The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-12

reached crisis One day the gaunt.
emaciatcd lover stood by tho side of
the fair, sweet girl, and said, in a low
voice:
Jessie, have something to tell
you."
She instinctively felt that something
unusual was going to happen, but She
appeared to be buoyed up by some I'M
Known power.
VI can no longer work here in Il false
light" he continued. Il have deceived
you and all the people. l was guilty of
the crime for which l suffered lied
to you year ago when proclaimed
my innocence, but loved You SO. that
| could not break your heart. I thought
in year you would get over it and be
able to stand it."
lie breathed heavily and brushed his
hand across his forehead. The girl
showed no great signs of surprise.
but l could not MARRY yor until YOU
knew ALL" he added at was this ter
rible thought, that l was dccciving YOU.
that has prcyed upon my mind, and
made me weak and sicllly.">
Her look was not very condcmnatorv,
and he continued in Il more eager voice:
My crime was not such u great one.
lived IN New York and made the
most of Il high social position to enioy
myself My salary did not cover nv
expenses, and L borrowcd-yes, Dor
rowed from my employer--God knows
1 intended to return it. But it was dis
covered before could get the funds to
pay it back. Thcy called it robbery.
and had me imprisoned 1 couldn't
stand prison life, and l escaped. I
came here to live better life. and
since then the only crime l have COM
mitted was to deceive you and the good
people here"
And that is forgiven by me, Sal
mon, Jessie interrupted. Il could not
have stood it at first, but now I can.
know that you are good and true
but the people Should they know
alp"
The girl hesitated. The muscles of
her face and mouth twitchcd. 1t would
be trying ordeal to make such con-
fession before the townspeople who
believed SO faithfully in their minister
She knew that her lover awaited her
advice.
81 advised you once to face the
danger" She faltercd, land, Salmon, I'll
do the same again. Next Sunday Won
can tell them all, and I'll be true to
you whatever the result"
The minister was paler and more
CHASTITY in appearance than usual when
he entered the pulpit on the following
Sunday morning. lie preached long
and earnestly upon the virtue of for
Giycncss Then as he finished he closed
the Eiblc, leaned over the pull pit desk,
and said dramatically, but sincerely:
My friends, that sermon is nv plea
for forgiveness. / stand before Won a
cuiprit, an cX-convict, n thief. / de-
ceived you once, but my conscience
will no longer permit it. I was guilty
OF the crime brought against me. /
paid the penalty of it, and God knows
have suffered for it. l repent, but
stand guilty criminal before Won.
and you must bring in the verdict.
Miss Fremont will give the details of
my crime"
Without waiting for any comment
the man left the pulpit, and taking his
nat, walked quietly out Of the church.
A month later the loyalty of the
Pinewood people was shown by their
attendance in body at the wedding Of
Jessie Fremont and Salmon Chase, the
regularly installed minister of the
small church. How much his bride had
done to terminate the most exciting
meeting ever held in the village church
favorably, Mr.. Chase never knew, but
not once did he doubt that she had
been the chief instrument in his sal
walton. Geo. T. Walsh, in Yankee
Blade