The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-05-19
your absence lasted for but few min.

your absence lasted for but few min
uteS."
Sir Loghlen and the baronet eX-
changed significant glances.
While Sydney, remembering, STAN
mered. s.Yes-true, true; but it was
only to take from my portmanteau
money which-which-
And a painful thought concerning
even the notes which he had used now
recurring to his mind, he stopped ap-
ruptly in his speech.
DO YOU mean to assert that you had
property at your disposal to so large
an amount as 1882" demanded Mr.;
Kennedy.
And not a doubt was now left in the
bankers mind that it was with his
property that Sydney's gambling debts
had been paid.
Sydney had not been sufficiently long
with the firm to have saved from hls
somewhat moderate salary the rather
large sum of which he was now def
cient.
And in every eye, save those of
Frances only, did Sydney read his con-
demnation.
"Oh, heayen!" the young man moan
ed; .'you cannot surely believe that
have been guilty Of
He shuddered violently, and could
proceed no further.
II did not know that you were
gambler" said the banker, darkly
frowning; land fear that you have
singularly repaid the confidence which
has been placed in you, and have very
badly requited Sir Loghlen O'Meara
for his generous interest on your be-
half"
And Sydney moaned with the agony
which was rending his heart.
And Frances wept, and would not
believe in Sydney's guilt 1t was I'M
possible, she told herself-impossible.
And then she entreated, implored
Sydney that he would defend himself.
But the poor young man was silent;
for what could he have said that his
accusers would have believed?
And Stanley was saying to himself,
81 shall be able to sleep in peace now
And, in thinking thus, was guilty of
no libel against himself.
Mr.. Kennedy had expressed his in
tention of Immediately giving Sydney
into custody; his duty to his part
ners, and to every clerk whom the
firm employed, demanded that
Frances was mute with terror; but
Sir Ioghlen entreated that the banker
would not proceed to that terrible eX-
tremity The baronet would himself,
he said, make good the sum which the
unhappy clerk had distracted, If only
Mr. Kennedy would promise to take no
step beyond that OF instantly discharg-
ing the wretched young man from the
service Of the firm.
And the banker was at length, and
with great difficulty, brought to prom
Use that he would not prosecute sgd
ney. but would not, he said, consent
to receive from Sir Loghlen the amount
which mis- guilty clerk had misappro-
priated.
But Sir Loghlen insisted on repaying
the money, for it was in his mansion
that Sydney had been tempted to the
committal of the crime.
And that arranged: "Go, unhappy
Young man." said the baronet. DE
ceived in you, | can never more have
faith in human being
sydney essayed to speak, but vain
ly. He was stunned beyond the pow
er of words. Sobbing loudly, and
without daring to raise his head, even
to cast a look toward the woman he
so idolized the poor, unjustly branded
clerk staggered from the room and
presently found himself in the street.
fearing-as though he were indeed the
thief which surely some Internal com
bination had made him to appear-the
eyes of every one he met, or who pass
ed him on his way.
And he asked himself: "Was not all
that had Just occurred to him a terri
BILE dream? And before heretofore
Frances-he had been accused, and,
worse than the accusation itself, had
been the contemptuous pity which had
led them to spare him a felonS cell!'
And his brain began to wander and
earnestly he hoped that soon he would
become entirely mad.
The sorrow of Sir Loghlen at Sgd
ney's supposed infamy was very great;
the misery which Frances was endur-
ing will be easily comprehended; but
Totally crushing as seemed the evil
dence which bore against him whom
she so greatly loved, still had she, and
because she loved him, a firm faith in
his innocence; still had she confidence
that Sydney was, as from the first she
had believed him, a pattern of all that
was good and noble.
And Stanley was chuckling to HIM
self: Now. dear uncle, ask of me the
name of him whom you are seeking,
and | will not hesitate to tell it to
YOU
Go Be Continued)