The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-20
scarcely compromising.
ng. Then she

scarcely comprehending. Then sh'
added:
"There is always hope
This reused him and brought him back
to himself. He said:
"Not for me-
"Let US see. Tell me ALL"
"Have you not heard?"
"Something from my father, but per-
haps not all. Tell me"
sin three words. robbed the bank. y
eyes, know. But that is not all, y
and Elizabeth gently laid her hand upon
his arm. 81 have come to see you," she
added; "to help you, if can. Will
you not trust me! am, I know, only a
woman, but, I trust, true woman and
one who must be convinced that her ideal
of true manhood is unworthy of her faith
before she will give that ideal up. My
trust in you tells me that there is some
thing yet to be uncovered, and may not
one so leal as am claim all loyalty from
you2 Tell me all, William, and then I
can decide for myself that which I can
not permit even you, under cloud be-
yond which I cannot yet see, to decide
for me. Come, then, tell me ALL"
The young man looked at her stead
fastly moment and then said:
81 will tell you all. But why should
n It may break your heart; for, surely,
it will shatter your faith where I had
rather be adjudged felon than have it
broken. Besides, you may not believe
me. Your father is the President of the
bank"
"But will believe You'll must be-
lieve you. My faith, unto the pleading
of my heart, is pledged. My trust in you
is immutable until you have made my
mind turn traitor to your self and led it
to doubt my sincerity. Do, William,
tell me ALL"
"Why should I break your heart and
destroy in you a trust which must make
YOU miserable for life and make you de :
spise me forever2 1t is better that I
should bear this burden alone, for by so
doing I may retain, or at least some time
regain, some share in your esteem" :"
civilian, love you! Now, tell me
all !"
Young Gaylord hesitated only until he
had locked into her pleading eyes. Her
hand now clasped his own. He saw her
love in all its sweetness and purity un-
folded as plainly as he had an hour be-
fore seen the anguish upon his stricken
mothers face. He spoke:
"God forgive me if 1 do a wrong
You remember, Elizabeth, that two years
ago was made cashier by your father of
the bank. My hands were then as clean
as my mothers name was above sus-
picion. worked faithfully. My salary
was small. 1 do not plead this in extenu-
alton of my error, but it was wholly out
of comparison with my duties. The di-
rectors were close listed men. At the
end of year 1 asked for larger salary.
The directors said they could get compe-
tent and more experienced men for what
was receiving. My good mother had
only income enough to sustain her prop
erly, and my salary barely kept me de-
Gently. saw no prospect ofmaking home
of my own. But Iplodded along. Eager
ness to advance in the world sharpens
the wits. One day discovered that the
directors, your father included, were
specializing in mining trust. One dis
covery led to another. I was not long
finding out that they sometimes used the
banks deposits to add to their personal
gains. It was easy for me to persuade
myself that if the officers could make
money In this way, 1 could not fail to
do so. Six months ago began to use
my own money. 1 had saved nearly
thousand dollars. l went into the min
ing trust. At first I made a little
and I had $500. Then 1 went
deeper. Meanwhile the banks officers
were specializing. The trust began to
90 backward, and I began to steal. The
officers were doing the same. They
could keep going because their oppor-
tunities were better. They had easier
access to the funds. The deposits were
running low. Three days ago the officers
called me into their private room. They
had discovered my peculations and told
me so. I confessed, and asked for three
days in which to make my losses good,
to expose them and drag them
down with me in the ruins. They knew
that they were, like myself. guilty, and
perhaps mistrusting how much knew,
they granted my request. Then l thought
Of you. Your father must go with the
crash. I could not drag him down and
disgrace you. determined to run away,
but before I went one of the directors,
more bold than the rest, came and told
my mother that l was defaulter. She
would not believe him, but l was in the
house, and when confronted by them I
confessed my guilt, but made no ex-
planation beyond the mere confession.
This afternoon I, having clearly shaved
my face two days before, procured a
second hand suit of clothing in exchange
for others and was in the ferry house
when Jimmy found me and urged me to
come back. Why I did not resist him 1
do not know, only that you had sent
him. I simply could not go, and 1 re-
turned. Tomorrow my mother will
beggar herself to try to save me. If she
fails-and I almost pray heaven she may
Il must 60 to jail"
Here young Gaylord broke down COM
pletely. Elizabeth did not. She still
clasped bis hand, but she almost choked
rs she said:
And this is all2"
ttAnt,