Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-07-20

10 ~ receive a present from my wife?
sIonI6 think. then, it was about time YOU
no longer accepted her hospitality"
sf was about to wish you good-even-
inc and to withdraw" said Eugene,
mildly.
"The sooner you're out Of the house the
better" growled the other.
The Young man, with not the most
agreeable sensations IN the world, said
good night, and took his departure:
1t was now so late he did not think it
best to repair to young Fielding's house,
and more especially as he had no good
news TO communicate; so, with despond-
ing heart. he wandered al out the streets
for an hour, and then slowly made his
wav to his own room, where, without un-
dressing. be threw himself upon his bed,
rot to sleep, but to think.
For an hour he lay there, scarcely NOV
inc. and had it not been for his wide
open. staring eyes, which were intently
fixed upon the ceiling, one might have
thought him sleeping; as it was, he more
closely resembled the dead.
All at once, with glad exclamation,
he sprang out upon the floor, and turning
nm the gas, which he had left dimIy
burning. hurried 10 a trunk in one corner
of the room. and, having selected key
from among several on a ring, quickly
opened it.
After removing two trays, he thrust his
hand down into a corner and brought up
a leather-covered clse, which, upon be,
ing.opened, disclosed q splendid gold
watch, set with jewels, and a solitaire
diamond ring.
These will do for his business, he
murmured, softly; "but what is to be-.
come of me? No matter, with Ray out OF
this ticklish scrape, can afford to walt
for my beautiful enemy's next move,
and then, after putting away The case
and undl essing, he sought his couch and
was speedily fast asleep.
The next morning, soma time before
eight o'clock, he call, d at Fielding S
house; and on his friend's Fastening to
the door to meet him, placed hundred
dollar bill in his hand.
Il have succeeded, you see, he simply
said, "and now will 90 and get some
thing to eat"
Stop! stop, Eugene, called Raymond,
as his friend was hurrying away; you
must breakfast here; if you Gont, Meta
and will never forgive you. Besides, [
want to ask you q question. What makes
YOU look so deathly pale?"
No matter" said Eugene, hastily;
then, in another tone:
See here, Ray, I'll eat with you II
You'll only hurry through your meal and
let me- alone. What l want, abo'e all
things now, is to see you straight with
the bank. Do you understands"
"Of course, o course; but tell me-
Not a word until lunch time, then IL
tell you everything" =,
well, you hard-hearted wretch, II
that's your ultimatum, come along" anc
he led the way up to the sitting-room
where his sister soon joined them.
Meta Fielding was a sweet, innocent
little thing, of but title more Than
eighteen years-a girl that any mar
might be proud to call wife or sister.
From The first time her o,her hac
brought Eugene TO their home he had in
terested her greatly, and, trath to say, the
Young man felt warm regard for her; II
so much, indeed, that he had fallen intt
the habit OF spending at least hall hl'
evenings in the apartments OF bis friend
Breakfast did not detain them long thl:
morning, and after it was over. they BIZ
the sweet little houeeke per gool-oy, anC
hastened down town.
Eugene did not accompany bis trien(
when he went to carry out thu mission
intrusted to him by the president the d.!
before; but he knew he had succeeded
when he saw his cheerful face as he en-
tered the bank, and went to his desl
about half all hour after the president ar
rived.
That morning Raymond Fielding work
ed with happy heart; but, from time t(
time, as he glanced toward the assistan
book keeper, he was troubled to see
settled look of gloom upon his brow.
What can possibly be the matter wit
him." he asked of himself Cor the hun
dredth time. We'll, ! shall find out a
one o'clock. He will tell me everything
then, so l must have patience and wait
But he was to know something abou
it even before that Lour.
1t was a little past twelve, when, Of
casually looking up, he saw Mr.. Elliston
Eugenes uncle, enter the bank. 1t wa
not @bo lrd day." and he was therefor
somewhat surprised to see him there.
The great man did not stopin the bank
ing room, but passed through. to tn
Presidents private apartment, where
qualter of an hour later, Eugene was re
0uested to present himself.
lie obeyed the summons at once, bu
was scarcely absent ten minutes. Whe
he reappeared his face was deathly pale
and there was stern, set expresso
about his features they had never wor
before.
Raymond was greatly alarmed, an
would have sprung to his side, bu
Eugene made O hurried gesture to dete
him, and passing close by his desk, b
rapidly whispered: -,
Don't look Up; don't move. It's bes
you shouldn't appear over-frlendly wit
me. I've been discharged, and am goin
at once. Come TO Gibbs lunch-room {
one o'clock. I'll be there, and tell yo
all about it, God bless you, old fellow
And he passed on to his desk.
Briefly be explained TO the head book
keeper, giving him no idea, however,
the actual facts; and before one o'cloc
he had turned over his books, receive
what was due him, and had left the banl
He went direc ly 10 the lnnch-roon
where he knew the other employees OF tt
bank were hardly likely to come; an
having collected table in remote CO..
ner. prepared to wait for his friend.
RAYMOND did not keep him long wal
ing. Soon he entered the spacot
room, and catching glimpse of him
the far corner fastened to b side.
"Sit down." said the discharged bool
keeper and as the other took his sea
what will you have?"
! "Oh, anything, exclaimed Ray, impi
tiently; ut doesn't matter. But, say,
! quick, 1nd tell me all about it.
: Having given his order to the waite
. Eugene did tell him all; in fact, omittir