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

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 / remained mute, chok-
ing with rage, incapable OF uttering
word 10 my own defence.
"But in view Of these latter develop
ments." went on the cashier, 81 feel
that 1 should do wrong 20 withhold
the truth any longer.
"Sureiy! surely!" calculated Mr..
Day, gazing at me sadly. "But l
would never have believed it of you,
Trescott. Never! !"
"May see that paper purporting
to be my confession: asked, finding
my voice at last.
"Do not let it pass out of your
hand, Mr.. Day." interposed Nsylor,
hastily.
81 do not desire TO touch it, Il said.
"1f Mr.. Day will allow me to look at
1t as it lies upon the table before him,
it will suffice
Then | bent over and read; and as
| read the letters swan before my
eyes, and thrill of utter terror seized
my limbs. for there, IN my own hand
writing, was shameful confession of
sin and degradation. Ny own hand
writinge No! thousand times, no |!
| knew that 1t was not, that my fingers
had never penned those damuing
p,,R ~
ference? Who would nail the foul
forgery? No one, no one! For the
moment | felt crushed and wholly
lost.
AS I stood hiding my face in my
hands, feeling that in another moment
/ must sink 10 the floor, there was
light, quick step behind me, ,<the rus
tie Of skirts, a soft touchson my arm
81 do not-I cannot think wrong of
you, Reginald" murmured voice
that thrilled every nerve IN my frame.
"Father. let me look at that paper. ="
Mr. Day would have objected; Jer-
ono Naylor, with white face, at
tempted to snatch the paper from her
grasp, but she WAS too quick for him,
and taking the written sheet to the
window she stood studying it long and
attentively.
I watched her breathlessly. 1t
seemed to me that life, love, honor,
the whole future, lay in the next
words she should utter. and Naylor,
with his drawn, ghastly face, and the
old man, with his sorrowful, benig-
nant aspect, watched her too.
Presently she came toward us again,
and the look she cast upon me. was one
of mingled love, pride and triumph.
She. went to her fathers side, opposite
the cashier, and bending q cold, con-
temptuous glance upon his white face,
said in slow, even tones:
"Mr. Naylor, | have been an unseen
auditor Of this interview-anl leaves-
dropper. II you llke-and / heard YOU
tell my father that this paper is con-
fession OF dishonesty, written eby Mr..
Reginald Trescott, five years ago, and
contided to your hands. Am [ right?'
Naylor bowed silently. His dry
lips would not give egress to the
words.
"Well, then, Jerome Naylor, you
lied."
Her voice rang out with the clear
ness of bell. For an instant there
was dead silence IN the room; then
Mr.. Day made n gesture OF protest.
"My daughter" he began, but she
checked him.
''Let me speak. father she said.
81 know you wish to do justice be
tween these two. This man." she
pointed at Naylor, ''is false hearted,
unworthy of your confidence, a liar
and forger. This man." touching
me upon the arm, sis innocent, hon
orable and incapable Of fnlsehood.
will prove It," Looking Navlor, who
seemed scarcely able to stand, straight
IN the face, she continued IN the same
bell-llke tones. "Here Is confession
which purports to have been written
in May, 1881, bnt it IS on paper that
was not made until 1887, Will Mr..
Naylor please to explain:"
"What do You mean" cried Mr..
Day. in amazement.
"Look. father!" said Enid, holding
the sheet up before tae light. ''Dc
you see that water marx? 'Amoskeae
Mills, 1897.
Mr.. Dav gave but a glance, ther
turned darkly frowning face upon
Naylor.
"Can vou explain this;' be asked
Once, twice, jerome n aylor essayed
to speak, but could not. Then. a
length, hoarso murmur escaped HI:
lips:
Il loved her, and l knew she loved
him.
That was al. Staggering like a mar
strlchen blind, pitifuav grop.ng to
ward the door, he left the room and
the house.
He never returned 70 his desk a. tbs
bank, and IN due course | became
cashier IN bis place. ho.d 'he water
mark beyond price, both because i
saved me from ruin all Disgrace, an
because It aided me 70 win ,ae sweet
est and noblest wife that ever .e.l tc
the lot OF undeserving MAJ 4
II Great Glacial Bowlter
One of the largest glacial bow lder