Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-12-23
TWO CHRISTMAS Ewes.

icicles smote them until they shone
like diamonds. The tall trees around
Arnwood Cottage stood gaunt and
solemn, their naked branches pow
dered with fine white snow. The holly
bushes we're bright with scarlet ber-
ries, while the pearly mistletoe shone
in profusion about the giant oaks.
In the dim light one could discern
a girls slender figure leaning over
the FIVE barred gate, at the foot of the
garden, her eyes peering intently
down the long white road, that wound
like a silver ribbon to the station two
miles distant. She could see mans
figure coming swiftly toward her,
and her heart gave a quick, suffocat.
ing throb, but sank again as she
noticed the coarse dress of laborer,
going home, probably, from his work.
Nearer. nearer, till the quick
throbs of her heart seemed choking
her. Surely she knew that tall,
erect figure, the carriage of that hand
some head, the eager eyes looking at
her.
ooh, Roger. Roger how came you
herel" And then the tears streamed
down her cheeks.
"Hilda, are these tears for me?
My darling, do you know that they
call me theft"
Falsely, Roger" she said, with
flaming eyes.
"Yes, falsely; it was a wicked plot
to ruin me. My employers nephew
gave Inc the key to the safe, saying
his uncle empowered me to go over
some accounts for the firm, leaving
me alone. Hawley caught me some
time later, with the safe open and
the key in my possession but the
strangest part of it all is this, the
money is missing and cannot be found.
Even if l come out clear from the
trial, / will not be honest in the eyes
of the world. God knows l am inno-
cent, but the world is very wary of
accepting such statements as mine.
They have indeed struck me a bitter
blow, one that it will take life time
to recover. With soiled reputation
one had much better be dead than
living. Hush, my Hilda, do not
weep SO wildly. l must leave you
now / came here in these clothes
to escape detection. All! It's better
| know. True, can leave this part
of the country, but to live anywhere
with blot upon my good name, to
know that others will always pass me
by on the other side, oh it is hard
indeed"
With something akin to a sob, the
young man stood before her, silent,
with bowed head, as one might who
awaits his doom. At this moment he
remembered everything, all that might
have been, and all that had been, and
all that was. At last she spoke.
ooh, Roger. how can the world be
so fair, how can it smile, and grow
and brighten into life, when there
is no life, no hope for us?" and once
again she fell to bitter weeping.
Forgive me, my Hilda, but l am
glad we grieve together"
His tone was full of sadness, u sad
ness without hope. They stood silent,
hand in hand, looking into each others
eyes when suddenly and without
warning twig snapped, the holly
bushes were thrust hastily aside,
while a heavy hand was laid upon
the girls shoulder. With a start and
cry Hilda found herself face to face
with her uncle, the Hon. Johh Arm
wood, who wasliterally trembling with
Unsurpassed rage.
zone moment, Uncle" Hilda said
pleadipgly, 81 have only farewell
word to say to poor Roger"
"Poor Roger, indeed forbid you
to speak another word to him. Have
you no sense Of the fitness Of things,
girl, that you steal away alone, and
at night, to meet your lover, who il
al outcast from decent society, thief
-a-a-"
"S,op, you shall not say such things
of the man love. My place is by
the eide of my future husband
though all the world condemn him
vet will believe him innocent"
"And | say he is guilty, and that
you, my niece, and an Arnwood, shall
not associate with thieves. You need
not try to stop me. he is man with
out honor, ard shall take good care
that you: meet no more. DO you
hear? Come into the house this mo.
ment."
WGood.hva. Roger. and remamhaI