The Press., 1893-06-29

clear practical sense, which for an in stant in the presence of this frightful blow had deserted him.
 ssThe mater is right, dad" said he. ssIt is bad enough, heaven knows, but we must not take too dark view of it. After all, this insolent letter is in itself evidence that I had not nothing to do with the schemes of the base villain who wrote it"
 .sThey may think it prearranged."
 ..They could not. My whole life cries out against the thought. They could not look me in the face and entertain it.''
 '.No, boy, not if they have eyes in their heads,' cried the admiral, plucking up courage at the sight of the flashing eyes and brave, defiant face. ''We have the letter, and wehave your character. We'll weather it yet between them. It's my fault from the beginning for choosing such land shark for your consort. God help me, I thought was finding such an opening for you
 ''Dear dad! How could you possibly know? As he says in his letter, it has given me Q lesson. But he was so much older and so much more experienced that it was hard for me to ask to examine his books. But we must waste no time. I must go to the city"
 What will you do?'
 ''What an honest man should do. I will write to all our clients and creditors, assemble them, lay the whole matter be- fore them, read them the letter and put myself absolutely in their hands,"
 "That's it, boy, yardarm 10 yardarm and have it over."
 T must go at once." He put on his topcoat and his hat "But have 10 0min- utes yet before I can catch train. There is one little thing which I must do be- fore I start"
 He had caught sight through the long glass folding doors of the gleam of a white blouse and a. straw hat in the ten his ground Clara used often to meet him there of morning to say few words before he hurried away into the city. He walked out now with the quick, firm step of a man who has taken a mo- mentous resolution, but his face was hageard and his lips pale.
 Clara" said he as-she came toward him with words of greeting, ''I am sorry to bring i'll news to you, but things have gone wrong iil the city, and-and think that ought, 10 release you from your engagement.
 Clara stared at him with her great, questioning, dark eyes, and her face be- came as pale as his.
 "How can the city affect you and me, Harold?'
 ''It is dishonor. I cannot ask you to share it." |f
 ''Dishonor! The loss of some miserable gold and silver coinsv'
 ''Oh, Clara, if it were only that! We could be far happier together in little cottage in the country than with all the riches of the city. Poverty could not cut me to the heart as I have been cut this morning Why, it is but 20 min utes since I had the letter, Clara, and it seems to me to be some old, old thing which happened far away in my past life, some horrid black cloud which shut out all the freshness and the peace from it."
 But what is it, then? What do you fear worse than poverty?'
 "To have debts that I cannot meet. To be hammered upon change and de- c1ared bankrupt, to know that others have just claim upon me, and to feel that dare not meet their eyes. Is not that worse than poverty?'
 "Yes, Harold, a thousandfold worse! But all this may be got over. Is there nothing more?"
 My partner has fled and left me re- sponsible for heavy debts and in such position r. : I i ' i,o required by the law to produce some at least of this missing money. It has been confided to him to invest. and he has embedded it. I, as his partner, am liable for it. Nave brought misery on all whom I love-my father, my mother. But you at least shall not be under the shadow. You are free, Clara. There is no tie between us. 3
 "It takes two to make such a tie, Har- old," said she. smiling and putting her hand inside his arm. "It takes two to make it, dear, and also two to break it. Is that the way they do business in the city, sir, that a man can always at his own sweet will tear up his engagements?'
 You hold me to it, Clara?'
 "No creditor so remorseless as I, Har- old. Never, never shall you get from that bond"
 But I am ruined. My whole life is blasted"
 "And so you wish to ruin me and blast my life also. No, indeed, sir; you shall not get away so lightly. But seriously now, Harold, you would hurt me if it were not so absurd. Do you think that woman's love is like this sunshade which carry in my hand--a thing only fitted for the sunshine and of no use when the winds blow and the clouds gather?'
 "I would not drag you down, Clara. ''
 Should I not be dragged down indeed if left your side at such time? Il is only now that can be of use t you, help you, sustain you. You have always been so strong, so above me You are strong still. but then two vii be stronger. Besides. sir, you have nc idea what 8 woman of business I am Papa says so, and he knows"
 Harold tried to speak, but his hear was too full. He could only press tht white hand which curled round his
 "Dear Sastev,
 They charge you with be.