Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-29

shaven. Elizabeth sobbed, but her
courage did not escape She arose
went up to him and said:
Il am glad you are here"
He raised his head. He could, not
speak at first, however hard he tried.
Tears came to his eyes and theh ran
down his face. Again Elizabeth said
and there was that in her voice to give
a much weaker man strength:
Courage"
Young Gaylord's voice came to him.
| He said:
This means State prison."
Elizabeth shuddered, but William a.d
not. For moment he was the
stronger Of the two. At length she
said:
Not yeti"
Young Gaylord looked at her as if he
scarcely comprehended. Then she
added:
There is always hope"
This reused him and brought him
back to himself He said:
mot for me-"
"Let us see Tell me all.'
Have you not heard?"
Something from my father, but per-
haps not all. Tell me"
In four words: robbed the bank"
"Yes, l know. But that is not all"
and Elizabeth gently laid her hand on
his arm. Il have come to see you," she
added, Ito help you, if l can. Will you
woman but l trust, true woman, and
one who must be convinced that her
ideal of true manhood is unworthy of
her faith before she will give that
ideal up.
MY trust in you tells me that there
is something yet to be uncovered, and
may not one as leal as | am claim all
loyalty from you? Tell me all, William,
and then | can decide f. myself that
which l cannot permit even you,
under cloud beyond which l cannot
see, to decide for me. Come, then,
tell me ALL"
The young man looked at her stead
fastly moment and then said:
Il will tell you all. But, why should
l? 1t may break your heart for, sure
ly, it will shatter your faith where l
had rather be adjudged a felon than
have it broken. Besides, you may not
believe me. Your father is the presi-
dent of the bank
But | will believe you-I must be-
lieve you. My faith. unto the pleading
Of my heart, is pledged. My trust in
you is immutable until you have made
my mind turn traitor to yourself, and
led it to doubt my own sincerity. Do,
William, tell me ALL"
Why should | break your heart, and
destroy in you q trust which must
make you miserable for life, and make
you despise me forever? 1t is better
that l should bear this burden alone,
for by so doing l may retain, or at
least some time regain, some share in
your esteem"
William, love you! Now, tell me
ALL"
Young Gaylord hesitated only until
he had looked into her pleading eyes.
Her hand now clasped his own. He
saw her love in all its sweetness and
purity unfolded as plainly as he had
an hour before seen the anguish upon
his stricken mothers face. He spoke:
God forgive me if do wrong! You
remember, Elizabeth. that two years
ago | was made cashier of the bank
by your father. Ny hands were then as
clean of crime as my mothers name
was above suspicion. | worked faith
fully. My salary was small. | do not
plead LnIs in eXtenuation OF my error,
but it was wholly out of comparison
with my duties. The directors were
close listed men. At the end of year
| asked for larger salary.
The directors said they could get
competent and more experienced men
for what | was receiving. My good
mother had only income enough to sus-
tain her properly, and my salary bare
ly kept me decently. | saw no pros
pect of making home of my own.
But | plodded along. Eagerness to ad-
vance in the world sharpens the wits.
One day discovered that the directors,
your father included, were specializing
in mining trust. One discovery led
to another, | was not long finding out
that they sometimes used the bank
deposits to add to their personal gains.
1T was easy for me to persuade my
self that if the officers could make
money in this way, | could not fail to
do so. Six mon,hs ago | began to use
my own money. | had saved nearly a
thousand dollars. | went into the min
ing trust. At first l made a little
money, and had $500. Then went
deeper. Meanwhile the banks officers
were speculating. The trust began to
| go backward and l began to steal
| The officers were doing the same. They
could keep going because their oppor-
tunities were better. They had easier
access to the funds.
1.-THE deposits were running low.
| Three days ago the officers called me
into their private room. They had
discovered my speculations and told me
So | confessed, and asked for three