Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-07-13

thinks 81 ms. nalIsred Harry.
The thought Of M solting marri-
ed quite upset him. I'm sorrv, too
for Preston 10 the best man in the
world; and ifI'd psyer net Florence
-. he stopped and rhuddered
ct the mere possibility
Three months passed. The af-
fection which Preston onoe felt Tor
his younger partner ~ lnFocd =
I iselQns hesred Al ~
we'll he'd not mentioned his engage
msnt, John did not donbt that
Harry had won the love Of Florence
Hamilton. It was common talk
abont town, that Bidwell had cap
tured the belle from Denver; and it
was evident that Florsnce preferred
Harry's society to thst Of her other
men scquaintancss, while for Pres
ton she had only the civil bow and
speech which yonng girls usually
gave him.
The men still occupied their
rooms at che hotel, and were to-
gether al day ct the bank. but
Preston avoided his partner ~ much
% possible. he had grown to al
most loathe the sight Of the man
whom he had been 90 intimately
connected for years, and when Har-
~ wandered into Johns room and
threw himself upon the broad
couch-his old lounging place
Preston sometime felt an almost ir-
resistible desire to lay violent
hands upon the person whom he
thought he loved better than any
being on earth. Oddly enough,
Bidwsll did not notice the change
which had come over Preston, and
he often goaded his partner almost
10 madness BY the confidential
chats which he unwittingly forced
upon him.
To Preston, life was becoming
insuEerabls. He tried to bury
himself in business D1t his
thoughts persistently strayed to his
hopeless passion. On several oc-
casions he resolved to boldly pro-
claim his love, but each time his
courage failed him; he was not &C.
customed TO being baked in his de-
sires, and the thought of hearing
from Florence's own lips that she
loved another made him quail. he
took every preesation 70 -assrd his
secret. and affected stolid indiff-
erence whenever Misa Hamilton's 4
name was mentioned, but it took
all his iron will to prevent the be-
trayal Of his true feeling.
One afternoon, in September,
when the partners we're alone in the
bank, Harry suddenly looked up
from his occupation Of counting
the days deposites, and said
sFlorencs ID going home next week.
John made . cluck in his throat.
BE could not trust himself to speak
ct once. The mere mention oi
Florence's name by Bidwell had
come to infiams him almost beyond
endurance. He thought that Har'
| ry was now about to inform Of hil
engagement, and John felt that hs
could not undergo the tortue with
out losing self-control.
Have you the money counted |?
he asked. abruptly.
Bidwell nodded.
Il will open the vault for you; i
| 10 almost closing time," said Pres
.on. He crossed the room ani
swung open the heavy door. Harr!
began carrying in the canvas bag
Of coins, and arranging them OF
the shelves Of the little steel.wallet
room. As he passed in with tn
last bag Of change. Bidwell said
There 10 something l want to tel
you about Florence and myself.
meant to have told you sooner, bu
ii l. not 20 easy to tell as it nigh
SEEM He paused and smiled .
Preston for encouragement.
| But Preston misinterrupted tha
half-sad smile. His evil geniu
whispered that Bidwell had beef
possessed Of his secret during a
this time, and was now mockin
him in triumph. He quickl
averted his face. The cold bin
eyes we're glittering and the squar
/ jaws worked convulsively.
/ Harry was obliged to pass to th
rear Of the vanlt on his last triT
and, a. he saw him disappear in II
ssmi-darkness Of the little room,