Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-16

w nat nave you uone9 SUE asAou
again.
You'll find out quick enough. Give
me those boots and my great coat.
Hushl there's someone at the door.
Don't let him in-no--no--that would
make him suspect.
Then came q ring at the bell.
Let him come in. 1t is a police
man. Iwili lock my door; if he tries
to get in | will escape by the roof
He pushed his sister out of his room
and locked the door.
Emma opened the door, trembling.
It was not, no wever, policeman who
stood there, but Mr.. Nils Krogsrad,
the great banker, the mayor. of the
town, the father of her lover.
you are Emma Helme?' he said. i
thought SO. l have something to saJ
something important, deeply import
ant
He came in and eat down. He was
tall man, of grave and dignifed
bearing. The period during which he
had suffered under the misunderstand-
ingof the town had, perhaps, saddened
him.
my child, he said, 4 desire you to
understand, FIRST of all, that in what I
have to say l mean no blame against
yourself. l am happy to learn that
you bear q character irreproachable.
l am, therefore, assured that you will
receive my-my communication in u
proper spirit He paused; the girl
said nothing. 1T ls, he continued, "a
law Of humanity that we suffer to-
gether. In every family the deeds of
the parents act upon The lives and for
tunes of the children. We who are
virtuous bequeath an inheritance of
honor to our children. They who are
the opposite, bequeath an inherit
ance of shame. Is this true2'
Emma Helmer bowed her head.
She could not speak and her brother
was in the next room hiding from the
persuit of the law! An Inheritance of
shame, truly. .......
Il have four sons, Emma Helmer.
The eldest is a professor at the uni
versity, in great esteem; the second is
lawyer, in practice; the third is an
Office of engineers, honorably con-
sidered; the fourth, Nils, 1t is my in.
tention to keep in the bank in order to
follow in my footsteps. l am aware
that he has wild ideas about America,
but they are not my ideas. / am also
aware that he has permitted himself
to love girl. She Is virtuous and
respectable, it is true, but for family
reasons-for family reasons, l say
Again he paused, but the girl re-
msined silent. -
Emma Helmer - you know that
girl. Task you, could permit my
son to marry her? Think Of it. Must
l remind you of her family? You are
a good and sensible girl. Think OF it
1t is impossible that 1 could suffer my
son to load his back with such a fam
lily? Father, mother, b~others--good
heavens! Is it possible2 You know
my reputation in the town, my honor
able position as magistrate, l might
have to condemn'--He paused again.
Emma Helmer covered her face with
her hands, sobbing and crying.
Nils Krogsrad rose. Fl think ] have
said enough for a sensible girl. l
have sent my son away for a year or
more to learn his business. But there
is another thing of which I must
speak. Your brother Robert, whom |
took into the bank as a junior clerk,
weakly, as knowing his fathers char
acter, has, | 6nd, committed an act
which brings him into the arm of the
law. He has forged my name. The
amount Is small but the crime is
great. l would not willingly presa
the charge: but can my son marry the
I sister of forger7 Think of it, En-
ma Helmer. You are greatly to be
pitied, but this affection is your in
heritance. Think, say Well, then
give me an assurance that this foolish
engagement is broken, and, as first
mark of my gratitude, your brother
shall be suffered to escape
The girl rose and brushed back he,
tears. you are right she said.
Nils cannot marry me. Give him
his rlng.' She drew from her finger
the ring her lover had given her
Are you satisfied, Mr.. KrogsradY
Il am quite satisfied; You are 8
good and brave girl. In heaven, En-
ma Helmer, you will have your re.
ward #"ai"t. Vi }3""@ :. i
He went away. The girl called
her brother. You can come out,
Robert she said, calmly-'you car
come out without fear. Mr.. Krogs
rad has been here. He has told me
that You are forger, buthe will suf
fer you to escape. Go quickly--oh
Robert she laid her hands upon hi
shoulders--'go away to some foreign
country where no one knows you
And, Robert--for fear it should b,
found OUT never, never, never, mar
Try. For Gods sake, never mprry
ILet your sins die with you. Spar,
the children-..oh, spare the childrenl
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