Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-10

fostered this girls dislike for her
superior skillfully, and finally enlisted
her aid in dishonorable scheme
which he had formulated.
One day, at noon recess, this girl
went to the foorwalker and in great
excitement declared that a bolt Of
very valuable lace had disappeared
from the counter. The hoorwalkes
accompanied her to the department.
and began a thorough search for the
missing lace. Under the counter he
found a little portfolio containing two
magazines, and between these maga.
zines was hidden the bolt of costly
lace.
"Whoso is this portfolio?" he in
quired, sharply, holding up the lace.
"It belongs to Miss Fairchild," the
girl answered, readily, "but, surely,
sir, you cannot think she would steal
the lace. 1t must be some mistake,
although" she added, as If reluctant.
~, 81 heard her only yesterday say
she would give anything if it belonged
to her."
"When Miss Fairchild returns from
lunch tell her to come to the presi.
dents Office and you accompany her"
said the hoorwalker, turning away to
report the case to Mr.. Harper. When
Mary, who had not been told of the
charge against her, entered Mr.. Har.
per's office in company with her uD.
der clerk, she found the cashier and
the foorwalker with Mr. Harper.
"Miss Fairchild," said Mr.. Harper,
''you are accused of purloining q valu'
able piece of lace from the counter.
Have you anything to say?"
Mary was stunned for moment, but,
conscious of her innocence, soon
found voice to say, with simple digni'
ty, that there must be some mis-
take"
'"This young woman missed the
lace and called Mr. Bray, who found
it in your magazine portfolio. How
did it get there?" asked Mr.. Harper.
81 am sure I do not know" replied
Mary, with great sinking of heart.
1t seemed as if dark abyss yawned
before her.
you do not know, Miss Fairchild,
but I do" said Mr.. Harper, rising
and confronting the cashier, and the
young lace clerk, sternly.
even if I did not know that you
were innocent, L would never have
believed you guilty. But, fortunate
ly, L walked home few nights ago,
behind two of my employees, and over.
heard them plotting this thing to
bring disgrace upon you. Mr.. Mul.
len" he said, turning to the cashier,
"and you, Miss Clark" speaking to
the frightened lace clerk, "are now
dismissed from my employ"
They walked out in silence followed
by the foorwalker, and Mary and
Mr.. Harper were left alone.
Mary had borne herself with so
much dignity through the trial that
the president could not conceal his
admiration. He asked himself if SIZE
were not the woman to install as
mistress of his handsome home, and
it did not take him long to make his
decision. Mary, for her part, sud-
denly realized that Mr.. Harper was
bachelor, good looking and still on
the sunny side OF life, and blush of
embarrassment rose to her cheeks.
When it was time for Miss Fairchild
to make her next semi-annual Eastern
trip she went, not as the lace pur.
chaser, but as the wife of Mr.. Har.
per, who accompanied her. And the
first request that Mary, who could not
bear to think of any one being I'M
happy on her account, made of her
husband, was that he take back the
lace clerk and the cashier into his
employ. And it being her first re-
quest, Mr.. Harper could not refuse,
and Mary's cup of happiness was full g.