Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-02
SHE FORGAVE HIM.

~ OlltSL ming S5lll a blllCl' lilo pLOlA-
ised wife mercenary and dishonest I'M
possibleW
Yet appearances wero against her. He
acknowledged himself doubtful as to her
innocence, but how he loved her even I'M
der the shadow Of his doubt!
The note for g1O0. q silm Of money she
had declared that very afternoon would be
a godscnd to her, was missing. She was
last seen in the room by two Of the maids
and Adele Fosbanll had intimated to Sid
don, the butler, that she herself had OBJ
served his Marjorie handling the crisp pa
per while CHANGING timidly, us if afraid Of
discovery, down by the alder hedge in a
remote corner of the grounds.
Marjorie had protested her innocence.
She owned to having handled the note
when Squire Rcdfcrn touched it with his
gum brush, but declared positively that it
was replaced by her on the heap of papers
by tho side of the desk just before quit
ting the room.
But when no pressed her to try to re-
member if she had not again entered the
squire study she had blushcd and STAN
mercd, as if recollcctions were painful, that
she had passed through the apartments for
the purpose of picking up her handkcr-
chief perhaps half an hour later Probably
the maids were in the rooms then, but she
did not know positively.
"You would not care to marry Marjorie
with stain on her character, " his cousin
Adele had remarked. 81 am sorry for you
and her. 1t is very mysterious and I'M
pleasant affair all tho way through"
Something about her tone had annoyed
him, and he had bluntly observed:
"You don't know anything about this
matter, Adclc?"
She had flarcd up instantly, and with an
air becoming tragedy queen cried:
''Do you suppose l have taken the note,
Charles Redfcrn2 AS if 1 would stoop &c
run away with paltry G100, when papa
would grant mo that for the mere asking"
That was three days ago, but nothing
further had been brought to light. Mar
joric had fastened homo by tho earliest
train on tho morning after the disappear
anco Of the money, refusing to be escorted
by her fance, and today he had received
back the ring and little note begging Of
him to free her from the engagement.
Adele had said this was TN acknowledge
ment Of her guilt.
What mad freak had induced him to
show the note to the girls? Some pccuh-
arity in its careful patching together by a
previous owner, and as the note had only
como into his possession little while be-
fore he had failed to take its number.
Was this miserable patch of paper to
part him from the girl he adoredP No, not
100 similar notcs-and yet, how he longcd
to solve the mystery how he hungcrcd to
clear fair Marjorie from the shroud Of
guilt that embodied her.
Tho days dragged their weary length,
but a solution was still unattaincd. To
the squire, the servants and his cousin it
was apparently no mystery-Marjoric had
stolen the note and was a thief pure and
simple.
But Charles was unwcaried in his at
tempts to trace tho whereabouts of the
missing nOto for the moro he pondcrcd
over the matter tho more he felt convinced
that his lovely sweetheart was innocent Of
theft
He had written but no answer was &C
corded him; he had wandered about the
lanes near his adored ones homo, but had
returned by late train with his wish I'M
gratifcd.
What had become Of tho note? When
Marjorie's thoughts rushed back to that
miserable day, she seemed to sec Adele
Fosbank with a sinister expression of face
hooking her. Brayely she cndcavored to
suppress the thought, but it haunted her
through all tho weary hours-Adelc had
taken the note.
Mrs Fame tried to comfort her daughter
and induced her to unburdcn her mind Of
the trouble which was crushing out the
fair young life. Brokcnly the dreadful
story was told to the sympathetic listener.
"My dear girl, l will go myself to inves
tigate this matter today; there shall be no
delay" And though Marjorie would fain
have her remain at home she felt instinc-
lively that some good would como of this
visit.
Tho squire was away from home, and
the only troublesome person with whom
Mrs. Fame had to do battle was Adele Eos
bank.
Mrs. Fane's mOthcrly heart went out at
once when she beheld the haggard face of
the squire's son, for she knew at once the
extent of his suffering.
GLOW is Marjorie?" he faltered, after a
customary exchange of commonplace.
"Have you solved this mystery YETI l |
am naturally most anxious to carry back
good news to my daughter.
marjorie confessed to having handled
the note after its contact with the gum
brush, you sayP" Mrs. Fame inquired.
Charles nodded.
"Then do you think it has stuck and be-
come wrapped up in some other paper OF
slipped between the leaves Of a ledger"
she asked, quite feverishly
This notion seemed so feasible that
Charles proposed an examination then and
there Mrs. Fame begging to be allowed to
aid in the search, while Adele darted an
angry glance in her direction.