Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-08-09

way to his lipsi in n rush. Belle bowed
her face upon her hands for moment,
and then raised it, palo as marble.
"Alr. Sternc, you must give mo tImo
for consideration. If you will call
again tomorrow evening / will give
you your answer"
Walters fellow clerk was. destined
to receive n very similar reply to
very similar question, only that Evan
was put OF somewhat indefinitely.
Still later that same evening. two
very fine young mon wero walking
down Broadway, arm-in-arm, when
one said to the other:
"Evan, l can't go to the old gentlo-
man for moro money just now-have
you nny?"
"Not IL cent. You know how I'M
lucky we'vo been OF late"
Cant you raise some?"
Don't think I oan. Iyo dono n
good denl for you already"
eyes; but TINT will bo all right when
you marry Belle"
"Yos; you must holp mo, then"
"Why don't you proposo?"
81 did that very thing tonight"
"You don't say! What luck?"
"Good, 1 should think; only sho
Inns put mo off for week"
"Oh, thnt's nothing. You couldn't
hnvo expected III answer off-hnnd."
"Not from SO proud girl as Belle
Leonard. Still, you can help mo-"
"I will. Don't be afraid; I'm not
anxious for Sterno rs brother-in-
law"
ella; In, don't worry about that"
AMI they separated; but the next
morning, no sooner did Jones rench
the store than Walter called him aside
for private consultation.
Whatever was it's nature. even tho
conntcnance of Walter Storno was I'M
able to conceal an expression Of as.
constituent and consideration.
"But why did you not tell mo ut
once?" no asked.
81 know your cast-iron ways, and
was afraid you would tell tho old gem
tlcman, and thnt wouldn't do, you
know"
"Tell him? Ncvcr wo must
keep him ignorant mt any cost"
"But how will wo do it?"
ooh, leave that to me. I'll go over
the books ut once. There won't DO
the slightest danger"
Walter Sterne was unusually busy
with his accounts That day, and in the
afternoon. late, Abel Leonard came
down in II carriage. Ho tumbled the
books over, rs usual, but had little to
say, ind he really looked sick when he
started for home.
Tho ride was not long one, but it
seemed to have shaken all tho pride
out of the fat little merchant. AS he
entered the hall ho was met by Belle.
"Father?"
"Tho very worst, BolloW
"How do you mean?"
"Tho footings and entries aro cor
rectod, and tho cash is all straight
again.
"But how is that the worst?"
"Tho corrections are all in Walter
Sterne's own hand"
ooh, father, isn't it terrible !"
'Indecd it is. And | loved that
young man almost like son. I'd have
trusted him with all WINS worth"
. "And. to tell the truth, both father
and daughter were thoroughly miser-
able. Belle especially looked forward
with IL nervous horror to tho fast ap.
proaching hour for Walters call.
At last the expected feet wero on
tho doorstap, and never had he looked
so near tho ideal of elmo young
man." There was even look OF
pride and citation on his face MS he
entered tho parlor, but his counte-
nance fell rs he cnst his eyes on the
face that came forward to meet him.
"Miss Leonardo"
"Mr. Sterno-"
And for few moments neither of
them could say more. Their embar-
rassment was. to say tho least, changed
i'll nature by the sudden entry of Abel
Leonard.
"Walter Sterne, I will save Belle
tho trouble of giving you her answer
Does not your own conscience tell you
what it ought to be?"
"My conscience? cannot compre-
bend YOU"
"Then l will gay that have ex-
amined tho books. I saw them before
you made the corrections. Imay also
add that l have extorted IN 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 tho Office
morrow"
While the old gentleman had been
speaking Walter Ind been thinking,
and he replied in husky voice:
"Mr. Leonard, 1 SEQ into what
snare l have fallen, but / see also that
J cannot ut once lift myself out of it.
will only say now that have been
honest with you, aud more than hon
est. There is not ono stain on my
conduct" And 80 saying, he strobe
ont of the room. leaving deeper i'm
preston behind him than he was
aware OF. AS for Belle, she threw
herself upon sofa in tho back par
lor, and all but sobbed herself to
sleep.
Perhaps nm hour, perhaps more,
passed by, when she was awakened by
voices conversing near her in low
tones in the darkness.