The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-31
THE DEPOSIT.

lht DkHU0ll.
In one Of the great merchant cities Of
Southern Germany dwelt the Lady Ida,
fatherIess and motherless daughter Of
the highly reverend Burgomaster Tot
tenheim. Beautiful, rich, her own in.
dulgent duenna, she couldno 10 want for
adorers, conspicuous amongwhom were
three youths unequslly endowed with
the gifts Of fortune. There could be no
question Of the wealth Of Walter, son
Of the most opulent ieweler OF the city;
or Of the poverty OF Alexis, who seemed
to possess nothing but the paper on
which he. was continually inscribtng a
new draft OF his; ono sonnet, never to DO
finished in this world.
But Of Adelberts property men only
surmised thatit was irisked in adyentu-
rous speculations, and that his fortune
alternately scared and tagged like q
pitching kite. Perhaps, however, those
who knew most would have maryelled
least. at tho expression OF absolute de-
SPAR which darkened his countenance
as he crept into a aomber thieket OF
yew, n'pistolyin his hand.
"Itis oyerl" he cried. "She has t1out-
ed me TO my facet Adieu to the last
hope of repairing my losses, appeastng
NV creditors, and withdrawing that
fearful deposit ere the day Of reckoning,
now SO near ut handl l would die OF
shame then; better die Of shot nowsH
Andlhe pressed the muzzlo Of his pis-
toll to his temple. He was in dire ear
nest-one more moment WOULD nave
been his last when the pistol was
wrenched from his hand and a well
known voice exclaimed:
"Holdl or atleast declare first, for the
information aud, it may be, the conso-
lation Of thy friend, whether Ida has
rejected thee"
"she has not, Walter" returned AID.
Gilbert. mot the pang Of unrequited
love, but tho goad OF accusing consci-
ence, chases me from this terraqueous
world. Hearken. Walterl 1t imports
thee to know, for thy Inheritance will
be curtailed by thy improbity. Trust
ing in the honor OF his old friends son,
thy tather has advanced me $1,000 du.
CATS upon the security OF q sealed.
packet, whose contents | have tabled to
Be family Jewels, mysteriously intrust-
ed to me. Oh, Walter, Walter, the
sweepings Of the streets were precious
in comparison. Now go aud denounce
me to my father-go and betray me to
Ida"
~ am q gentleman" said Walter,
stiHly, and walked away, carrying the
pistol with him. The wretched Adel-
bert remained the prey Of %torturing
thoughts until a dismal sound struck
upon his ear, and he fled preclpitately
as Alexis entered the grove reclting the
latest version OF his sonnet
When Walter, on his part, had Quit
ted the spot, he was tingling all over
with the glow offs m~agnanimous action,
or at least profession, which In. ita.
effect on the inner man is much the.
amt thing. He had not, however,
proceeded far Gro he encountered a
black anda white parsonage, neither Of
whom, indeed, had quilted him during
his interview with Adelbert, or any Of
us.at any period, but of whose presence
he then became distinctly conscious.
The black spirit thought that $1,000
ducats was a great deal Of money, to
which his white comrade %assented, but
added that honor was perfectly ines
Unable.
Tho black spirit had much to say
about Adelbertfs iniduity, aud the white
about its retribution. The question OF
Walters duty to society vas fully con-
sidered from opposite points OF view
and then tho black spirit introduced
the Lady Ida, and, by depicting her in
the character Of Adelberts bride, re,
moved the debate from the realm OF
ratiocination to tho region OF sensuous
perception, where the white spirit was
at singular disadvantage.
And the argument of the black gem
tleman and people Of his sort was in-
yariably found to gain in weight the
longer one is willing to listen to them,
thou wilt not marvel, iudictous reader,
to meet Walter next morning in lda's
saloon, making a clean breast OF Adel.
bert's breach Of honor, but silent as TO
his own.
Ida, however, soon made him confess
that his knowledge Of the secret was
derived from Adeibert himself, and in
timated very plainly that she constd.
cred his the meaner action OF tho two.
"oh, lady," pleaded the impassioned
Walter. ''allowest thou nothing Tor tho
Overwhelming might Of selt-forgetting
love? Wouldat thou have thy slave sit
stupidity beholding thy innocence en-
tangled in tho wiles Of a swindler, in
blind allegiance to conventions-nay,
even to sanctions otherwise imperative2
Not Of such clay Is thy Walter fash
Toned. Show him the law that restraints,
the obligation that debars him from
seeking thy veal through evil report
and good report, and he will read that
law and spurn that obligation as he
Skaters this vessel and tramples upon
his quadrup ed"
Ida's vase Of flowers lay shivered
upon the floor, aud hor little dog
writhed and howled beneath Waters
superincumbent boot. He was eyi.
IDENTIFY beside himself, and Ida could
only recompose him BY commanding
him to depart her presence, and mover
return unless he brought the false
packet with him.
"To what end. Lady? When 1t has
been opened in tho court the cheat will
BIO manifest to thee and to the world
"And how know l that 1t might not
have been tempered with meanwhile?
Produce 1t tomorrow or see my face no
mote.p
Walter meekiy represented that tho
deposit was not in his custody, On argu.
ment m~anitestly devoid Of weight He
promised Obedience and departed. On
his way home he had much communi.
cation with his black companion, and
ere the prescribed time this excellent