The Van Buren press., 1897-10-30

came hurrying down presently, her
heart all a-nutter with agitation.
Harold, have you found it9s she
asked. huslNily.
He bowed his head, and the glow of
triumphant satisfaction on his face was
pitiful. He led his sister gently along
the hall TO the Old rotting stoop. Here
they sat down In the crimson glow OF
sunrise, aud Harold opened the paper
and read;
Dear Wife, In trying to atone for one
sin | have been guilty OF another-nenhaps
a greater. but, when YOU know all. am
sure You viii fOrEive me. / viii he brief.
When a child ] was left an orphan. \
wealthy and ehildless couple adopted me.
| was reared i'm luxury, aud when Old
enoueh I vas sent eS 10 college While
there / made the acquaintance Ct some
aissluatel Young nfea. ana soon learned
10 drtnk ana gamble. Il was rot Ions aHtl
vas deeply involved iu deht-dehts Of
honor as they were called vas ashamed
"a ask my fasier-fatber for the large sums
needed. 0at being threatened With cSs
posuns 1 promised = satisfy my creditors
en- nv return from vacation, L they would
walt
Banks were not As common then as now,
and / had Learned thst my father kept his
money iu an iron TX in tha STUDY Hls
kevs he always carried With hiu3z The
might before | was % return 10 school
sia1s 10 his room and secured them. l
ha8 Intended t. take ealy = sufficient sum
"a nag my aehts. eu, whea The chest with
{is treasure lay open ccfaFs my eyes 8
wicked impulse ovezfnAsteHed me and /
decided that i al sheuid be nine. packed
the money IN my parlmautezH. locked tNe
box. fastened she study doeH, returaed iht
KEYS u my fathers pockets. and, returning
TO ny room, waited imp9lensly the eoii'
ins af aay. Il CHANGED the following saaFa'
ms. Il being busy season that a servant
could net he SHARED 10 drive me ever te
the railroad ! was e so eNtr alone ano
the team sent for later
srhKra was y swollen stream On my
route and a. / drove IN sight scheme oe.
eurrEa q ne that I had net thought of- ;
stopped the buggy At the waters ease.
Aad izfsng NY grip u the roaoside. eAsi
ne HsIaS over the dashboard. ana t.lef
save tie horses 4 cutting lash fneH
plungea With bound into the muddy
water. / watched them until they resehec
the further Shore, ard then concealed my
self il the weeds They Wot.d think ms
drowned aud mourn me as dead.
That night ! walked to 4 distant sta
ton aaa tex tram for the west AiIel
years af aIniesS wandering ever stune
with nemorse, ! came 10 this place and
opened my farm I resolved 70 make what
restitution vas possible. the larger part
ef ny ill-gotten wealth by tbs time hav'
ing been sQaaadered. So seant WAS the
living that I took fram my farm that j
soon became known a Miser Furgis. was
glad. Tor ID made me more secure IN m!
purpose and my Coneealmeats ] sent the
proceeds of each years crop to the widow
ef my foster-father. for he had died soor
after my flight. I have. at last, returned
evers. dollar Of the stolen money, and the
farm. free from ineumbranee. is yours
This Is my story I need not speak Of ths
remorse. the fear. The suppressed love that
l have felt all the sad years Forgive me
and think Of me as your loving husband,
-. H. FURGIS."
The paper fell fiuttering to the steps
\ breath of air caught and whirled
il out over the tangled weeds. Harold
gazed for moment toward the sunrise
that flared red above the treetops, then
his head sank to his knee and groan
burst from his lips. His sister was
weeping silently, her head on his arm
silent they sat for minutes,
then Hettie looking up through her
tears, said softly: brother, | never
dreamed that it would be like this
There was no answer. He rose and
staggered into the shadow of the door
way.
For weeks there was not a sign of life
~ old lpt l,rir 4
Harold came forth a new man,
and went energetically to work. Now
the tenant housesare occupied, the farm
blossoms as the rose" and handsome
modern structure crowns the eminence.
Harold and Hettie found where their
treasure lay hid.-N. o. Times-Demo-
crat.