Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-02-27

The worst of It is done. Why could
you not say at first there was enough
for two? Two?" he repeated. AYE,
and for two hundred! But come away
from here, where we may be observed,
and, for the love of wisdom, straighten
out your hat and brush your clothes.
You could not travel two steps the fig
ure of fun you look just now"
While Harry mechanically adopted
these suggestions. the gardener, get
ting upon his knees, hastily drew to-
gether the scattered jewels and return
ed them to the bandbox. The touch of
these costly crystals sent shiver Of
emotion through the mans stalwart
his eyes shone with concupiscence. In
deed it seemed as if he luxuriously
prolonged his occupation and dallied
with every diamond that he handled.
At last, however, it was done. and.
concealing the bandbox in his smock,
the gardener beckoned to Harry and
preceded him in the direction of the
house.
Near the door they were met by a
young man evidently in holy orders,
dark and strikingly handsome, with a
look of mingled weakness and resolu-
ton, and very neatly attired after the
manner of his caste. The gardener
was plainly annoyed by this encounter,
but he put as good a face upon it as
he could and accosted the clergyman
with an obsequious and smiling air.
''Here is fine afternoon, MI. ROLES.
said he, "a fine afternoon, as sure as
God made it, and here is a young
friend Of mine who had fancy to look
at my roses. l took the liberty to bring
him in, for thought none Of the lodg-
ers would object
"Speaking for myself" replied the
Rev. Mr.. ROLES, Il do not, nor do
fancy any of the rest of us would be
The garden is your own, Mr.. Raeburn
We must none of us forget that. And
because you give us liberty to walk
there we should be indeed ungracious
if we so far presumed upon your polite
ness as to interfere with the conven
fence Of your friends. But, on secon&
thoughts" he added, Il believe that
this gentleman and have met before
Mr.. Hartley, think. l regret to Oh
serve that you have had fall"
And he offered his hand.
A sort of maiden dignity and desire
to delay as long as possible the neces
sity for explanation moved Harry tt
refuse this chance Of help and to deny
his own identity. He chose the tender
mercies of the gardener, who was a
least unknown to him, rather than IL;
curiosity and perhaps the doubts of al
acquaintance.
81 fear there is some mistake" salt
he. my name is Thomlinson, and
am friend of Mr.. Raeburn's.'
"Indeed?" said Mr.. ROLES. 1.-THE like
CESS is amazing."
= Mr.. Raeburn, who had been upo1
thorns throughout this colloquy, nov
felt it high time to bring it to period
II wish you pleasant saunter, sir,
said he.
And with that he dragged Harry aft
er him into the house and then into {
chamber OH the garden. His first carr
was to draw down the blind, for MIR
ROLES still remained where they ha(
left him in an attitude of perplexity
and thought. Then he emptied tn
broken handbook on the table and stoot
before the treasure, thus fully display
ed, with an expression of rapturou:
greed and rubbing his hands upon hi
thighs. For Harry the sight Of thu
mans face under the influence of thi!
base emotion added another pang II
those he was already suffering. L
seemed incredible that flom his life OF
pure and delicate trifing he should b'
plunged in a breath among sordid ant
criminal relations. He could reprOaci
his conscience with no sinful act, ant
| yet he was now suffering the punish
ment Of sin in it's most acute and crue