The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-02-01
THE DEPOSIT

rrottcnhcim. beautiful, rich, her
own indugcnt ducnnn, she could
not want for ndorors, conspicuous
among whom were thNo youths un-
equally endowed with tho gifts of for
tune There could be no question OF
the wealth OF Walter, son of the most
opulcnt jcwcllcr Of tho city; or ofthc
poverty of Alexis, who seemed to pos
scsS nothing but the pnpcr on which
he was continually inscribing new
draft of his one sonnet, never to be
finished in tlis world.
But of Adclbcrts property men
only surmiscd that IL was riskod in
adventurous spcculalions, aud that his
fortune alternately SCARED and Jagged
like n pitching kite, Perhaps. how
ever, those who know most would
have marvcllcd least at the expression
of absolute despair which darkcncd
his countcnance as one day ho cropt
into sombrc thickct of ycw, a pistol
in his hand.
alt is ovcrl" he cried. "She has
houcd me to my facet Adicu to tho
last hope of repairing my losses, ap-
pcaim my creditors, and withdraw
ing that fearful deposit ere tho day of
reckoning, now so near at handl |
should die of shame then; better dic
of shot now"
Aud ho pressed the muzzlc of his
pistol to his temple. lIc was In dire
earncst--anothcr moment would have
been his last-whcn tho pistol was
wr,nchcd from his hand, aud we'll
known voice exclaimed:
"lIold! or at least declare first, for
the information and, 1t may be, the
consolation Of thy friend, whether Ida
has rejected thee"
"Shc has not, Walter" returned
Adebcrt. "Not the pang of unrc-
Quilted love, but the goad of accusing
conscience, chases mo from this tor
ragucous world. lIcarkcn, Walter
it imports thee TO know, for thy in
heriiance will DO curtailed by my i'm
probity. Trusting in tho honor of
his old friends son, thy father has
advanced mo 10000 ducats upon the
security Of u sealed packet, whose con-
tents havo fabled to be family
jewels, mystcriously intrustod TO me.
Oh, Walter, Walter, tho sweepings Of
tho streets were precious in compari.
son. Now so aud denounce me to
Thy father--go and betray mo to
Ida"
81 am gentleman" said Walter,
H'illy, and walked away, carrying
the pistol with him. The wretchet
Adelbcrt remained the prey of tortur.
ing thoughts until dismal sound
struck upon his ear. and ho fed pro.
cipitalcly as Aexis entered the grove
rcciting the latest version Of his son
net
Whom Walter, OH his part, had quit.
led the spot, he was tinglins all over
with the glow of magnanimous &C.
ton, or at least profession, which it
its effect OH the inner man is much til,
same thing. He had not, however
proceeded far ere he encountered ;
black and white parsonage, neither
of whom, indeed, had quilted hin
during his interview with Adelbert
or any of us at any period, but O.
whose presence he then became dis
tinctly conscious. The black spiri
thought that 80, 900 ducats was a grca
deal of money, 10 which his whit
comrade assented, but added that hon
or was perfectly inestimable.
The black spirit had much to sa.
about Adelberrs iniqnity, and til
white about Its retribution. The ques
ton of Walters duty to society wa
fully considered from opposite point
Of view; and then the black spirit in
lroduced the Lady Ida, and, by de
picting her in the character of Adel
bcrt's bride, removed the debate fron
the realm of ratiocinatiOn to the re
gion of sensuons perception, wher
the white spirit was at singular disad
vantage.
Aud ~ the arguments Of the blac
gentleman and people of his sert al
Invariably found to gain In weight tn
longer one is willing to listen 10 thcu
thou wilt not marvel, judicious reader
70 meet Walter next morning in Ida
saloon, making . clean breast OF Ade