Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-04

so then, instead of bringing this misery upon you-and myself"
 Now, at last into that "rare and radi ant" face dawned melting tendcrhess which bewildered and maddened him.
 "Althea! do you mean that might have had the love that I would have given my life for, and now have lost forever" "Not might have had,' Lyman. You have it; if you care for the gift, you shall have it forever"
 It was the penalty of his sin that that mo ment, which should have held for him the greatest bliss of life, was fraught quite as much with pain and shame.
 "Oh, queen of my heart!" he murmurcd with tears in his eyes. "Can you then for give mel Can you believe in me again?"
 Certainly she could give him no greater proof than she had already done, for had she not put aside pride and maidenly reserve to offer, with her own white hand, tho priceless boon which he in his disgrace would never have asked for?
 Presently a cloud came over his face.
 "Have you thought what the future will hold for me, Althea!-public disgrace, even imprisonment, if those I have wronged choose to bestow that punishment upon me-"
 "You have done the right thing in con- fessing your error; let what will come of it, it can make no difference between us."
 But at that very moment MT. Everleigh was summing up the case against him in these words:
 "He has done wrong, undoubtedly, MT. Starr; and yet the wrong seems to me to be more against himself than either of us. He has not defrauded me of one penny; he has restored every thing, and, besides, has given all his energies to the business, and put it on Q basis where could not have placed it in this time. trust you are disposed to be lenient with him. For my part, though confess that was shocked and disappointed, shall give him every chance to redeem this one false step.' y
 "What! even to retaining him in a posi- tion of trust?"
 "Most assuredly. have not lost my confidence in Lyman" ..-. ..,.-
 "Weu, if you take that stand, can scarcely do less. The fact that he only robbed us of his own property, presumably, leaves me free to say, give the young man his chance. By the way, this young map declines to let us do as much for him, though in his case the fault lay with us."
 "It is enough that am fully vindicated," ," said Norris, quietly.
 (Which you are, and the company has lost valuable hand, to your gain, sir" as he turned back to MT. Everleigh. "It would be different in Childer's case had he belonged to that other lot.' "You have secured them all except In. gota''
 "Yes, and between Stones confession and Red Toms statements, will make short work of them. You have been unfortunate ln your employees, Mir. Everleigh; that ex' 1 book-keeper Is a bad lot" "As the street urchins say, you have me | there. Yet don't think Ingot will do mush 1 harm of himself. It IS the pernicious inhu. 11ox ho,, . l son that makes him dangerous. Well, | don't ask you to spare him if you catch | him."
 But catch MT. Ingot they did not. He | faded out of their knowledge and was heard | from no more, but atter-eXplanatlons brought out tho fact that he had been the | author of the anonymous note which Althea had received.
 "1am ashamed now to confess that cred ited it to you, Lyman," she acknowledged "But you know you were jealous of Norris about that time. thought you wanted te undermine him as rival, though the ides was absurd His preference was apparent enough from tho first"
 .'That note was the product of jealousy nevertheless. I have no doubt but Ingot wanted to get Bergman out of tho way as | his rival"
 1T am glad that you havc overcome you1 dislike to Norris"
 1T will never get to the end of my con fessions, fear. It was not so much dis like, as that could not help comparing my self with him to my great disfavor. Thor. is no ono to whom could give my darling sister so willingly
 "They arc very happy; think, almost a! happy as we are.'
 "Happier, my Althea, for they have nothing to regret. But even Norris cal never be so blessed as am.''
 To which assertion Norris would, yer, probably, have taken exception had hi opinion been asked.