The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-02-10

terms and emanating from such
source?"
81 will come" I said briefly, for the
cashiers manner affected me with an
inexplicably unpleasant sensation, and
TUNED again to my work.
reached the Day mansion at an
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 ! entered, but
remained standing near the window,
partly embodied by the curtain. I
advanced toward her and timidly Of
fered my hand, which she did not
seem to notice. Resentful, and yet
loving her-oh, more than ever-I
drew back, and said
"Your father invited me, Miss Enid ;
IL 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 1
will go"
paused, hoping she would answer,
but, with her face averted, she re-
mained silent. l waited moment,
looking at her graceful figure with a
foolish mist rising in my eyes. Then
/ turned softly about and was making
my way out of the room, when there
was sudden swish of skirts, 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-eyes that at once
smiled and reproached, promised and
reproved. l 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
an accent of passion and pleading
that must have told her my whole
story, had she been ignorant of it be-
fore.
"Enid Beautiful Enid |"
wave of delicious color swept over
her face and throat. For n 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 oonversed fuently, touching,
as it appeared, casually, upon certain
defalcetions of 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
that sang like joyous bird. l was at
peace with the whole world. Life was
a glorious, gorgeousIthing. The pur-
pie bud of hope seemed to be upon the
point of unfolding into splendid
flower. Rut 1 was reckoning without
Jerome NaYlor.
AS the days went by l became cog
infant of whisper, whose source no
one could trace-a whisper of some
thing wrong in the accounts of the
bank; of money unappropriated, of
books falsi6ed. Absorbed in my
dreams gave no heed to the change
in the demeanor of my fellow clerks,
of the GOODNESS of my employer, of the
glee OF the cashier, Jerome Naylor,
until, without preparation, without
warning, the blow fell / was accused
of robbing the bank of funds en-
trusted to my care.
For the moment I was utterly
stunned, PROSTATE, helpless When
the charge was flung into my teeth 1
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-
dergo an examination. When l en-
tered the room. Mr.. Day, looking sad
and grave, was seated before a small
table covered with books and papers.
At his elbow, with an evil smile upon
his dark features, sat Jerome Naylor.
In loud, angry voice 1 denied the
charge of long and systematic course
of peculation, and demanded the pro-
duction of evidence. Mr.. Day looked
hesitatingly at Naylor, who, drawing
his chair nearer the table, and clear.
ing his throat, began:
81 am sorry to see our young friend
adopting this unwise course, know
ing, as he must, that 1 have q confes-
sion of his wrong doing, under his
own hand and signature.
stared at him open-mouthed. The
internal imprudenoe OF the man abso.
lutely bewildered me.
eyes," he continued, IN a tone oi
profound melancholy, "more than five
years ago detected this unfortunate
young man stealing money from the
bank. charged him with his crime,
and in the agony of his remorse he
wrote a full confession, begging me to
spare him and to give him another
chance. Considering his years, and
the fearful consequences of such an
exposure, consented to condone his
offence, making good his peculations
from my own slender means"
"Noble fellow |" murmured Mr..
Day, grasping his cashiers hand
warmly, while l remained mute, chok'
ing with rage, incapable of uttering q
word in my own defence.
a