Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-04-22
I'VE were too happy" she sigf ed.
But It is Gods win. mother
'YeS John. II Ia Coda v,lll -

'The mater is right. dad" said he
ut Is bad enough. heaven knows, but
we must not take too dark view OF
1t. After all. this insolent letter Is In
itself evidence that had nothing to dc
with the schemes of the base Villain
who wrote It."
"They may think it prearranged."
"They could not. My whole life cries
out against the thought. They could
not look me in the face and entertain
it."
mo. boy. not If they have eyes in
their heads" cried the admiral. pluck
Ing up courage at the sight Of the flash
ing eyes and brave. defiant face. 1--WE
have the letter and we have your char
acter. Wen weather 1t yet between
them. It's my fault from the begin
ming for choosing such a landshark fol
your consort. God help me, though,
was finding such an opening for you. y
"Dear dad! How could you possibly
know? AS he says in his letter. 1t has
given me a lesson. But he was so much
older and SO much more experienced,
that it was hard for me to ask to ex-
anime his books. But we must waste
no time. I must go to the city,"
what will you do?'
what an honest man should do.
will write to all our clients and credi-
tors, assemble them, lay the whole mat
ter before them. read them the letter
and put myself absolutely in theif
hands,"
That's 1t. boy-yardarm to yardarm
and have 1t over"
II must go at once" He put on his
top-coat and his hat. "But have ten
| minutes vat haforo NQtNh the
train. There is one little thing which
I must do before start"
He had caught sight through the Ions
glass folding door Of the CLEAN OF
white blouse and a straw hat In the
tennis ground. Clara used often to
meet him there Of morning to say
few words before he hurried away into
the city. He walked out now with the
quick. firm step Of man who has TAX
en- momentous resolution, but his race
was haggard and his lips pale.
Clara" said he. as she came toward
him with words Of greeting. Il am sor-
~ to bring i'll news to you, but things
have gone wrong in the city. and-and
I think ought to release you from your
engagement"
Clara stared at him with her great
questioning dark eyes. and her face be-
| came as pale as his.
How can the city affect you and me.
Harold?"
''It is dishonor. I cannot ask you 70
share It,"
"Dishonor! The loss of some miser-
able gold and silver coins!'
ooh, Clara, if 1t were only that! We
could be far happier together in lit
tie cottage in the country than with all
the riches Of the city. Poverty could
not cut me to the heart. as have been
cut this morning. Why, it Is but twenty
minutes since I had the letter, Clara.
and 1t seems to me to be some old, old
thing which happened far away In my
past life, some horrid black cloud
which shut out all the freshness and
the peace from it."
But what is 1t, then? What do you
fear worse than poverty?"
ITO have debts that I cannot meet.
To be hammered down upon change
and declared bankrupt. To know that
others have just claim upon me and
to feel that dare not meet their eyes.
Is not that worse than poverty?"
Eyes. Harold. a thousand fold worse!
But all this may be got over. Is there
nothing more?"
MY partner has fed and left me re-
sponsible for heavy debts, and in such
a position that may be required by
the law to produce some at least of
this missing money. 1t has been con-
fided to me to invest, and he has en-
bezzled 1t. ], as his partner, am liable
for it. have brought misery on all
whom I love-my father, my mother.
But you at least shall not be under the
shadow. You are free. Clara. There
is no tie between u.s."
1T takes two to make such tie,
Harold" said she, smiling and putting
her hand inside his arm. "It takes two
to make 1t, dear, and also two to break
it. Is that the way they do business
In the city. sir, that man can always
at his own sweet will tear up his en-
gagement?'
You hold me to it, Clara?"
mo creditor SO remorseless as 1.
Harold. Never. never. shall you get
from that bond"
But I am ruined. My whole life Is
blasted"
And so you wish to ruin me. and
blast my life also. No, indeed, sir, you
shall not get away so lightly. But
seriously now, Harold, you would hurt
me II it were not so absurd. Do you
think woman's love Is like this sun
shade which carry In my hand, a thing
only fitted for the sunshine, and of no
use when the winds blow and the clouds
gather?"
II would not drag you down. Clara"
SHOULD not be dragged down In
deed IL left your side at such time
It is only now that can be Of use to
you. help you, sustain you. You have
always been SO strong. so above me.
You are strong still, but then two will
be stronger. Besides. sir. you have no
idea what a woman Of business am.
Papa says 30, and he knows"
Harold tried to speak. but his heart
was too full. He could only press the
white hand which curled round his
sleeve. She walked up and down by his
side, prattling merrily, and sending lit
tie CLEANS of cheeriness through the
gloom which girt him in. To listen to
her he might have thought it was Ida.
and not her staid and demure sister.
who was chatting to him.
ut will soon be cleared up" she said.
land then we shall feel quite dull. OF
course all business men have these lit