The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-10-02

ana ner sister naQ very mucn wanted
TO go to q certain ball, aud, more than
that, to have new dresses for it, of
soft, white Liberty silk, such as she
cut of daily for fortunate customers.
But her purse was empty, SO in their
emergency the sisters had hit upon o
plan, questionable, indeed, but not
dishonesty meant. The sister came
to the silk counter and purchased
thirty yards of elk, paying los. for it
instead of GO los.
"rhat was on account; was only
taking little credit like other GUS
TONER'S" said the little duchess, with
q naughty movement of the head. "On
Saturday was going to make out q
bill for an imaginary customer and
send e3 up TO you. Don't imagine /
would really wrong the firm by half
penny"
"Oh, no." cried the boy, eagerly /;
otis all right"
"That's not ALL" The girl began to
cry again, hopelessly, miserably. 81
had no money to get the dresses made,
and the next customer paid e. los,
and--and--I only sent los. up to you
Il wanted to make it just G5 / had
borrowed. thought I might borrow
enough, as was borrowing-don't
forget, 1 would rather have died than
have stolen the 95, Mr.. Walters"
"Of course, of course, under
stand" said the cash clerk, seeing that
it was worse fix than he had imag-
ined, but longing to take her in his
arms and kiss away the tears.
"And then that horrid Mr.. Greaves,
who signed first in hurry, asked for
my book and took it for something,
and then sent it up to the desk, and
the figures are all confused, and the
check leaf isn't the same as l sent it
to you. / hadn't time to make it
right, and when the books are COM
pared tonight it will be noticed, that
l shall get into trouble, and, oh, am
80 miserablel" The little duchess was
sobbing pitifully.
He kissed her this time in earnest,
on the lips, the cheeks, the hair, the
tear-wet eyes. think he would be
kissing her still, only gardeners
form, and specially his smile, obtruded
itself upon their notice, and they sat
apart, looking foolish, till the two
o'clock bells made them hurry back
to the shop.
"I'll put everything right-don't
you worry" he said, and she smiled
relievedly and went to the counter.
That afternoon he did what all the
other years of his life he had deemed
impossible for him to do. He made a
neat alteration in his books, so that the
e5 in question would not be missed.
Tomorrow, he resolved, he would take
95 of his own, and would pay it into
the account of the firm. The little
duchess would be his debtor, and rur
no more risks. But, alas for the NOR.
rowi
Ere he had fairly taken his seat il
the morning, before Nellie had fin
ished fastening in her neck the violetI
he had brought her, some words were
said at his elbow, and he slowly be
came aware that he-surely it was {
dream Twas being arrested for de
falcatlons in his accounts. He learned
that for some time past the firm hat
been aware of considerable discrepan
cies in the books, and had placed I
detective accountant in the office
Last night, for the first time, the man
had discovered, as he thought, clue,
and had convinced the firm that il
Walters he had found the offender.
The lad was ashen pale, horror
stricken, as he realized how thes'
things must go against him. He coult
not drag in the name of the littl
duchess; even if he did it would no
avail him much; he certainly had al
J tered his book, and to mention tn
, girls share would only be to have tive
| of them brought to trial and perhaps
, to Jail. The little duchess in jail
, That hair catching the prison-yard
! sunshine That slender form clad il
the garments of shamel The bo
: drew n deep breath, waved one YER
wistful glance at the silk counter, an
then walked straight to the manager
? room followed by the policeman. 60
) took the e5 yesterday and brought
. back to-day. On my oath, befor,
l God, sir, have never misapplied on
' farthing of my moneys" his voic
trembled in its oagerness, the deep
+; set eyes cleaned and the white lip
Q worked.
4 "Yonr purpose, Walters?"
o The manager looked hard, disbC
' lieving.
I ''Direst need. Oh, believe me, sil
0 1 have served you three years honest
a ly as man can serye-yesterday
!, borrowed this money and brought
g back this morning-doh't ruin m
Y whole life for this one act. d"
' ''Your pressing need yesterday"
h John drew deep breath again.
n "1-can't well tell you"
Q Then the heads of the firm came i
e indignant at their misused trust, an
n they scorned his story. The defalcl
4" tion amounted to almost $50 in al
O and he had confessed to e5, whic
o had been found upon him. OF course
q he and no other was the offender, an
}, they must teach their employees
Y lesson. SO John walked down thI
+ long shop by the side of the o1icia
,e his head very erect, his face pale an
a his knees shaking; all his life
would remember the glances of pit,
70 curiosity and disdain that he met {
o every side. AS he passed the sill
e. counter the little duchess was mea
z. uring a great piece OF rose-red, sheer
is satin, that cleaned warm and beaut
"A f,,1 banaafh bar hands Sha xyaa val