Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1895-04-19
A CASUIST.


more serious toll. He was we'll known
political organizer and speaker as we'll
as an occasional contributor upon eco
nomio questions to the monthly reviews.
By day he was employed at an Office in
Cornhill. 1t was there that I made his
acquaintance. Our duties brought us a
good deal together, and considerable
intimacy sprang up between u.s. Mars
denis relations were all dead, and he
was once good enough to say that was
the only friend he possessed in the
whole world.
Things were in this condition when I
called one night at my employers 8 pri-
vate house on a business matter that had
been overlooked. I was shown into the
drawing ROOM From an adjoining
apartment could hear at intervals the
voices of two men in violent alteration.
After time Mr.. Henderson appeared in
the drawing room and asked me to ac.
company him into the other room. Ern.
est Marsden, the only occupant, received
me with a grateful smile.
II have asked you to take part in this
conversation, " said my employer. "be-
cause I believe you to be friend of Mr..
Marsden's and likely to advise him
helpfully at very critical moment in
his career. You were away this after.
noon from the office and are therefore
ignorant Of what has occurred. have
been robbed, and your friend is the only
possible culprit. At half past IL today
an amount of EGO was paid to me per-
sonally in gold and notes. Before going
out I locked it up in the safe in my pri-
vate room, safe to which you and Mr..
Marsden have the only other keys. Mr..
Marsden, whom I left at work In my
room, went out about ten minutes later.
I am assured by the clerks in the outer
Office that no one else entered the room
during my absence. I returned in half
an hour. The safe was locked, but when
! opened it I found that the gold (g40)
had disappeared. I have told Mr.. Mars.
den that if he will make clean breast
Of everything and restore the money hc
may retire from my employment quiet
ly and without scandal. ;"
This statement upset me a good deal.
I hoped, of course, that my friend could
clear himself of the accusation. My own
position in the matter was none ton
pleasant Although ] had had leave VI
absence for the day, I had been obliged
to come back for my purse, which, by
strange oversight, I had left in the
pocket Of my Office jacket. Unfortunate.
ly I had returned to the Office about
1890 O'Clock. Finding the door Of Mr..
Henderson 8 sanctum unlocked-the
door, mean, opening directly into the
passage-I had slipped in and out with.
out apparently those in the outer Office
having noticed my return. Marsden,
however, had met me upon the stairs
To make things more ugly, I had that
very day come into the possession of q
sum Of money under circumstances that
could not have been made public. To
my great relief, Marsden made no refer
enee to our meeting, although aware
NO doubt, Of the effect 1t would have in
diverting suspicion from himself,
The scene that followed was very
painful one. Marsden insisted upon his
and bitter speeches passed on
both sides. / fancied at one time during
q lull in the storm that I caught the
sound of some one weeping in the next
room. The conference broke up, having
come to no conclusion. Mr.. Henderson,
whom contradiction always lashed into
q fury, followed Marsden into the hall,
threatening him with exposure and
Suddenly the drawing
room door burst open, and tall, proud
looking girl swept into the hall will
not attempt to repeat verbatim what she
said. Some Of it has escaped me, and
The rest, without her dark eyes and i'm
passioned bearing, seems ordinary
enough. Marsden had proposed to her .
vear previously and had been refused.
His constanoy in the face of every dis.
,ouragement had touched her deeply,
md lately she had come to realize that
Ter feelings toward him were complete
y changed. Under ordinary ciroum.
Itances she would have waited for him
% address her again. OF his continual
ievotion he had given her many elo-
luent. il silent, demonstrations, and
low that his fortunes were at their low.
,st she asked as favor to be allowed to
tand by his side and to fight his battles
Igainst all the world. At the end Of this
peeoh, which was delivered with an
elevation Of manner, the
.irl would have flung herself upon her
overs breast, but he repulsed her with
strange gesture. "Don't touch me,
4uoyl" be cried passionately. II stole
&"
Two hours later ! went round to
lodgings, for, in spite Of his
onfession, ! felt sure that my friend
vas not guilty Of this base thing. l
ound him busily engaged putting his
together.
~ am glad you have come, y he said
fter an embarrassing silence. "Other
eople may think what they like, but
build not bear that you shorld consider
le thief" !"
"But the confessionp" stammered.
''Sit. down." Marsden replied, land
will explain everything. " x
His explanation was briefly thiG =