The Holly chieftain., 1900-08-10


AT that time. Margaret was N
desperate straits. knsw that Il
money was NOT Forthcoming very
shortly SHOULD lose my position. for
the bank depended very much on this
branch OF It. and had been sent to
work uD connection.
Ny friend wished 10 Invest his
money in some mining shares. but
meantime, for security, PLACED 1t with
me. A terrible temptation seized me.
II coull only secure this money
could kesp.$bs bank AAaat.
= An opportunity came. The devii-
always sets such opportunities for
men. One day my friends son, young
Cleland---"
A strange sound, half cry, half sob,
broke from Margarst's lips; but the
dying man did mo-. haar 1t. He went
on. taxing no notics OF Margaret.
Young Cleland called at the bank.
He had check, payable to himself
from his father. He presented 1t. and
paid It
When he was gone the devil en-
tered into me. BY one stroke Of the
pen could transfer John Cleland's
fortune to myself-at least. sufncient
OF 1t to save my purpose l yielded
TO the temptation: fell.
When John Cleland called gave
him his sons check, with the altered
amount entered in It. He looked at
It. then. without word. rushed from
the once like madman. Shortly
afterward heard that be had died
Immediately ON reaching home. The
doctors said 1t was from shock acting
on deceased heart: but who can
know? Who can tell!
And then again. after the firsk
shock. temptation came to mo. No
one knew of the transaction: he had
not seen his son after leaving me. The
fraud would never be discovered II I
kept silence. for Cleland had told mo
no one knew what amount he wa2
worth. not even his wife. Margaret
l robbed the dead. kept that money;
l saved my reputation and my posi-
tion; and the widow and children had
the remainder of the money which had
been committed to. my charge.
For ten years that sin has been
upon my conscience: but as time
passed, restitution and confession be-
came more and more impossible God
alone knows how fearful my qualms
have been. yet kept silence. have
done nothing to atone. Ny God!
have sold my soul for that miserable
twenty thousand! am lost to all
eternity"
His voice sank, coming now only in
gasps. and a terrible greyness over
spread his face; his breathing became
fearfully labored, and every breath
he drew seemed almost to be the last.
Margaret. her own face pale and
set. looking hardly less deathly than
the dying man, bent over him and
once more held the strengthening
liquid to his lips. But now 1t seemed
to have but little effect. Life had
ebbed too far to be brought back; II
was already almost merged in the
shoreless sea of eternity.
But one thing Margaret must know;
one thing she must be sure Of, ere the
eternal silence fell.
Father" she whispered-and no
one hearing that terrible hollow whis.
per would have thought 1t came from
Margaret Crawford-''let me try to
make restitution. atonement. Only
tell me one thing-what Is the name
of the son OF whom you spoke?"
The fast glazing eyes looked at her
as II uncomprehendingly for mo-
ment; the dying man struggled for
breath.
His name is--Paul Cleland. He
lives" Then the voice died away
into whisper. and there was no
more.
A long. long breath, then a pauss,
another. choking sigh. and the sin
ming soul had passed over into the
presence OF the Judge.
And Margaret Crawford, with ne
tears, but face Of white agony and
despair, kneit by the dead.
Ito be continued.)
I-