The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-10

L.
his private loSbes, and enabled Mr.. Jen-
kns 10 retire from the Arm-as he
promptly announced his intention OF do
inB-wlth a comfortable competence.
! have made my money, and don't
mean TO risk II In business again" re-
marked thls,Nntleman.
| Thanks toihls unexpected stroke az
lhes, Mr.. Aiarrhmont was able 10 look
forward TO the dreaded trust audit with
more compOsure, II was necessary, OF
course, to pflbare a very elaborate
and ilGtltieus-seFies OF accounts TO con-
ceal the real,'facts, but, at least, the
money was there to be handed over, and
recipients are usually satisfied TO re-
eelve theif own, without lRdulging In
TOO close scrutiny as TO how II has been
dealt with ,tipfore 1t arrives in their
hands, MIR. Marohmont WINGED, how
ever, as he saw that Harold Williams,
when he kept the long deferred appoints
ment al the merchants office TO go into
the accounts" had brought his solicitor
with him, 6hrewd keen-eyed, middie-
oged man Of well known ability In the
profession, Nothing. however, could be
more courteous than this gentleman's
demeanor as he explained that his
young client" heing somewhat ignorant
OF businessR had suggested that he
should accompany him and check over
the trust accounts. At least, the money
was Forthcoming, as Marchmont
thought with an Infinite sense OF relief,
but as the quiet lawyer examined the
| accounts IN silence, the miserable
| trustee felt we'll aware that the shrewd
solicitor had accurately gagged the real
condition of AFFAIRS and could penetrate
| ali the ingenious devices whereby fig
ures had been manipulated TO conceal
facts.
Indeed, as Mr.. vivian. the lawyer.
turned over the accounts, he was say
Ing 70 hlmself Exactly as expect
ed; these trust funds have been made
away with and replaced. Well, It's no
business of mine to point this out, and
anyhow, my client has got back bis own
In the end.
But there was q decided GOODNESS In
the tones In which Mr., Vivian thanked
Mr.. Marchmont for the opportunity he
had given them for inspecting his trust
accounts, which were all In due order.
And now we have only TO arrange
for the formal transferrence OF the prop
erty to Mr.. Williams and his sister"
remarked the lawyer as he laid down
thel asst paper.
mo" exclaimed Harold, who, like Mr..
| Marchmont, had noted the coldness of
his lawyers manner to the trustee, mo,
I've something else TO do first,
Both the other men looked at the
speaker IN some surprise.
! II have to ask your forgiveness, SIR
said the youth ingeniously, advancing
| towards Mr. Marchmont. and holding
out his hand II am utterly ashamed
! to confess that, for some while. | have
wronged you, my fathers oldest friend,
and the kind and faithful guardian Of
my own and my sisters interests, by
! wicked and unjust suspicious. Circum-
| stanoes-not worth recalling now-had
led me 10 fancy that--well, I'm fairly
| ashamed to say the words-that--our
money was not quite safe In your keep
| ing. i see now how mistaken-how
wrong was"-here Mr.. Vivian mentally
calculated, WAS he?"-"and ask your
pardon for the wrong did you in my
| thoughts. feel II only due TO you, sir,
TO make this confession. ashamed as
i am 10 have TO do II; but you Will for
| give me. VIII You not?"
There was a pause. Mr. Marchmont
| did not take the offered hand. but sat
stlll, with strange, fixed look upon his
| face
~ was so anxious about Ellie, my lit
| tie sister" went on the young man; I'VE
are all alone In the world. as you know.
| But 10 cruelty misiudged you. sir. l
am at least ready TO acknowledge my
| self utterly in the wrong, and to ask
your forgiveness Were my dear father
here" added the young man with some
| emotion, II am sure he would fully APP
| preciate your kindness to his orphan
children. and thank you as sincerely IA
| do for your noble and conscientious
| fulhllment OF the trust he reposed In
you.n
Mr.. Marchmont slowly staggered to
| his feet: an awful gFayness was OYER
| spreading his face.
III Is-very-touchlng- Misunderstanding
| ing,' he began In u strangely altered
| voice.
Then he suddenly collapsed and fell
| on the fioor-dead as
1.-THE fellow had some conscience after
ALL" thought Mr.. Vivian 70 himself.
| whenever he looked back on2the awful
occurrence, but, lawyerlike, kept his
own counsel,
"Faiiure of the hearts action" was
the medical verdict, with the addendum
| that Mr. Marchmont had been In crit
| lcal state of health.
Harold williams often rePreaches
himself for having, by little additional
excitement, possibly accelerated the ia
| tai catastrophe, but yet, as the young
man once remarked to Mr., Vivian:
~ cannot understand how my merely
| thanking poor Mr. Murchmont should
have affected him so much; II was not
as If anything had been wrong With his
accounts"
Mr.. vivian only coughed in reply, and
| TO the end OF their lives Harold and his
sister believed their trustee to have been
n model OF honesty and rectitude. Yet.
perhaps, as the lawyer had surmised' u
| was Mnrchmont's conscience that had
| killed him after all.