The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-12-17

}WlHceQ, however, Ms ne saw tAAt f1afOlQS
Williams, when he kept the long-deferred
go into tho accounts" had brought his
solicitor with him.. a shrewd, keen-eyed,
middle-aged man of well-known ability
in the profession. Nothing, however,
could be more courteous than this gentle
mans demean0r as.he explained that This
young client, being somewhat ignorant Of
business" had suggested that he should
accompany him and check over the trust
accounts. At least the money was forth
coming, as Marchmont thought, with an
infinite sense of relief, but as the quiet
lawyer examined the accounts IN silence
the miserable trustee felt aware that the
shrewd solicitor had accurately gagged
the real condition of affairs, and could
penetrate all the ingenious devices where
by figures had been manipulated to con-
ceal facts.
Indeed, as Mr.. Vivian, the lawyer,
turned over the accounts he was saying
to himself: Exactly as / expected.
These trust funds have been made away
with and replaced. Well, it's no bust
ness OF mine to point this out, and, any
the end"
But there was a decided GOODNESS in the
tones in which Mr.. Vivian thanked Mr..
Marchmont for the opportunity he had
given them for inspecting his trust ac-
counts, which We're all in due order.
And now we have only to arrange for
to Mr.. Williams and his sister, re-
marked the lawyer as he laid down the
NO." exclaimed Harold, who, like Mr..
MatchmOnt, had noticed the GOODNESS of
his lawyers manner to the trustee, mo,
Eye something else to do first"
hut the other men looked at the speak
er in some surprise.
Il have to ask your forgiveness, SIR
said the youth ENORMOUSLY, advancing to-
ward Mr.. Marchmont and holding out his
hand. II am utterly ashamed to confess
that for some time l have wronged you,
my fathers oldest friend and the kind and
faithful guardian of my own and my Sis
ter's interests, by wicked and unjust sus-
plciOnS. Clrcumstances-nOt worth recall
ing now-had led me to fancy that-well,
I'm fairly ashamed to say the words
that-our money was not quite safe in
your keeping. l see now how mistaken
how wrong l was''-here Mr.. Vivian
mentally calculated, "Was he?" land l
ask your pardon for the wrong did you
in my thoughts. feel it only due to you,
l am to have to do it, but you will for
give me, will you not?'
There was Il pause. Mr.. Marchmont
did not take the proffered hand, but sat
still, with strange, fixed look upon his
face.
II was so anxious about Ellie, my little
sister, went on the young man. 1--WE
but if / cruelty misjudged you, sir, l am
at least ready to acknowledge myself ut
terly in the wrong and to ask your for
giveness. Were my dear father here"
added the young man, with some emo
ton, g! am sure he would fully appreciate
your kindness to his orphan children and
thank you sincerely as do for your noble
reposed in you"
Mr.. Marchmont slowly staggered to his
feet, all awful grayness oyerspreading his
face.
"1t is - very y touching-and-grat atty
ing he began in strangely altered
voice.
Then he suddenly collapsed and fell OH
the foor-dead.
'The fellow had some conscience, after
ALL" thought Mr.. Vivian to himself,
whenever he looked back on the awful
occurrence, but, lawyerlike, kept his own
counsel.
"Failure of the hearts action" was
the medical verdict, with the addendum
that Mr.. Marchmont had long been in
critical state of health.
Harold Williams often reproached him
self for having by little additional ex-
citement possibly accelerated the fatal
catastrophe, but vet, as the young man
once remarked to Mr.. Vivian:
Il can't understand how my merely
thanking poor Mr. Marchmont should
have affected him so much. 1t 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 model of rectitude Yet perhaps,
as the lawyer had surmised, it was
Marchmont's "conscience" that had
killed him, after all.-HousehOld Words