The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-06-21


mover In this match. I saw her by acci-
dent to-day, and though had made up my
mind to say no more on the subject,
found that l could not let IL go that way.
She looks restless and unhappy; am sure
she is not reconciled, and yet hear that
the wedding-day is set"
at comes within the week, Miss Ever
leigh"
"And you are determined to aid and abct
that man, TO her lifelong miseryi What are
you-stone, ice, iron-that you have no
feeling for heri And once thought you o
model brotherl an honorable, generous
hearted manF'
A red flame broke into the pale cheek
now. Such an outbreak from Miss Ever
leigh was unprecedented, but some strong
emotion was carrying her out of herself
A faint, bitter smile came and went on
Lyman's face
"Is IL solicitude for Carols happiness
alone which is leading you to make this up
pealP he asked. "Is there not more solicit
tudc for the happiness--or the fancied hap
piness-of another person back Of IT."
Why he should torture himself by asking
that question, Lyman Childer scarcely
knew. In his heart, notwithstanding that
he knew Norris Bergman was devoted to
his sister, he was still bitterly jealous Of
that young man. Though he did not love
Althea, Althea might love him Certainly,
she had shown her preference for him most
unmistakablv.
"Possibly the sacrifice is not oil on Carols
side" he went on, with a quiet steadiness
Of purpose, now that the subject was
launched. ~ have heard that women do
strange things, sometimes, for the men they
love. One may even plead the cause Of her
rival while her own heart breaks"
"Hearts do not break so easily. But you
ore right; 1t Is not for Carols sake alone I
have come to you. My interest In Norris is
quite strong enough to make me humiliate
myself to ask favor Of one as little dis
posed to grant 1t as you are, apparently.
wish there was some sacrifice could make
strong enough to soften you"
The wistfulness of those last words was
not lost on him, but he hardened himself to
her influence, outwardly at least.
"You will do better to console Bergman,
Miss Everleigh. He is On honorable, gen.
erous-hearted man. who will reach your
ideal much closer than I--than any other
probably would. I would not caro- for O
secondhand affection myself, yet speak
honestly when I say that / have not
doubt but you can inspire him with far
more passionate attachment than he has
for my guileless little sister. Such women
as you can sway men as they will"
~ wish that were SO. Agree to whist
ask, break off this contemplated marriage,
and may believe you are speaking scri-
ously, not in sarcasm
"This matter Is in Carols hands. You
may say what you like to her."
"Yes, and you have her coached to admit
nothing to me-nothing of what her looks
betray."
She clasped her hands together and
leaned little forward, with sudden
change in her tone:
Mr.. Childer, we owe you debt Of
gratitude, father and /, but II your putting
that money in the firm must result in this,
better ten thousand times that you had
never obtained 1t for such USE / am not
SO entirely ignorant Of how 1t was obtained
as you may suppose"
Every drop of blood drain cd out Of Lyman
Childer's face; he looked ut her with
startled-ono might think with terrified
eyes. Her glance was ON the floor, fort
unately. She did not sec that sudden,
ghastly change.
"You may not know that papa had an old
business acquaintance with Mr. Farraker,
your late uncle's lawyer. He had some
cause for writing to him when you made
your first proposition to become his partner,
and he told the fact, laying stress upon the
generosity which prompted you to save him
In that way. The reply, somo weeks later,
deprecated the disappointment he had prob.
ably suffered along with yourself, since
your uncles will had left but small
amount Of comparatively worthless property
to your sister and yourself instead Of the
fortune which was expected to revert to tho
two Of you"
Lyman's lips opened mechanically.
Did 1t not occur to you that the worth
less property might have turned out better
than Farrakor believed"
so papa said, so l thought at the time.
Since that. have had reason to change my
mind. Mr.. Childcr, II Hiram Ingot is using
that money to force Carols compliance,
beg Of you to save her ut any cost to your
self or to us. Better that all should CO. than
that she be made unhappy for life."
Something Of his natural color had come
back slowly to Lymans face. One hand
plucked nervously at q button of his coat
but his eyes were raised to meet, squarely,
yet with q sort Of sullcn resistance, those
dark ones that had tears flashing in them
now.
"YOu say you know how that money was
obtained. Have you any objections to en-
tightening mo to the full extent of your
knowledge, and your means Of obtaining itl
Through Bergman, suppose. His detect
Two instincts have led him to spy out my
sins and report them to you. How has he
put it-that / stole my partnership fund"
"You do Norris injustice; you have al
ways done him injustice. He knows nothing
Of what have been telling you. My own
observation, some boasts and insinuatiops
Of Ingot's, are all that draw my con-
clusions from. Can you tell mo am wrong
while you yield to him, even to the sacrifice
of tho sister you lovei'
HIS eyes fell before her clear, penetrating
glance. Shadows crept over his coun-
tenance. His mood changed to one bitter
and scOrnful.
''Then you have been accusing me out OF
your inner consciousness only. Well, can
not hope to reinstate myself in your good
opinion, il I ever held u place there. Some
day you shall know whether you have judged
me truly or falsely; until then"
"Glve me one assurance that am wrong,
and will believe you," spoke Althea, i'm.
pulsively, even eagerly She would rather
think we'll of him II she could.
What madness possessed Lyman that he
should answer her as he didl
- will give you no assurance. Were I
lover, like Bergman, waiting for my doom
from your lips, would swear to my inno-
cence, but j have given up all tho prcten-
sions ever had to your favor. In this one
instance at least l will rival you in gen.
erosity, Miss Everleigh. resign in favor
Of the rival whom you would give up to
another love. You will think better Of 1t,
perhaps, when the actual opportunity for
vOur sanrifca cOmea :,