Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-06-29
A STORY OF
....TEMPTATION.

Miss Warner ~ She turned clench-
ed tightly in her fingers the bank
notes, and with a face deadly pale she
gazed on the woman beside her.
"Miss Warner. The trustworthy,
the confidential clerk, The betrothed
wife"
Stop! oh, stop! Let me tell you
Hear me-
1.-The betrothed wife of the junior
partner of the firm of Fairleigh, Noble
& Co., to be caught at
For Gods sake. have mercy | am
not doing as you would say. | am
only borrowing this until | can return
it, when it is really due me !"
"Of course" But if it was any one
but Miss Warner, or the boy who
sweeps this place what would it bey'
"Oh! have you no mercy. You hate
me, / know, and will not hear the
truth. You know ! am incapable of
such wrong. But, oh! you will tell
it. Yes, yes; l am in your power.
Oh, why was ! so weak as to yield to
his pleading? Why should he not
have borne the result of his own wrong
doing? Listen, Julia. You shall hear.
When my mother, dying, bade me
kneel by her side, and vow to love,
protect and shield her boy, / did it.
knowing full well it would require
long endurance, privation, and posi-
bly, the sacrifice of my dearest hopes.
But ! never dreamed it could possibly
bring even suspicion of dishonesty
upon me-"
The miserable girl dropped her
head, in her anguish on the desk, and
sobbed.
Coldly, cruely Julia Garnet stood,
by the piteous means of the
girl she was toriuring. A triumphant
light cleaned from her small black
eyes, and with sneering expression
curling her lips, she said:
Really, this is quite dramatic !
You have mistaken your vocation,
Miss Warner"
The girl raised her head, wiped from
her face the tears-that pale, beauti-
ful face with the soul-lit deep gray
eyes, the clear, smooth brow so full
and broad formed; such striking
contrast to the dark one beside it,
whose every feature was so sharp and
hard no softening line about the
lips, to bring one thought
Of hope to the poor girls heart. She
knew she was doomed, and said:
'Tis useless to tell you more of my
lrials. You will have no mercy. You
cannot feel sisters devotion. You
,nly know your own wishes, and seek
only your own ends. Speak at once
What do you intend shall do? Ii
know you now, Julia Garnet. You
have been my enemy since"
Yes; since you won the love of
Harry Noble, have hated you. And
what think you his father, who even
now looks with little favor ON your en-
gagement-what will he say to his
sons betrothed having been caught in
well, if the truth is 50 terrible to
your ear, | will say-a family failing,
perhaps !"
Speak, and end your fortune ~
"You will resign your position here,
for any cause you may choose to as
sign. Put back that money, if you
wish, now. will let you have the
same amount. You can return it
when you have obtained so much to
spare. You will readily obtain en-
ployment in Blake & Co.'S
Trying ON her bonnet, with a calm
ness that would have been more touch
ing to heart that could feel, than the
distress and tears of short time be-
fore, Dora Warner left the store.
An hour after, a pleasant boyish
voice called out
Dora, where are you? Have you
got it?
II have"
"Oh, you darling sister. I'll do
in the world for you; indeed
| will. | am so glad ? so relieved :"
The little room was not cheerful
usual on his return; the lamp not lit,
the fire not burning brightly in the
crate, everything so cold and dark
and she, the life and light that used to
welcome his coming, sat with bowed
head on the little lounge, her bonnet
and cloak still on.
Thinking she was tired, and had
been late getting home, Willie began
to stir around, To make things more
His heart was 50 filled with graft
tude to his sister for saving him, he
did not think Of the disappointment in
not finding the nice little supper
waiting his coming.
Lighting the lamp, he turned to
look at Dora.
"Dora, are you tired? Let me take
your wrappings?' he said.
She raised her head-his eyes fell
on her face. He sprang forward.
caught her hand, and sank on his
knee beside her.