Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-22

THE PoLIcEr HE SAID TO HIMSELF
Idea that the bracelet might be visible
that the damning evidence might be
/ plain to every eye-overcame him. He
1 looked down or course there was moth
! ing to be seen; he might have known it..
| for he felt the hot clasp of the horrible
thing burning his arm inches higher. But
when he looked up again, ieeting as had
been his glance he found that some
thing dreadful had happenened to him.
He faltered, and the chair dropped from
his hands. He had never met looks like
these before He read in every face save
one suspicion or condemnation Thies
and liari He read the words in their
eyes, the eyes OF his quondam friendsi Yet
he would, he must, brazen it out; and
though he could not utter word, he
looked from them to--Joanna
The girls face was pale and scared.
But her eyes-they answered his right
eagerly--were Rblaze with Indignation
They held no doubt, no suspicion. The
moment his look fell on her she spoke
SHOW them your armW she cried
impulsively. ''Show them YOU have
not got It, Ernestr' with such scorn, such
generous passion in her voice that il did
not need the tell-tale name which fell too
glibly from her lips TO betray her secret
at least to every woman in the room
"Show them your armr' All. but that
was just what he could not dol And as
he comprehended this he CRASHED his
teeth. He saw himself Melted an en-
trapped. and his rage and misery were so
written in his face that the best
and most merciful Of those about him
turned from him in shame and pity. Even
the girl who loved him shrank back,
clutching the mantelpiece in the first
spasm of doubt and fear and anguish. Her
words, her suggestion, had taken from
him his last chance He saw it was so.
He felt the Nemesis the mere bitterly on
tiat account; and with a wild gesture,
and some wilder word, he turned abruptly
and hurried from the ROOM bliudly
seized his hat, and went down to the
street
His feelings when he found himself
outside were such As il is impossible TO
describe in smooth passionless sentences.
He had wrecked his honor and happiness
in an hour He had lost his place among
men through chance word. We talk and
read Of thunderbolt from the blue. but
still the thing is to US unnatural. Some
passion has made murderer. some
strong man whom stunning blow has
left crushed and writhing on the ground.
a twisted cripple-only these could htly
describe his misery and despair as he
traverssd the streets. IL was m iserv he
had brought on himself. and yet how far
the punishment exceeded the offence! How
immensely the shame and exposure ex-
oeeded tie guilt lie had lied, and the
lie had made him thief
He went up to his rooms like one in |
dream, and scarcely Knowing what he |
did, tore the baube from his arm and |
flung it on the mantelshelf By his last |
act of bringing it away he had made bis |
position hundred times more serious,
but he did not at once remember this |
After he had sat awhile, however, with |
his head between his hands. wondering |
If this really were himself-if this really /
had happened TO himself. this dread /
full thing!--he began to see things more
clearly. Still, he could not at once make |
up his mind what to do Beyond me |
hazy idea of returning the bracelet
by the first post-of course he must re-
sign his mployment-he had settled /
nothing. when a step outside made him
start TO his feet. Someone knocked at
the door of his chambers. He stood, |
pallid aud listening, struck by sudden
fear.
The police" he said to himself
But moments thought satisfied him
that it was improb able, if not impossible.
that this summons should be theirs: and
he went to the door listlessly and threw
it open On the mat stood Burton Smith,
In a soft, slouched hat. his hands thrust
into the pockets OF his overcoat. Wib-
beriey just glanced at him, and saw that
be was alone; and then, leaving him to
shut the door. returned to his chair and
sat down in his old attitude, with his
head between his hands. He looked al
ready a broken man.
Burton Smith followed him in and
stood moment looking down at him I'M
enough. 1t is bad to have
had such a scene as has been described at
your house, but it is worse if a man be a
man, to face 3 fellow-creature in
his time of shame At any rate. Bur
Ton Smith felt it so Look here. Wib-
berley," he said at length. as much en-
barrassed as if he had been the thief.
Look here. it will be better to hush this
up. Give me this COMPOUNDED bracelet to
hand back to Lady Linacre, aud the
thing shall go no further"
His tone was curiously suggestive both
IF old friendship and present contempt
and pity But when he bad 70 repeat his