Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-08-01

L
for consideration. If you will call
again tomorrow evening l will give
you your answer"
Walters fellow clerk was destined
to receive very similar reply to
very similar question, only that Evan
was put off somewhat indefinitely.
Still later that same evening, two
very fine young men were walking
down Broadway, arm-in-arm, when
one said to the other:
'Evan, L can't 60 to the old gentle
man for more money just now-have
you any?"
mot cent. You know how I'M
lucky we've been of late.
Cant you raise some?"
'.Dont think | can. I've donc a
good deal for you already"
"Yes; but that will be all right when
you marry Belle"
Yes; you must help me, then"
'Why don't you propose?"
al did that very thing tonight"
"You don't say! What luck p
"Good, l should think; only she
MS pun Ine OH lOr Weeh.
"Oh, that's nothing. You couldn't
have expected an answer of-hand."
"Not from so proud girl as Belle
Leonard. Still, you can help me-"
81 will. Don't be afraid; I'm not
anxious for Sterne as a brother-in-
law"
"Ha, ha, don't worry about that"
AMI they separated; but the next
morning, no sooner did Jones reach
the store than Walter called him aside
for private consultation.
Whatever was its nature. even the
countenance of Walter Sterne was un-
able to conceal an expression OF as.
constituent and Consideration.
'But why did you not tell me at
once?" he asked.
81 knew your cast-iron ways, and /
was ffraid you would tell the old gen
tleman, and that wouldn't do, you
know"
Tell him? Never! We must
keep him ignorant at any cost"
"But how will we do it,"
ooh, leave that to me. I'll go over
the books at once. There won't be
the slightest danger"
Walter Sterne was unusually busy
with his accounts that day, and in the
afternoon. late, Abel Leonard came
down in a carriage. He tumbled the
books over, as usual, but had little to
say, and he really looked sick when he
started for home.
The ride was not a long one, but it
seemed to have shaken oil the pride
ont of the fat little merchant. As he
entered the hall he was met by Belle.
"Father?"
"The very worst, Belief"
SHOW do you mean?"
''The footings and entries are cor
rected, and the cash is all straight
again"
''But how is that the worst?"
"The corrections are all in Walter
Sterne's own hand"
ooh, father, isn't it terrible -
"Indeed it is. And [ loved that
young man almost like a son. I'd have
trusted him with all / was worth"
"And. to tell the truth, both father
and daughter were thoroughly miser-
able. Belle especially looked forward
with nervous horror to the fast APP
preaching hour for Walters call.
At last the expected feet were on
the doorstap, and never had he looked
SO near the ideal of Zine young
man" There was even look of
pride and citation on his face rs he
entered the parlor, but his counte-
nance fell as he cast his eyes on the
face that came forward to meet him.
''Miss Leonardo"
"Mr. Sterne-"
And for a few moments neither OF
them could say more. Their embar-
rassment was, to say the least, changed
i'll nature by the sudden entry Of Abel
Leonard.
"Walter Sterne, l will save Belle
the trouble of giving you her answer.
Does not your own conscience tell you
what it ought to be?'
'My conscience? Icannot compre-
bend you"
''Then | will say that l have ex-
amined the books. saw them before
you made the corrections. [ may also
add that | have extorte1 an unwilling
confession from Jones-not that he
has done wrong in anything but his
desire to shield you. 1t will not be
necessary for you to come to the Office
to morrow"
While the old gentleman hal been
[ nj : L.,
and he replied III II hu,kJ voice:
"Mr. Leonard, l see into what
snare have fallen, but l see also that