The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-28

+ is he not?"
cl sar. IF anything happened to him L
should break my heart"
A ,roken neact," he nurmurei as she
walked away. Would that be worse than
a gnawing pain in ones breast that gives
one no rest? It would be sooner over at
and was taken home.
1t was a week after this meeting. and
within month of the completion of the
year of probation when Eric came one
evening into Sidney Bournes sitting room.
Sidney looked up, but did not speak; 1t
was long time since Eric had sought
him in this way. He sat down at a
little distance.
Am l intecrupting you?" he asked. Il
want to tell you sUnething
Il am quite at your service.
Eric did not seem to find 1t easy to be-
gin. He leaned forward in his chair,
clasping and unclas ping his hands.
Il wonder If you will be surprised to
hear that 1 am a blackgu1rd and a
theft" he said, forcing the words out at
your"
II led you to suppose that Lawson had
accepted my book; he did not. You think
1 have been honestly earning f6O0 year;
l have stolen more than GlO0 of it from
YOU.
Indeed! In what way?"
II copied some things of yours WORD
IOT VOTQ, ana SOlu tH6Uu at d Hl6hCl pAlSO
than anything of mine has ever fetched.
You left your manuscript book down
here the night my novel was returned; |
took it up to put away, and the book
fell open where you had been writing.
glanced at the last page, and my atten-
ton was caught and held. l told myself
that it was a shame to waste such stun
as that for a whim: because you were too
Indifferent, or so over-fastidious that you
would not publish. l was too tired In
body and mind to earn the required
amount myself in the time left. so l
stole your work, knowing that there was
little fear of discovery. as you rarely
look at the magazines or go out into the
world l though l never need tell you;
l thought l could marry Lillian by
cheat-but l can't. l have had no peace
since 1 did 1t; you cannot loathe and de-
spise me more than l despise myself.
What do you intend to do now?"
'Give you back the money l have stolen
and tell Mr. Blandford that have failed.
l think 1 shall go abroad; l could not
bear to see Lillian again. That is. If you
will let me go. l suppose you can put
me in the dock If you like and publish
my shame to the world. 1t would be no
more than deserve
Yes | suppose l could.
II do not ask for your forgiveness; it
Is too much to expect. / put myself in
your hands entirely. l will only say that
| think / must have been mad at the
time. | did not know it was in me to fall
so low.
Your conduct was certainly a little
outside tie ordinary code of nonor."
THE editor of The Empire was so
pleased with your work that he has of
fered me a post on the staff, which would
more tina nmake up the income required
by Mr.. Blandford: 1t is a little curious,
is it not?" And he laughed.
You say that you put yourself in my
hands" Sidney said slowly. You will
follow any course l suggest?"
Absolutely. l should be thankful to
make any atonement l could to show you
that at least my repentance is sincere.
Then say nothing and marry Lillian
Blandford"
Eric sprang to his feet.
You don't know what you are say
ing" he cried hoarsely. Il am not fit to
touch her hand
Perhaps not but she thinks you are.
and-and I Is a fancy of mine that she
should not b. made unhappy l knew
all about this a week ago. when l read
one of my stories in The Empire under
your name.
And you said nothing?"
No / waited to see what YOU would
do II YOU had kept silence all through
then / should have spoken. 1t would not
have been fair to let any girl rarry in
ignorance of such man as you would
| have proved yourself then. Now 1t is
different l am not afraid of you for the
| future
SBut-but." Eric stamm cred, dropping
| into a chair, it seems too much-that
| Won should show me such goodness after
| all | have done! l don't know what to
say"