was aching terribly now, and that
WAS very funny.
"John, dear John, tell me it isn't true.
| know it is not. | was hasty last night,
II ,-o,, foru,,.o mo
John looked at her, brushed q speck
from his knee, and laughed q little
louder.
"John. John, why don't you answer
me. Why don't you tell me it isn't
true2 But no, | won't ask that, l know
it isn't" She threw her arms around
him and sank at his side.
He did not move, but stopped laugh.
ing. Oh how his head did ache. No,
it had stopped aching. Where was he
Oh, yes. Beth was with him and was
sobbing. Why was she cryingl He
didn't remember, but thought that he
was connected with it in some way, he
didn't know how. He lifted her head
from his knee, bent down and kissed her.
Kissed her many times, and drew her up,
folding his arms about her and telling
her he was sorry. What he was sorry
for he couldn't have said.
He got up and drawing her to him,
kissed her again and said: "Good by,
Beth.
lie could see her lips move, but he
didn't hear anything. He went to tho
door, opened it, and went down to the
street and wondered why the horses and
wagons didn't make any noise. How
silent they went along; how quiet every
thing was. He couldn't even hear his
own footsteps. He looked Mt his watch
and saw that it was almost II o'clock.
The bank had been open two hours. He
would be late for business. Well. he
would hurry.
John had forgotten that he was no
longer cashier of the Drovers Bank; he
only remembered that he would be late
at his desk. He reached the bank,
walked in, took of his coat and hat, and
started to 90 behind the desk. Mr..
Knicker confronted him, and he sudden
ly saw it all again. The note, the news
paper, and the night before at Beth's.
The man, this benevolent-looking old
gentleman, who was frowning ut him
now, had branded him rs thief.
sIt's lie, it's lie," he shouted.
Great God, how his head ached. Well,
he had told Mr.. Knicker that it was q
lie; he could 60 now.
He took down his coat and hat, put
them on, and went out into the street.
How was this: That wasn't the city
street he had Just left; this was the old
grass-grown lane running before his old
home. How the sun shone. How the
birds sang. There was the yard with
the old farm wagons and haystacks
standing at one side, and yes--yes-
there was the old tortoise she'll cat sun
ming himself on the fence. There were
the old milk cans, bright as silver, stand
ing in row on the grass by the kitchen
door. But best-far best Of all--there
was his mother; his mother who had
lain in the churchyard up on the hill
for ten years, holding out her arms to
him."
go, motherl o, my dear old moth.
err All was black.
"When John regained consciousness
there were many faces around him, but
the light was SO dim that he couldn't see
whether he knew them or not. He heard
some one say, in soft voice: "He has
closed his eyes, Then one of the faces
leaned forward and kissed him. 1t was
Beth.
"John, John, don't you know me?'
He lifted his arms and pressed the
sweet face to his breast.
"John, here is MIR. Knicker come to
tell you it's all terrible mistake"
John didn't look at Mr.. Knicker but
kept his eyes fixed on the sweet face
close to him. His hand gently smoothed
her hair, and ne kissed her lips.
"Beth, my darling Beth, ! love you.
OF course 1 forgive you, and we will go
-" His voice sounded strange and
weak. How hard it was to talk. "We
will go and get married, won't we dearl
Why there is mother. Mother, this is
Beth. We are going to get mar
John Jones was dead.-Inter.O .Ocean.