The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-06-19
A STORY OF TEMPTATION.

She turned, clenched tightly IN hef
fingers the bank notes. and with 1ace
deadly pale she gazed on the woman
beside her. -,
Miss Warner. The trustworthy.
the consdential clerk The betrothed
wife
stop: oh, stop! Let me tell YOU
Hear me-
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 l can return
it, when it is really due me-"
"Of course. But if il was any one
but Miss Warner-I, or the boy who
sweeps this place-what would 1t be
"Oh, you have no mercy You nate
me, / know. and will not hear the
truth. You know I am incapable OF
such wrong. But, oh. you will tell
it, Yes, yes; I am in your power.
Oh, why was SO weak as to yield to
his pleading2 Why should he not
have borne the result of his own wrong
doinge Listen, Julia. You shall hear.
When my mother, dying, bade me
kneel by her side, and vow to love,
protect and shield her boy, l 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 a suspicion of dishonesty
upon me"
The miserable girl dropped her
head, in her anguish, on the desk, and
sobbed.
Coldly, cruelty Julia Garnet stood,
unmoved by the piteous means OF the
girl she was torturing. 4 triumphant
light cleaned from her small black
eyes, and with a sneering expression
curling her lips, she said:
Really, this is quite dramatic.
You have mistaken your vocation,
Miss Warner"
The girl raised herhead, wiped from
her face the tears-that pale, beauti-
fui face, with the soul-ht 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 COM
pressed 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
trials. You will have no mercy. You
cannot feel a sisters devotion. You
only know your own wishes, and seek
only your own ends. Speak at once;
What do you intend I shall do2 l
know you now, Julia Garnet. You
have been my enemy since
eyes: since you won the love OF
Harry Noble, I 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-weu, if the truth is so terrible to
your ear, will say-a family failing,
perhaps"
Speak, and end your torture,
"You will resign your position here,
for any cause you may choose to as
sign. Put back that money, if you
wish, now. I 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 s Co.'S"
Tying on her bonnet, with a calm
ness that would have been more touch
ing to a heart that could feel, than the
distress and tears of short time be-
fore, Dora Warner left the store.
An hour after, pleasant, boyish
voice called out:
Dora, where are you? Have you
gotit2"
81 have
'sOh, YOU darling sister! I'll do
anything in theworld for you; indeed
Twill. I am so glad! so relieved',
The little room was not cheerful as
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
comfortable.
His heart was so filed 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.
ssDora, are you tired2 Let me take
you wrappings2" 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.
Dora! Dora. sister, what is it:
You are i'll? Speak to me- he pleaded,
gazing wildly into her face-yester-
day so beautiful, loving and hopeful;
now so haggard, weary and despair
ing. What is it? Oh, tell me, sis
ter
She put out her hand, drew him to
her, and said:
Love me, Willie, I have no one
else to love me now.
When, with his head bowed in her
lap, ne nearQ OF lie SdCi1uCe LIS s1sleI
had made to shield him, the boys
heart was awakened to the full appre-
ciation of his own wrong and its re-
suits.
He had been drawn into bad com
pany, tempted to visit gambling
houses, and finally to try his luck,
which, at times was SO successful as
to lure him on Thinking he could
soon return it, he took from time to
time, small sums of money from the
store, of which he was the bookkeeper.
He had, up to short time before the
opening of our story, returned the
amount before the loss was discovered.
But fate turned against him. After
having taken much larger sum than
usual, his losses were continual. The