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

| and her sister had very much wanted
to 60 TO a 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 q
plan, questionable, indeed, but not
dishonesty meant. The sister came
to the silk counter and purchased
thirty yards of silk, paying los. for it
instead Of CO los.
THAT was on account; was only
taking little credit like other GUS
TONER'S" said tho little duchess, with
n naughty movement of the head. "On
Saturday was going to make out a
bill for an imaginary customer and
send CD up to you. Don't imagine ]
would really wrong the firm by half
penny"
ooh, no." cried the boy, eagerly
"it's all right"
That's not ALL" The girl began 10
cry again, hopelessly, miserably. 81
had no money to get the dresses made,
and the next customer paid 60 10s.,
and-and--I only sent los. up to you
i wanted to make it Just e5 1 had
borrowed. thought / might borrow
enough. as l was borrowing-don't t
forget, would rather have died than
have stolen the G5, 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 O 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 1 sent it
to you. l hadn't time to make it
right. and when the books are COM
pared tonight it will be noticed, that
1 shall get into trouble, and, oh, um
80 miserable |" 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 a 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
peat 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, aud run
no more risks. But, alas for the NOR
rowl
Ere he had fairly taken his seat in
the morning, before Nellie had fin
ished fastening in her neck the violets
he had brought her, some words were
said at his elbow, and he slowly be.
came aware that he-surely it was O
dream was being arrested for de.
falcatlons in his accounts. He learned
that for some time past the firm had
been aware of considerable discrepan-
cies in the books, and had placed a
detective accountant in the Office.
Last night, for the first time, the man
had discovered, as he thought, a clue,
and had convinced the firm that in
Walters he had found the offender.
The lad was ashen pale, horror.
stricken, as he realized how these
things must go against him. He could
not drag in the name of the little
duchess; even if he did it would not
avail him much; he certainly had al.
tered his book, and to mention the
girls share would only be to have two
of them brought to trial and perhaps
to Jail. The little duchess in jail
That hair catching the prison-yard
sunshinel That slender form clad in
the garments of shamel The boy
drew a deep breath, waved one very
wistful glance at the silk counter, and
then walked straight to the manager &
room followed by the policeman. 81
took the e5 yesterday and brought il
back to-day. On my oath, before
God, sir, have never misapplied one
farthing of my moneys" his voice
trembled in its oagerness, the deep.
set eyes CLEANED and the white lips
worked.
''Your purpose, Walters?"
The manager looked hard, disbe
lieving.
'Direst need. Oh, believe me, sir,
have served you three years honest
ly as man can serVe-yesterday
borrowed this money and brought il
back this morning-don't ruin my
whole life for this one act. :"
'Your pressing need yesterday"
John drew deep breath again.
'1-can't well tell you"
Then the heads of the firm came in
indignant at their misused trust, and
they scorned his story. The defalca'
tion amounted to almost $50 in all,
and he had confessed to e5, which
had been found upon him. OF course,
he and no other was the offender, and
they must teach their employees q
lesson. So John walked down thai
long shop by the side of the official,
mis- head very erect, his face pale and
his knees shaking; all his life hC
would remember the glances of pity,
curiosity and disdain that he met OF
every side. As he passed the silk
counter the little duchess was meas
uring a great piece OF rose-red, sheeny
satin, that cleaned warm and beauti
full beneath her hands. She was very