Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-05-16

fore you a K any steps in the matter SO far
as 1t concerns your companyl Come with
Ms, Norris. want your clear head to helpme
IN this. / am utterly upset and confused.'
he did not give another word or look to
his offending partner, but went out Of the
room, leaning on the arm of Norris Berg
man, while Lyman's eyes followed them
with o look in their depths which seemed to
say that his punishment had already be-
gun.
sit is as it should be. He is worthier
than J." was the bitter admission of his
humbled spirit, yet it was hard to see him.
self supplanted in his old friends confidence
80 soon.
The silent Enclosing of the door at his
back did not reach his ear, but he turned
almost Immediately to see Althea standing
there, and one look into her face told him
that ho had heard all which had passed.
It was the first time he had seen her since
In those dreams which had frightened the
later stage of his sic~kness-dreams which
he did not dare to believe as reality.
a great surge of shame and despair went
over him; he could not speak, could not
meet her eyes.
"Carol told me what you meant to do. l
have been in there, / have heard it all. Tell
me what you did not tell my father for all
his questioning-why did you take your first
step aside from honor and TRUTH Why did
you so wish to stand equal with him, and to
make him your debtor in gratitude! There
must ave been a motive behind it all"
The clear, low, even tones struck coldly
On his ear; tho proud. intent face held none
Of the plying ~softness of which he had
dreamed. The courage which had sus-
tafned him through his confession, bitter as
IL had been, deserted him now.
81 dare rot tell you why he answered,
reluctantly and brokenly.
az insist that you do. You owe it to your
SELF and to me that you make every thing
clear. l ask you again, why did you take
that steps''
"Miss Everleigll, you will scorn and
despise me when | say-because loved you.
Yet that is the truth. / was mad enough
to think that | might win aour gratitude,
and In time something more. / shock you,
do I noti But the madness passed when /
knew myself for what / was and am.
Though l have been heart sick with jeal-
ousy and longing, / declare TO you that
there has not been one moment when ]
would nave tried for your love with the
bar of my sin and shame between u.s."
He had raised his head; he was looking
her straight in the face now with mournful
earnestness, as he declared how utterly he
had given up all hope.
"You have made your confession, now
let me make mine. Did Ibid I ever en-
courage ~you-back before
"You never did. 1t was my own pre-
sumption, without warrant or excuse"
"Yet, knowing you had such an interest
m me, l felt myself in danger. | had the
Snncies which every girl cherishes about
her future; l was arrogant and ambitious.
II did not please nc to think of surrender.
ing myself for only a mans true heart;
yet 1t would have been better II 1 had done
% then, instead of bringing this misery
upon you-and myself
Now, at last, into that "rare and radi
anti face dawned a melting tenderness
which bewildered and naddened him.
"Althea. do you mean that / might have
bad the love that I would have given my
Life for, and now have lost forever
"Not might have had Lyman You
have It; IL you care for the gift, you shall
have il forever"
ment, which should have held for him tho
Greatest bliss of life. was fraught quite Is
much with pain and shame.
"Oh, queen of my hearth ~ he murmured
with tears in his eyes. "Can you then for
rive met Can you believe in me againt'
Certainly she could give him no greater
proof than she had already done, for had she
hot put aside pride and maidenly reserve to
sffer, with her own white hand, the priceless
boon which he in his disgrace would never
have asked fori
Presently o cloud came over his face.
slave you thought what the future viii
hold for me, Altheai-public disgrace, even
imprisonment, il those l have wronged
chooseto 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.. Everleigt
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 bC
more against himself than either of US. he
hAs not defrauded me of one penny; he has
restored every thing. and, besides, has g,vez