Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1897-02-25

SAO Auahc IL COuuItIOO Oh utI 1UtGIe
favor that you should take dinner
with Us tomorrow. So l have deliv-
cred my message. You'll come, OF
course, Naylor:'
Then l saw tha: the cashier had
been standing behind Mr.. Day and
had overheard onr conversation.
!"I shall be delighted, responded
Nrylor, with peculiar glance at me.
"And surely our young friend cannot
resist an invitation couched IN such
terms and emanating from such q
sdurce?"
II will come" I said briefly, for the
cashiers manner affected me with an
inexplicably unpleasant sensation, and
turned again to my work.
| reached the Day mansion at on
early hour the next afternoon, and. as
/ had hoped, yet feared, found Enid
alone in the drawing room. She did
not turn to meet me as l entered, but
remained standing near the window,
partly EMBODIED by the curtain. l
advanced toward her and timidly Of
fered my hand, which she did not
seem to notice. Resentful, and yet
loving her-oh, more than AEA-I
drew back, and said:
"Iour father invited me, Miss Enid
II thought you wished me to come,
or / should not have troubled you. 1t
is not too late now. You might con-
vey my excuses to your father, and l
will go"
paused, hoping she would answer,
but, with her face averted, she re-
NAMED silent. | waited a moment,
looking at her graceful figure with
foolish mist rising IN my eyes. Then
l turned softly about and was making
my way out Of the room, when there
was a sudden swish Of skirts, q quick
tap of little feet upon the carpet. and
my arm was caught and held. l
paused at once, and looking down
caught the CLEAN OF two violet eyes
lifted to mine-eves that at once
smiled and reproached, promised and
reproved. | turned and caught both
the warm little hands IN mine, and,
scarcely conscious Of what did, lifted
them to my lips and kissed them in
turn. Her name seemed to tear it
self from the depths of my bosom with
m accent of passion and pleading
that must have told her my whole
story, had she been ignorant OF 1t be-
! fore.
'Enid Beautiful Enid!"
A wave of delicious color swept over
her face and throat For a second her
| hands trembled in mine, nay, clung to
them; her beautiful head dropped !;
her eyes sought my eager gaze. and
| fell; then, with q quick gesture, she
withdrew herself. and IN cool, even
tones welcomed Mr. jerome Naylor,
who pushed aside the portiere and
walked quietly into the room.
Had he seen, had he overheard any
portion of our interview? 1t was i'm
possible to Judge. He was gallantly
respectful toward Enid, and frank and
friendly toward me. During the din
ner he couversed huent]v, touching,
as it appeared, casually, upon certain
| defacatlons OF q trusted clerk IN a
bank with which we held intimate
business relations. Once, and only
once, | thought ] detected that male
violent glance fixed upon me; but if I
was right it passed like flash, and
was not repeated.
left the Day mansion with heart
.hat sang like u joyous bird. l was at
peace with the whole world. Life was
a glorious, gorgeousathlng. The pur-
/ pie bud OF hope seemed TO be upon the
point OF unfolding into splendid
flower. Rut | was reckoning without
Jerome Naylor.
As the days went by I became cog.
infant OF u whisper. whose source no
one could traces whisper of some
thing wrong IN the accounts of the
bank; OF money unappropriated, of
books fasitied. Absorbed in my
dreams l gave no heed to the change
in the deneanor Of my fellow clerks,
Of the GOODNESS of my employer, of the
glee OF the cashier, Jerome Naylor,
until, without preparation, withou,
warming, the blow fell was accused
of robbing the bank of funds en-
trusted to my care.
For the moment | was utterly
stunned, PROSTATE, helpless! When
the charge was flung into my teeth
stared. stammered, stood thunder
struck, unable to defend myself. or to
comprehend the magnitude Of the
crime of which | was declared guilty
| was commanded to appear before
my employer, at his residence, to un
iergo an examination. When l en-
tered the room. Mr.. Day, looking sal
and grave, was seated before a small
table covered with books and papers
At his elbow, with an evil smile upor
his dark features. sat Jerome Naylor
In loud, angry voice | denied tn,
charge OF long and systematic cours.
OF peculatlon, and demanded the pro
duction Of evidence. Mr. Day LOOKED
. hesitntinely AZ Nayior. who, drawin.
his chair nearer the table, and clear
ing his throat, began:
Il am sorry to see our young frlent
, adopting this unwise course. know
ing, as be must, that | have contes
sion OF his wrong doing. under HI
. own hand and signature.
l | stared at HIN open noutned. .Th'
internal Imprudence Of the man aoso
, l,,ta1r ,axr, Sarai ma