New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-07


was about this time that Robert became his en-
ployer's confidential clerk He knew as much
about the business Us Mr.. Hollander himself
knew | was wild for money then. | was decon-
tented and unhappy. | was constantly telling my
husband that he must get money in some way
Now YOU must know that Robert isn't strong
man in some respects. and that he Is wonGcriuliy
strong In other ways That's the way with us all
fancy only in not so marked degree
I'm to blame for 1t all; can see that plainly
enough You don't care for the particulars 81 the
affair. Robert. eager to get money FOR me, wheh
he saw an opportunity acted. You don't remem-
Der reading in the papers about the lIollander
frauds You were too young. Rachel Cobb
showed yOu few paragraphs The transaction
involved the firm. Roberts spoils We're S2ooOo-
not large frauds 60 In these days. but IL seemed
a great deal to me then. And he put the whole
sum into my hands and sent me abroad Mind
YOU. | knew 1t was a fraud, and helped him with
my acuter brain.
Eve thought. as crmir ais usually think, that
we should not be found out. Everything would be
squared up before discovery. 1t was great
deal But he crash came. nevertheless and
Hollander was disgraced utterly as we'll rs made
poor man What does Robert ID then? He
comes forward and confesses that IL was he who
had done this thing. he who was guilty, ana that
he had used Hollander's name to float the thing
People talked about the affair for time; it was
little more interesting than the ordinary embez-
element and for some reason IL generally
believed that really the power that had
moved the puppet to make a criminal of himself
My extravaganza. this thing and that were dwelt
upon. Mrs. Hol;ander started all that. OF course
the woman didn't feel too kindly toward me- she
and her husband had TO move into poor part OF
the city and take boarders for a living. They
didn't have even $4,000. You may be sure that
| arranged 90 that | needn't lose that. | was
smart | learning - sing. Robert was SEN
fenced 20 eleven years hard labor. They par
donel him at the end Of ten years for good be
haviOr
Meantime ! had become famous. ! took my
maiden name. but some ferret OF newspaper
man published few facts In the case. was
famous ali the sane and the crowds came to near
At irst used to think about Robert. but
grew TO think less and less about him. Why
should remember him? 1t did him no good. II
must have been curious remnant of sentiment
that made me go TO that old house in Wall!ngfori
that made me take You there last winter. 1t
there Robert and spent the first few months
after our marriage; and Robert came there from
prison. Poor fellow He kept right on loving me
all the time"
Miss Runciman who had been sitting up
the lounge. now laid herself back on the pillows
perfectly still. ! feeling very far
from her. | was wondering if there were many
people Ike her in tho world. And did those men
and women who had committed crimes have
any realizing sense" Of what they had done?
Did the capacity to do an evil decd nullify the
capacity to repent Of It? Did people repent jus;
from pure sorrow for their actions. or only when
those actions brought suffering to them? And
what did God. God who really knows us. think
Of us? To be Gods child is 70 be loved by Him.
and understood by Him-so He understands why
we do a bad act.
Mother believes that God looks tcndcrly upon
a wicked child
How does lie look upon woman Ike Leonora
Runcman?
rose from my place on the footstool by the
lounge walked to the edge Of the piazza and
leaned against one OF the pillars.
There was my father. He had cheated people.
l was convinced that It was his practice to cheat
whenever he could do SO. And | was quite sur"
that his conscience never troubled him. ana that
ne only troubled when he ala not succeed.
But mother-sh" was upright-she was a per
son Of integrity.
Billy"
1t Miss Runciman who spoke.
| went back 10 the lounge. The pale attractive
face toward me. and the eyes were looking
earnestly al me.
II knew YOU would feel Just YOU feel
ing she said. "but had strong wish tot toll YOU.
That's another marked weakness ~ humanity
the tendency TO confess. Now. why should
have told YOU this? Such telling serves no pur-
pose whatever | simply wished YOU 10 know
about me- My inhibitve power ought 70 have
kept silent. But It did not. | have riskcd
your feeling. thrust away from me by my evil
deeds. It's a strange thing that I'm not made
unhappy by the thought Of them. ought to be
unhappy"
Here she coughed. When she could speak she
said: Il wish you would sit down here again"
| resumed my place. She put ont her hand
| and clasped mine
ITS such a strong young hand" she said
And now I'm going 10 talk about your future
! You are going 20 study under Marchesa Oh
| yeas ! started uncontrollably-"yo grow
pale at the very thought-and no wonder.
have made my Will have saved some money
| II don't die. YOU have the money all the same
| $1,000. That will be enough FOR the way YOU will
| live | propose that you and your mother 70
this fall. ] have already written TO Marchesa
concerning YOU. II Is not yet time for reply
! can see your future Respondent To sing-to
move hearts-to make the blood eap-to play
| upon the pulses'-
Miss Runciman rose TO a sitting position. A
bright red came to her face She began to cough
again After a time she took up her talk once
more.
Il grateful that you didn't become
tangled with my nephew she said.
| could not help quick, slight movement. I
| could rot tell whether she noticed this move
rnent She on:
Such an ENHANCEMENT would m 9, likely be
| fatal TO your future a singer. Yes I'm very
glad that such a thing did not happen. Billy.
| suddenly.
Miss Runcman seized my arm and pulled me
| down toward her. She looked alarmed could
see that. even in the midst Of my own confusion
You know warned YOU she exclaimed.
Does warning eyer DO any gOOd?' ! asked. |
| had on the moment. made a resolve.
| withdrew myself somewhat and tried to look
in Mas Runclmans face as said:
"Vane and are married"
| WHAT
| But did not think Of repeating my words
I could not have spoken again Immediately
The look that came into the Countenance before
me had very strange effect-it frightened me
| thoroughly. But why should Miss Runcman's
| eyes iii with horror?
| She stared AT mo an instant In silence. Then
she reused herself and looked about' her as If in
| search Of some
Where Is Roberto" she asked. Find Rob
| ert Cor me"
| Without any response In words turned and
| went along the yard toward the path that led
TO the river. II in this direction that Mr.
| Dreer hal gone for walk. lie was never away
for moro than an hour | should be likely to
| meet him. had no more than reached the bars
| OF the fence when Miss Runclman called me
| quickly
| | hurried back to her. She standing
| with CLAIMED ahnilf q Of fnD