The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-05-12
lis EXPIAIION.
,....BY KATE $. GATES.

familiar 70 me, yet do no seem able
TO place him.
Arthur Henderson, answered Mr..
Sherman.
All! do not recollect anyone by
that name; a mistaken resenr blance
probably. Good-morning ~
Mr., Sherman felt decidedly per-
picked. He was convinced that 1t was
not u mistaken resemblance; there had
been not doubt on Henderson,s face.
He was thinking the matter over In
q troubled way when Henderson came
back.
Il should like a private converse
tion with you at once" he said, and
Mr.. Sherman was struck with the
change in him. He seemed to have
grown twenty years older In that brief
half hour.
did the-gentleman who was here
speak of me 2" he queried an~xiously.
"Only to say that, at fret, he
thought your face seemed familiar, but
he could not recall any n by your
| name" -
Henderson's face grew paler, II pos
sible. He tried to speak, but the
words would not come for several mo-
ments.
Il prefer to tell you myself what he
knows OF me, though L had hoped and
prayed that you need never. know It,"
he said at length.
When | was q young fellow, about
your sons age, 1 went to the city Of d.,
and entered h employ of this gentle
mans elder brother.
81 was from the country. My nearest
living relative, a maiden aunt, had
brought me up in the strictest way
possible. 1t was hardly more than
natural that, with none to restrict me,
[ should be disposed to taste some
hitherto forbidden pleasures.
81 fell In with a rather fast set, and
CITY life bewitched me. | went often
to the theatre, and l learned to play
cards. Unfortunately L was quite
successful at first, and my companions
declared | must bave heen bcrn under
d lucky star.
81 began to think that 1 could make
my fortune at once, If only 1 had q
little ready money. OF course my
up about as fast as I drew it, and then
$500 belonging tommy employer fell
into my hands while he was away.
at went through my mind, like q
flash, If only that was mine, 1 could
double IT., treble it, perhaps, in one
night ! Then came the suggestion to
borrow it; what harm could there be-
l. WOulu fcpdv III Gn0 morning, auu no
one need ever know.
"If you have never been tempted
that way, you can know nothing about
1t. / borrowed it, and lost every cent
| bad that night,
81 cannot tell you how Mortified I
was. 1t seemed to me that I should
lose my reason at first, but, thank
God. l had manlincss enough to con-
TESS.
81 suppose that my employer was
kind. He took no steps against me,
but he discharged me with no recon-
mendation.
"Of course, | could not get work in
d., SO went elsewhere. Twice they
found and recognized mo. 1 wanted
to be honest, [ was truly sorry for my
sin: but when [ came to you 1 was
about discouraged. If you had turned
me away, | think l should have given
up and gone to the dogs.
But o took me, and I vowed to
serve you faithfully, and allow myself
no pleasure of any sort until I had paid
principal and interest Of my indebted
ness.
81 kept that vow. When the last
cent was paid, | fancied that I was free
now to go in and out among my follow
men as one of them. But l was mis-
taken that dreadful cloud will over
shadow me all my days. | cannot get
out from under it. l shall regret to
leave you, but now that you know all
you probably will not care to have me
stay"
Henderson ended with a dry sob,
more touching than a flood of tears.
There was silence for several moments:
then Mr.. Sherman spoke:
II will 40 as / should want anyone
to 90 by my son." he said, huskily.
We will go on as we have. This
shall be between u only, and I will
endeayor to forget it. You have been
strlckly honest since you have been
here. | have no reason to think YOU
VIII not Continue to be. | wish I could
lsoa.n
Mr.. Sherman stretched out his hand,
Henderson looked up.
: You have done all that anyone
, could do" he said. brokcnly. clean.
/, not thank you, but ! will serve you
!, faithfully"
The stranger came back before night
fall. He had recalled Mr.. Henderson,
he said, though he had known him
formerly as Henry Archer.
, 1es,' Mr.. Sherman said coldly,
II am fully acquainted with that
portion OF MI. HendersOn's life. There
is no necessity Of opening the subject
Ihat was all. Everything ap-
parently went on as before, only Hen
derson knew that there was a diff
ference.
Mr.. Sherman was kindness itself,
but he felt that he did not quite like
to have him at his house as before,
and Henderson began to fancy that
he kept q closer watch over every
thing.
"He need not fear" Henderson
thought bitterly. 81 would not take
u penny from him."
He gave up everything he grew
thin and pale, and aged rapidly.
IF there is any such thing as a
broken heart | should say that fellow
had n sure" Ashton said one day,
as he watched him at work. "Im no
baby, but I'm blest If [ don't feel like
one when he Ia 'rouud now"
MIR. sherman made no reply.
Meanwhile Roy ,carle and went in
mis- usual way, but outsiders were
beginning to whisper that young Sher-
man was sowing plentiful crop Of wild
oats.
Henderson watched him closely. and
now ard then made some trivial ex-
cnse, and went of on ~ trip himself.
he could see that Mr.. Sherman was
troubled in mind over these JOURNEYS.
He was sure that he trusted him less
and less. 1t hurt him to the quick,
but he said nothing.
One day, while Row was awav Mn