Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-07
CHAPTER III.-tContinued.)

cd it than he could prevent hlmseH from
.ool;no in every nerve and fiber of his
INV The shame and degradation of the
.,Isnieion that was cast upon him.
Mr. geale. for the first time since tins
,p,aziug conversation had begun, locked
81 linn attentiyely.
II bope.n he said, but in a tone that
said plainly that the hope was but fee
HE one, that l may find the money
there"
- know YOU will" said Hugh; plucking
nm heart of grace and speaking with con-
fdence-"I saw it there this morning"
Mr.. Beale said no more, but went out,
walking quickly till he reached Hugh
Reyerley's lodgings, where he knocked at
the door and was admitted.
Meanwhile poor Hugh, left alone in the
Office. was in a state of mind bordering
on distraction. One moment he re-
nroached himself for his mad folly in
ever having consented to take part in
erch sorry joke, the next wondered
if it were not all some horrible light-
mare, and if he should not wake up and
find himself quietly in bed, with this
CHASTITY thing nothing but haunting
remembrance.
He rose from the chair on which he
Lad sunk despondently on Mr.. Beale's
departure, and stood facing the door, as
he heard that gentleman's footstep. 1t
opened. 1ut at the first glimpse of the
mans face as ne entered, the young fell
lows spirits sank like lead-it was
stern, sad, memorable.
He said not word at first, but sat
heavily down in the chair Hugh had just
vacated and covered his eyes with his
hand, resting his elbows upon the table;
still III that attitude he began to speak.
1T grieves from my heart to have to
say what of course you know / must
say he SAID lii low, husky tone, but
the money was not there."
"My Cod
1t was more cry than an exclamation
that broke from the young mans white
lips, for ne felt horrible net closing
him in. felt that his reputation-his
whole career-was blasted through some
mysterious entanglelnent of Fate of
which he could comprehend nothing,
which was utterly dark and uninteliigi
BILE.
you must have made some mistake,
sir" he said, when he could FIND his
voice; you must have looked in the
wrong drawer.
Il am sure did not" said Mr.. Beale
uncovering his eyes and raising his
head but if it viii give you any salts
faction. we will go back and look to-
gether."
Never as long as he lived would Hugh
forget that strange walk through the
familiar streets by the side of the man
who up till this moment had been his
ideal of probity, and of generous friend
- I.~ L
companions image presented itself be.
fore him now as q madman, now as 4
drunSard, and now, most awful thought
of all; as a liar and seoundrel. Pres
emily he found that he was speaking to
him
Il may as well tell you at once that
have taken up the NOTE" he was say
ing; "on the spur of the moment that
seemed the best thing to do. The mat
ter now rests between ourselves"
Hugh tried to utter formal "Thank
YOU but his dry throat refused to make
sound, and they went on again in
silence.
They arrived at the lodgings at last,
and Hugh, still with that heavy, hopeless
feeling which had been growing on him
all through the events of that dreadful
morning, preceded his guardian up the
stairs. He went straight, without a mo-
ment's hesitation to the drawer in which
Nc had left the money--it was not there
lie had been prepared for it, and yet
the actual discovery came on him with
fresh shock, with a fresh sense of the
mevltability of it all. lie feverishly
opened and searched through every other
drawer in the room, but he knew tina !
ne should not find it. and he did not.
Mr.. Beale stood on the hearthrug
watching him gravely. At last the poor
LAD stopped. and sat down on the bed,
from sheer physical inability to stand
under this crushing blow. He said not
" word, but the white misery in his face
illIht have touched heart of stone
My boy" said Mr. Beale. advancing
70 INN, and laying his hand upon his
shoulder, make a clean breast of it. 1t
WIZ De lar better in the long run"
have told you all | have to tell"
SAID Hugh, doggedly
But You have told me what it is i'm.
possible 10 believe-what is arrant non
sense Am l somnambuist, am I in
ny dotage, that ! could do such thing
ana forget 1t? Hugh, ] remember your
'elilnS me perfectly well that YOU were
e'lorl OF money when | went away; adj
mt that You yielded to sudden tempta-
uoh' that You intended to return the
money before the note matured. | vii,
w more tEan willing to listen to any
tAtenuation of your crime. but in
it." ~ 'i9' "a ueis ihs
nave never denied the actual fart.
Sr' said the poor lad; st would he
Useless to do that. l signed the note. as
uink you must know. in your pres
Pshawi how You stick to that cock
anu anu bull story. Wen say no more atont
mat II you please; it crieves me chat
you can lie 50 persistently. However. rs
s sou 10 admit the main fact, nothing can
@ an: that Hugh" leaving his side and
sJlog over to the mantelpiece again
"heIe ne stood, his head resting on his
and i would not have had this hap
/, "a Tor worlds; it has shaken my faith
al human nature"
~ a. was almost more than Hugh could
lar he tUrnpI b;s ~