The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-09

and the District of Columbia is an old
story. There are tons Of it, but for
tunes have been lost in efforts to re-
cover 1t.
The whole country within few
miles Of Washington is gold bearing,
and now and thena valuable pocket"
Of free gold is found.
read every line. The date was four years
earlier, and the change Of employers she
remembered with a sickening sensation Of
despair, for Frome had given the event
so different an aspect. and when she had
finished it she laid her head upon her
ing.
Dear Frome: I am distressed to have
to tell you that find on undoubted evil
dence that you have altered the figures on !
a check of mine to a difference of els.
AS your fathers oldest friend, shall not
prosecute you, but insist that you leave
my office at once, and hold no communi-
cation with me from henceforth. I am
sorry for your sister; she is worthy Of
better things than being so nearly con-
nected with thief and a BLACKBOARD.
Yours faithfully,
Joseph Henderson,"
Then came pitiful scrawl from Frome,
written feebly and splashed with tears
full of utter remorse and confession, and
lastly brief communication from Mr..
Henderson again:
For your sisters sake I have induced
Sir Anthony Garstine to take you as clerk
in his own office under his eye. His char
acter for generosity is we'll known, and
he has helped many young man to re-
trieve the name he had lost He is taking
lsyou into his employment as special ia
| vor to me, and I have told him-as I
warn you now-not to pardon a second
crime. You have chance here that
many young man would give his life for,
and implore you to make fresh start
before it Is too late.
j. Henderson"
So here was the truth at last and with
| 1t a generosity that was unparalleled. Gar
slime had never told her of her brothers
! first fall. How she loved him for it-how
she loved him! Her heart was too full Of
gratitude and penitence to pause for calm
| thought, and before she knew what had
| happened she was out in the street in her
hat and cloak, with the letter in her hand.
| It was raining now with a thin drizzle
1of mist that made the omnibus wet and
dreary, and herself in her thin gown shiv-
er as the wind caught her. It was late
afternoon, and the lamps were lighted in
the streets, and the house in Hill street
outside which she paused was glowing
from basement to attic with electric light.
She passed in, pushing her way past Lor-
ing. who gaZed after her open-mOuthed,
and catching a brief glimpse of the aston
ished housekeeper lowering anxiously OUT
/ side the library door. But until she turned
the handle and entered the room, closing
the door behind her, she felt no fear, only
the sWaying Of a mighty wave of penitence
and love that swept her along with it.
i The library was in darkness, save for
ono electric jet that made a dreary illuni-
nation over the chimney piece, and the
a l. 1yr H. I, ~, !,
table, with his head upon his hand and his
back to her, sat Garstine, and at her step
he moved impatiently.
II tell you, Mrs. Stainby, that want
t nothing, he said. IT ask to be alone
!. IL"
| His name broke from her like a cry
: and she fell upon her knees at his side
!, her tears raining fast upon his hand.
Forgive me; have no right TO come
into your presence even-after m1sjudglne
) you. Obi when I went home I read Mr.
Hendersons letter, and I know thai
) Frome sinned against you for the second
: time, and that he deserved every momen,
t of his punishment. Oh, forgive me, ant
let me go away and never see you again
> for am not worthy Of even your friend
Ship
> Her voice broke in the awful stillnes.
t that followed, and a sob shook her from
r head to foot. So he would have nothing
to say to her, and who could blame him
: She turned and strove amidst her blindins
8 tears to rise from her knees. but h
caught her in his arms.
8 "Esther!" he cried Good heavens
r Esther have you come back to me?''
: II am not worthy she began, but hi
Z lips were on hers. and her words died un
o der his kisses.
'Essie-Essie-I loved you from tn
e first moment that saw you! I shall Low
n you till die!"
: And with faint sigh of happiness sh
n yielded herself to his caresses and kney
4 at last that life held nothing fairer TIA
e the love Of good man
s When Sir Anthony Garstine brough
t Esther home to the little house in Spittle
8 gate road, Mrs. Liversedge received ther
o at the door, and one glance at their face
e sent her into an hysterfcal burst of tear
n and laughter, that ended in her THROWN
g her apron over her head and running int
a the Kitchen to tell John.
y But when later in the evening she wa
" coaxed into the parlor to hear the who
d truth, and to be told of the wedding this
r was to take place Immediately, and of til
is lodge in the country that she and job
is were to, occupy, her wonder and deligl
3, knew no bounds.
,r Bless you, Miss Esther, my deart sf
e said. when I thought he was a clerk
,e an office I was pleased, but now ths
" you've got all you deserve, it'll take m
lie oil my time thanking heaven"
u And SO 1t came to pass that, altho til
r. story Of Esther Melhuish's life began
Ig |sorrow, yet the end of it was as full
e happiness as the heart of woman cou
r, desire.
y (THE ENID
e-