Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-08-25
i've besides to hush the affair up with the

i've besides TO hush the affair up with tn,
bank people.
While was still thinking Tuefully o
the loss of this unkrOwn sumter no mar
relishes the notion Of sitting down quietly
while another puts his hand into his mon
ey box and helps himself-One of th'
clerks knocked at the door and announced
that iady wished TO ses ne.
Thinking il was a Sister OF Charity on s
begging expedition, or something of th'
kind, was about 60 say could not bC
seen lust then, when l heard the rustic o.
skirts, and, turning round, l found that il
was Cynthia!
This was the first visit she had paid me-
since her fathers death, and l spraDg for
ward eagerly TO greet her. Before reach
ed her side, however, some understandable
change in her manner checked my impui
siveness.
As l held her hsnd tightly in both o.
mine, saw with pain how her sweet haas
eyes seemed to have lost all their charm
ing tenderness, and < ed upon me with
cold, stern, resOlute expression which NIL
ed nv soul with a pressntiment OF coming
evil.
Come snd sit down, Cynthia," 1 said,
trying to draw her to my easy chair by the
fire; ''you must be cold l am so glad
to see you in Bitter street again"
''I'd rather stand while tell you what
I have come to say" she answered, hold
ing back, and speaking in a curiOusly con-
strained tone; II shsll say it little easier
standing"
There's something odd about you, and
I fancy you've got some silly bee buzzine
in YOUR bonnet" 1 suggested, as lightly
as I could, though ny voice quavsred and
nv heart was heavy. "COme-let us get II
over! What wonder have you come 70 tel
me?n
Horace told me everything last
nightp'
Just what I expectedw 1 returned
carslessly, though I watched ber mario Fly
the while. And suppose you've rush
% off down here to me with an absurdly
exaggerated idea Of this peccsdillo Of the
bovIs, Ny dear Cynthia, let me beg you
not 10 Get a morbid idea Of this business
INFO vour head. Many q boy makes lit
lie mistake Cf this kind in the beginning
Of his caresr, and finishes by being thor
oughly trustworthy man Of business.
assure Won we think nothing of a first
event of this naturem Good heavens how
eagerly piled up the lies as I saw her
face hardening-slOwly but surely harden
ing-under my gezo-
She put up her hand and looked AT me
with such sternness in her besuufal eyes
thai further lying was impossible.
Il had very long talk with Horace
last night," she saiC, IN measured tones,
AS though al feeling and emotion had ceas-
ed 10 stir her breast, land he told me /,
meant five years penal seryitude, aud
moral and social ruin afterwards. He
said, too, that even if you would let the
matter drop the bank would insist upon
following It up"
"But the bank shsu DO nothing Of The
kind I'll manage that-neyer fear"
cried, trying again TO draw her TO me, FOL
vearned to comfort her and drive that
terrible expression Of despair out OF her
tace. IT'S splendid sign, his having con
fessed. "We'l pull him thrOugh"
She pushed me from her with sucder
yehemence. u
"What are you saying?" she asked. 81
did rot tel You be had confessed! "Pl
swear in a court Of law that never sale
srch thing. How could l when its not
true"
Not trus?" I echoed incTedulOusly
But understood you that he had tolC
you everything"
'Yes-eveything you said to him
YOUR accusation, your threats and the re
suits if he wss tired and found guilty; til
strong appearances against him too; al
this ne told me, but not that he had really
done this thing. How could ne say suct
thing az thai? He did not steal you
checeue-it was ~
Itook a step backwards, and felt blind
" for something 10 hold On TO, fer wa
falling, falling, falling-always falling IN
to an abyss OF pitchy blackness; and as
went down, down. down, there was d roar
inc of a veritab'e Niagara in my ears l
seemed 10 me that l went on falling
through space, with that hurricane o
sound in rly ears, for many years; and yet
when ny sight and hearing came back L
me. was standing there u my Office
holding the back OF my easy chair, viii
| Cvnthia's white, stricken face close I
mine, as she loOsened TIE fastenings soun'
ny throat snd said:
MY poor Gerald-you must learn t
reconcile youreelf to the truth. l. va
~