The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-01-31

mere ana tell Mr. Bates your name.
"Cyril Preston Grey" said the
child.
"Cyril Preston p said Mr.. Bates,
harshly.
II knew a man of that name
once"
Every shadow of color left the
widows face, and she looked for
moment as if she would faint. Then,
conquering this weakness by vio-
lent effort, she said:
"You knew him?"
81 knew no good of him. was
the quick reply. "He was a thief !"
She tried to speak, but her white
lips made no sound.
1.-The man / mean," continued
Mr.. Bates, "was a defaulter from the
B bank. He had been cashier
there, and he stole money.
The blood rushed to the widows
face, and her voice trembled with
anger, as she said:
0Since you know that, you should
also know that Cyril Preston repaid
every dollar, principal and interest,
to the bank five years ago."
"You knew him, too?"
"He was my dear brother"
"Dear? You surely do rot hold
a brother dear who disgraced you !"
"Cyril," the mother said, "what
do you pray for every night?'
The child repeated baby prayer,
and added: "God bless dear mann
ma and Mamie, and bless dear I'm
Gle Cyril, and bring him home to
mamma"
There was a moment of silence,
and then Mrs. Grey sent the children
away. When she was alone with
her neighbor she said:
"You say you knew my brother.
Can you tell me anything of him?
Oh, if you could know how | long
to hear!
us it not better to know nothing
OF man who was only curse 10
those who loved him?"
"You are a harsh judge. If he
sinned, he atoned. He has repaid
everything"
KILLED his parents?"
"Not so. If they sorrowed for his
sin, they rejoiced in his repentance.
His name was never harshly men
toned in his home, and earnest
prayers were daily offered for him.
Where is he? Tell me all you know
of him."
And then, with sudden move
ment, Mrs. Grey bent her head and
broke into a passion of tears, Sob
bing:
"My brother! My brother p
She had wept violently, but when
her sobs grew more quiet, gentle
hand was put upon her bowed head,
and low, tender voice said:
"Anna! !"
She looked up. A gray wig lay
on the floor, and on that pair OF
green spectacles, but the face bend
ing over her was that of man OF
thirty-five or six, with brown hair
and soft, dark eyes. 1t was ten long
years since she had seen that face,
and sorrow had made it far older
than the years would have done,
but she knew it at once.
"Cylil Cyril !" she erie d, kneeling
beside him, with her arms around his
neck. "Oh, my dear, dear brother !
"You are glad % he said in a low
voice of amazement. "Glad to see
me!'
"Glad, for love you! Who was
always the kindest brother to his
little sister. Cyril, could you think
ever l did not love your"
"A thief! A forger!' he said bit.
terly. 81 have no excuse for my
sin, Anna, save that mean one only
too often pleaded, that l meant to
replace the money. 1t was lost in
gambling! My feet were on the
highway to ruin, when | saw ths'
discovery of my theft was inevita-
BILE, and I fed. But my punish
ment began at once, and never was
remorse more gnawing, penitence
more sincere" ;"
"You were never out of our pray
ers, Cyril"
Darling, that was as the bitter.
ness of death, that certainty that
had brought disgrace upon my
homemade my fathers name q
reproach."
but you did all you could tc
atone"
"You can never know, dear
through what privation and toll
earned the money to pay the bank
1 went hungry, half-clothed ano
half-frozen, working early and late
saving every dollar. But when tht
debt was paid, fortune smiled or
me. My employers were kind men
and they gave me an opening II
their factory. Do you remember
j Anna, how I was laughed at be
cause I thought could invent?
think, even now, if father had le
me have my dearest wish and study
machinery, l might never hav'
! fallen. But I hated the bank, ane
any temptation is doubled to escap'