The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-12-18
nan, then, to whom she had been true


all tehse years.
"Money," she said finally, "money
then, is your only objectP"
''The only object I have in the
world" he answered.
"And from whom do you expect to
get the money!"
"From one of your smart Ameri-
cans, one of your friends. In fact,
Mr.. Thornton. / understand that he
loves you. Oh, what a fool he is
Why, he did everything I suggested.
was engaged to your neice. That
was all that was necessary for him to
know. I unfolded my scheme. I
talked mines in Brazil. wanted a
partner. He was only too glad to be
of service to me. Ha, hal"
"How much," she asked, anxiously,
"do you expect to get from Mr..
ThorntonP
'I have his notes." he answered,
coolly, "for $76, ,000."
"Will you let me have those notes
if 1 give you their full value?"
''Too late. They are being nego-
tiated. o, have to be quick. To-
morrow 1 realize on them and to'mor-
row 1 sail for Brazil" :"
"Do you know that such a sum will
probably ruin him?"
Perhaps" be answered. "But
what do / care? He is not the first
man have ruined, and he will not be
the last. And you will let me do it.
You will not expose me, or" he
pointed menacingly to Maud, who sat
engaged in conversation with Thorn
| ton.
"Raoul," said Miss Wittemore,
suddenly, ''if I do not reveal your
true character, if 1 permit you to
swindle this poor man who has never
harm ed you or any one else in this
world, will you go away and find some
way out of this, so that she will never
know?"
''I WILL" he answered. Nothing
could suit me better. We will make
a compact, an agreement to swindle.
You and I who have been lovers. Ha,
ha, it is too good! Tomorrow Count
Kanolky will be suddenly called to
Brazil, and on the way he will dis
appear. He will be washed over
board, quite accidentally. 1t is a
trick 1 have used before. Mr.. Thorn
ton can go to work as clerk, and
Maud will be fearful but beautiful
bride that was to be. She will wear
mourning for me, of course. Other
wise you would have to tell her. How
charming! 1t is agreed?"
'1t is agreed" said Miss Witte
more.
Some teh days after the garden
party Mr.. Charles Thornton sat gazing
blankly out OF the window of his club.
He already felt uncomfortable, as
though he had no right to be in such
place, for he had Just realized that
he was not only ruined man, but
without the experience necessary to
make a living. Count Kqnolky had
been accidentally drowned at sea. The
money he may have had with him had
undoubtedly been on his person anc
would never be recovered. Ever
though it were, Thornton would have
no claim against the mans estate. He
was vaguely running over in his mint
the few men to whom he might apply
for some sort of work, when a note
was handed to him. 1t had been 6
long time since Miss Laura Wittemort
had done him the honor to write tt
him, but he knew at a glance that il
was from her. Wonderingly, bu
hurriedly, he opened the note. 1t re
lated, very simply, the fact that Mis-
Wittemore had told him never agaiI
to ask her to marry him as she wished
to square long account by askin!
him to marry her. 1t is unnecessary
to say that he went Immediately to he
to tell her of his poverty. And it i
quite as unnecessary to say that she
did not seem to be at all disappointed
at this confession of his, and finally
succeeded in convincing him that she
had a great deal more money thar
enough for both of them. New Yorl