The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-05

gone in SO short timef He had turned
back to the beginning OF the book. and
began to glance down the pages on the
other side
There were many entries of small sums
with the pencil note household" against
them. Among the early entries was one
rather large amount marked For Georges
trouble al school" and close after it the
last payment of his school expenses. He
turned over and there was payment of
e20O entered. The date against it was
one he had reason TO remember, for he
was at that time in prison under a charge
against this was simply: "For George"
de could not look up. he
dared not trust himself to speak. he
knew what it meant: it was she VINO bad
forgiven him, not Mr.. Grelin. He bent
his head lower and turned over the pages
till another entry caught his attention; 1t
was for payment OF ESQ, and the pencil
note against it was: MY wedding pres
ent TO George" There was mist before
his eyes, great, choking sensation rising
in his throat, and his heart was throbbing
painfully; but he could not trust himself
to glance up even for moment at the
man who was watching him across the
table.
He turned the next page and glanced
down at the last payment entered in the
book. Ii was for 60 900, and he knew in
stinctively what was the pencil note
against it., though he could hardly see to
read IL: "For Georges partnership"
He sat there. utterly broken down. be-
widered, stupefed. blinded by the truth
which had shone so suddenly in upon
him. Through all his baseness and in
gratitude. through al his degradation. all
the black misery and shame he had
brought upon her and upon himself, she
had never for a moment deserted him /;
she had loved him through it all and
uplifted and supported him, and made MIN
all that he was and he had never known
ii or suspected it'll now. To think how
he had hated her. and spoken evil things
and thought worse of her, and to think
how she had loved him Oh, blind /!
blind not TO have seen il long ago. Not
TO have seen through the uncomfortable
self-restraint and the curse of undemon-
s,rativeness which nature had laid upon
her! How altered everything might have
been He had never understood her,
never known her until now. when her
panied and lonely heart had carried its
deep, inRrticulate love with il TO the grave.
The book had fallen from his hands, the
tears were coursing down his cheeks I'M
| needed he was utterly broken down aud
| rwhelmed.
Mr.. Dadley cat and watched him with
| ont speaking. He saw how deeply he was
moved and knew that his own sorrow
and remorse would purify and ennoble
him and wRken the tTuer self within him
more than any words of warning or rs-
| proach could possibly do. lie sat looking
on In silence, and when at last the young
man rose with dazed and shameiaced
air aud turned and made his way out OF
the room without uttering a word or once
looking up at him he neither spoke nor
| followed him. feeling that his humiliation
and repentance were bitter enough al
ready. He heard the street door close
and gave n sigh OF relief, Tor in one sense
| the interview had been az painful 10 him.
self rs 10 had been 10 his victor.
The striking OF the little clock on his
mantlepiece reused him from his reverie.
| 10 glanced at his watch and rose hur.
riedy, for lac had to visit a sick friend
who lived some little distance outside the
town.
Ii was n clear. moonlight night, with
scarcely a breath OF wind stirring. lie
walked brskly along, and had soon lett
the town behind aud was out on the
broad, white highway. The dust was 40
| tnIck on the ground that MS FOOTSTEPS
scarcely made any sound; no could hear
the occasional rustic of bird in the
hedgerows the quick croak OF bat fit.
ting overhead, and as he passed the low
wall OF tho churchyard he was startled
by the faint sound of stiiled sob.
He had hesItated, and, glancng aside
saw in the moonlight n dim figure kneel
ing over n solitary grave; and there was
something like sob in his own heart q,
he bowed his head and passed on in ST.
|