The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-14

feet.
Then. with superb control, and re-
membering that his accuser was the
father OF the woman he loved, the young
man folded his arms calmly and said, in
clear, steady tones:
MIR. Elliott, you will regret those un-
just words. You are laboring under
some honest mistake. am no thief.
John Elliott tried to crush the speaker
with single look Of utter lncreduhty
and contempt.
Then. firm in the conviction that au-
dacious hypocrisy deserved its fate,
with merciless roughness he told his
story.
He had missed various sums Of money
for month past, first trife, then quite
large amount.
Some one was in the habit OF feloni.
ously entering his room and rif1lng the
cabinet in which he kept his money.
At six o'clock that evening he had Wis.
tied his room, assured himself of the
exact contents of the cabinet, and had
locked it securely.
Since then, no one had gone into the
upper portion Of the house except the
accused.
At this statement, Dalton's lips moved
as if to speak. Then with start and a
glance at Ruth, he allowed it TO go un.
contradicted.
When he went up stairs to obtain the
money for the men, Farmer John per.
ceived to his amazement, as he opened
the cabinet, that two packages OF bank.
notes, representing nearly four hundred
dollars, were missing.
He had entertained grave suspicious
of his superintendent before. Impulse
drove him to enter his room. A dlsar'
ranged pillow on the bed directed
search. Beneath it he had found-one
Of the packages, the one now in his
hand.
More than that, on the floor Of the
room he had picked up key. 1t fitted
to the cabinet. Paul Dalton was an &C.
complished thief.
You entered my room tonight, 4" was
the unwavering accusations; you stole
the money"
He is Innocent"
A wild, convincing cry, expanding
with the certainty Of proof, sentient with
the trustfulness Of a loving woman's
heart, the words rang forth from Ruth
Elliott's lips.
She knew! Oh! with happy, fervent
delight she realized the frau rock OF
certainty upon which her prejudiced
father had erected stupendous fabric
Of suspicion.
Girl" scowled Elliott angrily, Il told
you once that this is no concern OF
yours.
mo, it is mine alone" interrupted
Walton quickly. Ruth, he whispered
tumultuousIy, silence! To reveal the
truth, in his present mood, would invoke
bis deepest anger.
with q moan Ruth Elliott sank to q
chair, her face colorless, her heart futter-
ing like an imprisoned bird.
Paul Walton had spoken truly. He
was innocent; she knew it He had not
been near his room that evening. A
loving tryst at the moonlit glade had
filled in those two precious hours, and
her lips were scaled, because he had
bade her be silent.
But he was innocent. Oh, the joy OF
it, Standing there, accused, mute for
her sake, her heart went out to him in
strengthened love.
You can give up the other package Of
money or not, as you choose" spoke
Farmer John. Il shall not have you
arrested on account Of your past serv-
ices, but you must leave this house to.
night; you must 60 at once"
Innocent or guiltyf" murmured Wal
ton.
Innocent? Does the key show iti
Does hidden plunder show it2"
Il never saw key or money before.
Some one placed them in my room, some
enemy"
BAH" scornfully interrupted Elliott,
'you have heard my decision-go!"
He shall not CO."
Trembling all over, yet with resolute
face, Ruth stole to the side OF her accused
lover.
She caught his hand in her own. Love-
unmistakable, unhidden from all the
world, spoke in her words, manner, and
attitude.
Are you crazy?" exclaimed her father,
staring vaguely at her glowing face.
Girl" in a terrible tone Of suspicion
what does this mean?"
1T means that I know him to be in.
nocent-that, in one word, I can prove it
He did not steal your money because he
was not in the house to-night-he was
was not in the house tonight
-Ruth-Ruth, silence! Do you not see
that this will anger him"
Twill speak! He was not in the house,
because he met me ut the stile. He met
me there because our troth is plighted,
ana love him against all the world,
against all your cruel unjust accusa-
TONS"
She flung herself into his arms as she
spoke, and then, woman-like, her
strength, resolution, and defiance
vanished, and she burst into tears.
Into the amazed face Of John Elliott
blazed furious rage.
With cry more like roar than any
thing else, he tore Ruth from the clasp
of her lover.
Roaring like madman, he confronted
Paul Dalton, menacing him, anathema-
tizing him, ready to crush him with up
lifted hands
Thief Miscreant! Hypocrite!" he
fairly choked out. "Oh! could forgive
q thief OF money, but this-you serpent,
with your smooth, willy ways, to steal
my girls heart-go, ! warn you. or ]
will do you harm!"
The two astounded laborers, we'll
knowing Farmer Johns ungovernable
temper, pressed Dalton toward the door.
With last look at the crushed and
weeping Ruth, the accused turned upon
her father.
John Elliott" he spoke firmly, almost
sadly, some day you will regret your
unjust accusation-the truth concerning
that will come to light soon. AS to