The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-12-21
a CASUIST

The circumstances that led to
Ernest Marsdcn's withdrawal from
London have never been properly
explained. BY day he was employed
at an office in Cornhill. 1t was there
that l made his acquaintance. Our
duties brought us good deal to-
gether, and considerable intimacy
-sprang up between lis.
Things were in this condition
when l called one night at nv en-
ployer's private house on business
matter that had been overlooked. |
was shown into the drawing room.
From an adjoining apartment I
could hear at intervals the voices of
two men in violent alteration.
After a time Mr.. Henderson appear
ed IN the drawing room and asked
me to accompany him into the other
Goom. Ernest Marsden, the only
occupant, received me with a CRATE
ful smile
81 have asked You to take part in
this conversation" said my employ
,er, "becausc l believe you to be a
friend Of Mr.. Marsden's. 1 have
been robbed, and your friend is the
only possible culprit. At half past
l2 today an amount of $50 was paid
to me personally in gold and notes.
Before going out I locked it up in
the safe in my private room, a safe
to which you and Mr.. Marsden have
the only other keys. Mr.. Marsden,
whom 1 left at work in my room,
went out about ten minutes later.
Il am assured by the clerks in the
touter office that no one else entered
the room during my absence. 1 re-
turned in half an hour. The safe
was locked, but when I opened it
found that the gold (e4O) had dis
appeared. I have told Mr.. Mars
den that if he will make a clean
breast of everything and restore the
money he may retire from my en-
ployment quietly without scandal"
This statement upset ne a good
deal. I hoped, of course, that my
friend could clear himself of the ac-
'cusation. My own position in the
matter was none too pleasant. AL
though / had had leave of absence
for the day, I had been obliged to
come back for my purse, which, by
"a strange oversight, I had left in the
pocket of my Office jacket Unfor-
tunately [ had returned to the Of
flee about 1880 o'clock. Finding
the door Of Mr.. Henderson's sane
tum unlocked-the door, I mean,
opening directly into the passage
1 had slipped in and out without ap-
parently those in the outer Office
having noticed my return. Mars
den, however, had met me upon the
stairs. 70 make things more ugly,
I had that very day come into the
possession Of sum of money under
circumstances that could not have
been made public. To my great re-
lief, Marsden made no reference to
our meeting, although aware, no
doubt, of tho effect it would have in
diverting suspicion from himself.
The scene that followed was a
very painful one: Marsden insisted
npon his innocence, and bitter
speeches passed on both sides. I
fancied at one time during lull in
the storm that I caught the sound
of some one weeping in the next
room. The conference broke up,
having come to no conclusion. Mr..
Henderson, whom contradiction al
ways lashed into a fury, followed
Marsden into the hall, threatening
him with exposure and imprison-
ment. Suddenly the drawing room
door burst open, and tall, proud
looking girl swept into the hall. I
will not attempt to repeat verbatim
what she said. Some Of it has es-
capped me, and the rest, without her
dark eyes and impassioned bearing,
seems ordinary enough.
Marsden had proposed to her a
year previously and had been refus-
ed. His constancy in the face Of
every Encouragement had touched
her deeply, and lately she had come
to realize that her feelings toward
him were completely changed. IN
der ordinary circumstances she
would have waited for him to ad-
dress her again. Of his continual
devotion he had given her many elo-
quent, if silent, demonstrations, and
now that his fortunes were at their
lowest she asked'tas favor to be al
lowed to stand by his side and to
fight his battles against all the
world. At the end of this speech,
which was delivered with an incon
ceivable elevation of manner the
girl would have flung herself upon
her lovers breast, but he. repulsed
her with strange gesture. "Don't
touch me, LucyF' he cried passion
ately. ~ stole il! y
Two hours later I went around to
! Marsden's lodgings, for in spite of