The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-05-10

1 mere - rOAue AAH@ duttA AoVAt
him" observed Mr.. Lamoreaux
~Its the shadow of a crime" said
Mr.. Street, soleninly.
The town clock struck eleven. And
the two friends. by common consent
abandoned tho lamp-post and turned
their faces homeward.
Mr.. Cleveland B. Street was con-
coded by every one TO be a most es-
Unable young man. The president of
the bank spoke highly of him on all
| occasions. and occasionally increased
his salary. The old ladies approved
Of him and the young ladies said he
was mice. He was a member of the
| Shooting Stars Dramatic Club, the
Eas, End Dancing Club and Musical
Union. He sang tenor in the Presby-
terrain Church. He led the uneventful
| life Of the average business man and
was reasonably eontented and happy.
There was, beside all this, another
circumstance which conspired to make
Mr., Street, in anticipation, q most
enyiable man. Miss Alice Wilson was
| a handsome, vivacious brunette. who,
| BY her thousand winning ways had
completely onsnared the heart of the
Young cashier. OF late. she had been
perceptbly more encour aging, aud he
| felt serenely confident that when he
urged his suit she would not say him
nay
Some such thoughts as these were
fitting through Mr. Streets mind. as
| he stood behind the bank counter. q
| few days after the disclosure beneath
| the gaslight And now, as his
| thoughts reverted to Mr.. Hammond,
he could not repress feeling of pity
for that unhappy man-for he must
be unhappy carrying about with him
such a memory of hidden crime. His
ill-gotten gains might bring him in
flueuee. but they could never purchase
him happiness. Mr. Street thought of
Alice Wilson, and said to himself tina
he was sorry for the poor fellow.
One day dashing equipage drew up
| in front Of the bank. and lady leaned
out 10 speak to another on the walk
Mr. Street quickened sight ut once
recognized, in the occupant of the car
riage Miss Alice Wilson. But who
was it sitting beside her and smiling
down upon her with such onfdent
gallantry2 The cashiers eyes fol-
lowed them far up the street, but that
first look had been enough-it was
Walter Hammond!
ITS queer. isn't it?' said the teller.
Mt his elbow. chow that Hammond
got right into society here. He shot
right up like rocket and nobody
knows any thing about him, either.
before he came here Well, money Il
take body anywhere nowadays "
But the cashier was not listening.
He banged the door together and went
home to his tea, locking the door with
such forbidding face that man who
met him said he should Mt wonder if
the First National had sustained loss;
he met c. b Street coming away from
there with face as long as your arm
That was only the beginning. Mr.
Hammond began to attend Miss VIII
son like 4 shadow He escorted her
to parties. and theater and church
B. he ever so assiIuous, Mr. Street
always found his attentions to the
young lady anticipated by Mr.. Ham
mond There was no pleasure in
calling there any more Mr. Ham
mond was sure to be there. Did he
aspire to take her to q place of amuse-
ment, he only had the modification of
hearing that she was $50 sorry." but
had Just accepted an invitation. y
And he would see her there with Mr..
/ Hammond.
| Meanwhile, the cashiers face grew
grayer and still more grave. The
worried lines in his forehead settled
into an habitual frown. The one lit
tie cloud which had sailed so unex-
pectedly across his sky had grown
until it threatened to obscure the
whole horizol If his happiness.
Sometimes, when he saw his mys.
ierious rival lowering about Miss Will
son. he could not repress feeling Of
exuItation at the thought that with
one word. he could Danish him for
ever from her presence. He tried to
rid himself Of this feeling. which he
knew was unworthy of him. but il
would come at times in spite of him.
self
1t seemed as if he was at a sensa.
tional play, in which the deep-dyed
| villain stalks about in safe disguise,
only the whole community we're the
ready dupes, and / alone was the en-
lightened audience. The balefnl secret
began to haunt him like a nightmare.
Like an avenging spirit it rose be-
tween him and the recreations of hi:
leisure hours. Il confronted him from
The face of his ledger at the bank. II
| walked the streets with him and sal
down to dinner with him. 1t whisper
ed to him in his dreams. Every morn
ing he awoke with the inquiry: What
ought ! to do about it?' and every
night he went 70 bed with the ques.
ton still unanswered.
And the cashier knew-how could
he help knoWing-that he was moi
himself of late; that he was growing
moody and preoccupied in company.
he could not help noticing the sur.
prised looks Of his friends at hi,
changed demeahor Still he re
strained himself He recognized thai
fate had Commissioned him an ennis
sary of justice. In his fingers he held
the fatal moose which, some day,
would drop over the head Of his victim.
de could afford to bide his time.
Bul, whatever his duty to the eOm'
munity at large he owed it To Alice
Wilson'S happiness to protect hel
from this imposter And SO il came
10 pass that he found himself one
evening pulling the Wilson's front
door bell. with a fixed resolve to warn
Alice before he left the house + ort-