Wichita eagle., 1888-06-20

tlS way OF EiaDy OtE0IS ~ ID AutAtiOAAO0 40
cidentally that that very morning Mr. Jones
had said he was in great need Of $500, the en-
act amount extracted from the package. MT.
Knicker, in consideration Of Jones' former
uprightness and strict discharge Of duty, viii
not prosecute.
John read this once, twice, three tsmea
He only uttered two words: my GodF'
Falling back in his chair with wide open
eyes he sat staring at the wall The clock
licked away on the ulantel shelf, the fire
grew lower and almost died, the lamp sput-
tered and smoked but still John Jones sat
back in his chair, staring, staring at the wall
Finally it gradually became light and the
noise of traffic began in the street John
moved uneasily, looked around the room and
got up His head, he thought, was aching
somewhat harder than on the night before,
and he bathed it. There was spot on his
cuff and be put on a clean pair. Yes, he was
sure his head was aching harder. What was
that noisel Why, OF course, some one was
knocking at the door. He would open it and
see who it was-e messenger boy. He took
the message, opened it, and forgot to read it.
He Yves standing still and wondering if it
was foggy outside or if his eyes were dim.
1.-The lady said TO wait for an answer" said
tho boy.
Oh, yes There was that note He would
read it.
DEAR Jous-Come end see me today. Icannot
believe it. BETH.
Who was Betha Oil he remembered now;
she was the girl who had promised to marry
him, the thief. The word, he thought,
sounded well, so he said 10 over and over
ecain Theft Theft Theft The boy asked
for the answer,
We'll" he laughed wildly, tell her that
will be there"
John sat down again, and again began glar-
ing at the wall 1t was nearing 10 o'clock
now, and John got up and put on his overcoat
and hat scruptulously brushed them and
went out He again toois a cab and went to
Beth's house This time he paid the cabman,
and as be went in was about to speak to the
servant when be saw that it was Beth herself
who had opened the door He, however, was
not at all surprised, but said good morning
to her much as he would have done to the
servant.
ooh, John, am SO glad you have comet
Why, John, are you niP'
he laughed and again said good morning.
lie preceded her into the paror, and sat
down III the same chair he occupied the night
before, He was laughing quietly to himself
all the time. His head was aching terribly
now, and that was very funny.
John, deaf John, tell me it isn't true /
know it is not was hasty last night, John;
won't you forgive meg
John looked at her, brushed speck from
his knee, and laughed little louder
John, John, why don't you answer mes
Why don't you tell me it isn't true2 But no,
l won't ask that | know it isn't" She
threw her arms around him and sank at his
side.
He did not move, but stopped laughing
Oh, how his head did acheI No, it had
stopped aching. Where was hes Oh, yes
Beth was with him, and was sobbing. Why
was she cryinga He didn't remember, bui
thought that he was connected with it in
some way, be 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 again, and said: ''Good-by,
Beth"
He could see her lips move, but he didn't
hear anything. He went to the door, opened
it and went down to the street, and won
dered why the horses and wagons didn't
make any noise. How silently they went
along; how quiet everything was. He
couldn't even hear his own footsteps He
looked at his watch and saw that il was
almost u o'clock. The bank had been open
two hours He would be late for business.
Well, be would hurry.
John had forgotten that he was no longer
cashier of the Drovers' bank; he only reme1n-
bered that ne would be late at his desk He
reached the bank, walked in, took off his coat
and hat and started to go behind the desk
Mr. Knicker confronted him, and he sud-
denly saw it all again. The note, the news
paper and the night before at Beth's. This
ulzn, thi ,enevolent looking old gentleman,
him as chief.
'<Its liel it's a lieI" he shouted. Great
God, how his head ached. Well, he had told
Mr. Knicker that 1t was lie; he could go
now.
He took down his coat and hat, put them
on, and went out into the street. How was
thisa This wasn't the city street he had just
left; this was the old grass grown lane run
ming before his old home How the sun
shonel How the birds sangl There was the
yard with the old farm wagons and haystacks
standing at one side, and yes-yes-there was
the old tortoise shell cat summing himself on
the fence There were the old milk pans,
bright as silver, standing 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
"Oh, motheTi oh, my dear old mothexts
Ali was black
When John regained consciousness there
were many faces around him, but the light
was SO dim that he could not see whether he
knew them or not He heard some one say,
in soft voice: "He has opened his eyes"
Then one Of the faces leaned forward and
kissed him. 1t was Beth.
''John, John, don't you know mef'
John lifted his arms and pressed the sweet
face to his breast.
.John. here is Mr.. Knicker come to tell you
it is al q terrible mistake"
John didn't look at Mr.. knicker, but kept
his eyes on the sweet face close to him. His
hand gently slnoothed her hair, and he kissed
her lips.
Beth, my darling Beth, how I love you
OF course l forgive you, and we will go"-
HIS voice sounded strange and weak. How
hard it was to talk. I'VE will go and get
won't we, deari Why, there is
mother. Mother, this IS Beth We are going
t. De MARI
John Jones was dead--Inter Ocean
Nearly Transposi.ion.