Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-02-20


 of an intelligent and independent con- stituency!"
 CHAPTER XII.
 Par.-Good, very good; It is so, then.
 Good, very good; let it be concealed
 awhile
 -All's Well That Ends We'll And now, my dear fellow, if you can think of any other indebtedness, great or small-but especially small-that may have incurred, which is exercising a peculiarly damaging effect upon my own credit and also through my busi- ness connection with you, upon your self, ask you in all sincerity, I entreat you in all seriousness, I adjure you in the sacred name of friendship, to bring the same to my remembrance at once, or else forever after hold your peace" As he spoke thus with a provoking little twinkle in his eyes, North threw himself into an easy chair close beside Wee and leaned over confidentially to- ward that gentleman.
 Mir. Wescott, who still had his news paper spread out before him, rustled it slightly as he gave his shoulders pet ulant shrug, and without glancing up he growlcd:
 "What should I know about your private affairs? I've never meddled with them. so far as am aware. Have I, sir?'' he added, as he looked dcfiantly at North now for an instant.
 ''No, no! thousand times mol" cried North with ready volubility; when Wee dryly cut him short with:
 ''Very well, then; that settles it."
 'Ah, but my dear Wee, that does not settle it!' exclaimed North fcrvently. 'Why do you fling cold water in this heartless way over my first real at tempt at reformation? A sense of what owe you in the way of repara- tion urges me on to this decisive step. wish first of all, of course, to redeem my own credit-now, right along, you know, while 1 have some to redeem; your judicious advice on that point touched a chord that has been vibrat- ing ever since. But next to this wish to restore to you all that you may have lost in public confidence by having been so long associated with me as my partner. This is simple justice to you. and duty that owe to my self. Come, nowl Can't you help mo a little, Wee, in such a commendable undertaking? Stop reading that Daily Times upside down and give me the benefit of your wise counsel"
 But MT. Wcscott was deaf to all ap- peals. EXaspcrated by on attack from which he had no ready response to de- fend himself, he took refuge In 0 grim silence and kept his whole attention, outwardly at least, upon his news paper.
 North lifted his eye brows with an air of surprise, as if he were utterly unable to understand such absolute stoicism, Leaning back in his chair he "gorgon- ized" the unhappy Wee for several moments with stony British stare, apparently lost in contemplation o1 | that gcntleman's hardened and de prayed nature.
 MT. Wescott, while bctraying by his expression of heroic suffering that he was conscious of this provoking scrutiny, succeeded for a short time 1T keeping his eyes fixed upon the news paper, which he rustled nervously now and then in his painful effort to appear unconscious; but there is limit to hu man endurance, and he finally reached | that point.
 l Rising, without any visible change 1T his grave countenance, MT. Wescot drew out his watch and calmly noted the time; then, with the air of mar who goes to meet a very pressing en | gagcment, he took up his hat and with drew from the office as if utterly un conscious of North's presence there.
 ''Well, that's poetic justice!" solilo quized North, calmly surveying thu field that he had won. ''Wec drove IDA from the office when I was hero before and now have compelled him to bea a maStcrly retreat. MT. Wescott and may therefore consider ourselves quits But cannot remain here to enjoy m. triumph. Before the crowd of client who are probably surging toward tn office door can come upon me in tn name of tho firm and ovcrwhclm ID with their affairs, will follow the eX ample of the junior partner and cut the office. may now be able to carr out my original intention of calling O. Mrs. Maynard, unless some untoW'ar fato again interferes-"
 With this faint hope he left the of1c and started once moro toward Delo blaine street, arriving at No. S3 witf out incident or delay.
 Mrs. Maynard came down to the draw ing-room to receive him, looking so i that he could not repress tho eXclnms ton of solicitudc that rose to his lips Her extreme pallor, heightened n doubt by the plain black dress that sh wore, really startled him; and the hcav N