The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-08-22

This gentlemen l. the Wnoie Hiatter
in nutshell. and beg 10 inform you
that. were / going 10 make business
Of this sort Of thing. / would not have
bsngled it and the corrections - PAL
rrably apparent.
Gentlemen, beg the fullest inves-
tieation Of my Affairs. and am sure
that my record viii prove that ! have
done nothing wrong
.sYca- record in New Haven was
not above rcproa.-b, this from nay ae-
cI-er. and turning to the president he
added: Do ] look like such an idiot A.
10 three or four consecutive times make
an error in the amount 1 deposited2
Once. / might have believed, but the
absurd statement Of this young man, if
credited, would prove me to be ON the
verge Of seniliiy.'
As he was known to he one Of the
hardest-headed and ablest financiers in
the town this remark bore weight and
I could see that in spite Of my positive
assertion that had told the truth, in a
difference such a. this his word would
be taken before mine The meeting
broke up in an atmosphere Of subdued
excitement, and not until had closed
my books for the day and reached the
shelter OF cur quiet porch did il fully
dawn upon me all that the decision of
the directors meant. They held my
life in their hands, with my reputation
How had il happened2 l was pursued
by an inexorable and cruel fate-that
was my only explanation, for no
thought Of treaehery entered my head,
and a. locked out into the gathering
twilight and saw fathers bent and
aged form come slowly up the lane |
buried my face in my hands and
wept the bitterest tears / had ever
shed.
Il can hardly bear 10 think, even
now, Of the next few days OF course
the affair become noise,i around, and L
had to endure the bitterness of the out
cast. Ny words weighed a. nothing
against the statement of my aecuser.
Somehow the story Of the note and its
payment leaked out, and that also told
against me; for was not S3OO just the
amount represented by the changed fig
ur,s2 Averted faces and cold looks
greeted me, and finally the day came
when | was told kindly but firmly that
even though nothing had been proven
against me, still must see that could
no longer retain my position, for the
president said they must have a man
whom the people could trust. To add
10 my misery, l received note from
Annals father saving that, owing 10
the highly-respected position my faith
er held in the community, he would
not prosecute, but that Of course all in
tercourse with any member Of his fam
ily was al an end.
This, however, did not deter Anna
and from meeting, and the loving
faith and confidence Of my dear girl,
was the one bright spot in that time Of
darkest misery.
Father believed me, but his pride
was broken, and AT his time Of life it
was hard 10 have to bear the commits
Grating glances Of his old friends, for
ne had been accustomed TO hold his
head high and take second place for
no man.
After time he made fewer and
fewer trips 10 town and my heart would
bleed a. saw him growing daily more
feeble under the burden Of sorrow.
This state Of thing. could not go on
forever and I, AT last chatting and rest
les under the ban OF public censure
and the injustice Of my position, de-
termined To leave it all and strike out
for myself and make "A name that my
townsmen would be compelled to hon
or.
''AIl that happened eight years ago
and though ] have not won renown, |
have the proud consciousness that
need fear 10 look no man in the face.
''Three weeks ago received letter
that made the blood dance in my veins
and brought back all the long-forgot-
ten joy and gladness into nay life, for it
was call home. Ny probation was at
an end, for in il father wrote me Of the
death Of Annals father and his dying
confession that it was a prearranged
plan on his part to bring me to dis
grace, a. lac had wanted his daughter
10 marry wealthy and ardent suitor
from distant town.
This story of my wiIdness at col
lege had pleased him only too well,
and it had been a sad blow when he
found me rising in the estimation of
my fellow-townsmen. His assumed
friendliness had all been part of the
plan for my disgrace. He is gone now
and | will not cherish any hard feeling
toward the dead, for tomorrow will
see me reunited with my loved ones,
and | shall ever more be at home.
II fear, Mrs. Morgan, | have tired
you out with my tale of woe" he
laughingly ended. Let me give YOU
my arm and escort you 10 your state
room, or We shall be up when the pill OF
comes on board "
a few hours later | was hastily sum
moned by the steward 10 his stateroom,
only 10 fad my friend white aud still
aRd very near the end Of life's journey.
\ slddened little group stood near the
door and the s1FgeoR made room for
me by the side Of the berth. With the
same bright smile with which he had
ever greeted me he opened his eyes
Gnd III a voice scarcely audible save to
me he whispered: "Dear friend, the
end has come. ] hardly thought il
would be so soon For years have
stood the sorrow, but JOY has been too
much" Without fiinching. with new
er murnlur, the brave spirit that had
borne 80 silently all those days of
pain and ignominy waited for the last
summons, and as held his hand the
gray shadow Of death erept upward
over the noble young face and with the
gradual slowing up OF the vessel
knew that the pilot had come ON
board and my friend had AT last reach
ed home