The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1904-09-01


"You can leave me-" a
And the young man went out. pale.
bowed and stricken. The merchant
saw, and was sorry. 1T was grief to
him deep and heartfelt. Later in the
day he went out and told Robert he
might go home.
II will send for you when I want
you"
"Mr. Powersw
"What would you say, Roberto"
Nothing"
"Then you may go. will send for
You when am able to see you again."
And Robert Veazie went out from
the store; but he dared not go home to
his widowed mother. The fear that
came crushingly upon him was Of
Sarah. Did she love him so little that
she could see him thus suffer and be
silent? Was it possible that-but he
dared not think. He must wait until
these first overwhelming emotions
were passed.
That evening Mr.. Powers and his
wife talked the matter over: and after
long and careful deliberation 1t Was
"SNN''N 'iiat AWFUL NShLS DC
denied the house, and, of course. he
must be discharged from the store.
They would not publicly expose this.
his first known crime; but they could
never give him their confidence again
And they must Inform Sarah. That
was the hardest part OF all. They
would have it done az once. She came
in ard sat down.
"My dear child" said her father. all
Tenderness ana compassion, 1--WE havea
painful duty to perform. We must
tell YOU of Roberts entire unworthi-
ness"
She c!aspcd her hands and Gasped
for breath. What did her father mean:
He told her the story, directly and
clearly, of his discovery of Roberts
guilt; and he told how broken and
penitent the young man had appeared.
This latter he added by way of show
ing that the crime was acknowledged.
Pale as death and with eyes fright
fully fixed, Sarah asked If Robert had
not mentioned her name.
"He only asked me-" said her father.
'if had spoken with you-if you could
not thrcy some light upon the missing
NOR answered him promptly,
T. Sou knew nothing whatever about
- His guilt was apparent from that
moment. His shame and re-
morse"
stop, stop" cried Sarah, starting to
her feet. She stood for a little time
like one frantic, with her hands
clutched in her hair, and her teeth
shut. Then she staggered forward,
and sank upon eher knees at her
fathers feet. "Oh, father. father-'
she moaned, "havc mercy-have pity
upon me-"
MY childr'
mo, no-lift me not up. Let me tell
1t all with my head here in your lap.
oh. ! am a miserable, wicked girl. l
did it all! l did it! Robert has spf-
fered rather than betray me-" -.
And when she could controN
speech she told him the story
burning papeI and she led I'd
how she had been led to falsify and
prevaricate.
That was not time for chiding.
Poor Sarah was like one whose heart
was breaking. She had come to think
now of Robert. He would despise her
after this.
Mr.. Powers looked at his watch.
presently he whispered to his wife, and
then arose and left the room; and
shortly afterward left the house. In
half an hour he returned.
Sarah" he said to his daughter,
who sat with her head upon her
mothers shoulder. Robert is in the
parlor. Go in and see him."
There was q fearful struggle, but
the better genius conquered. and
Sarah went to her injured lover.
By-and-by Robert and Sarah came
into the drawing room. They had been
weeping freely, but they seemed very
happy nevertheless. Sarah came and
kneeled by her parents feet.
"Father-mother-wil you pardon
and forgive as Robert has doneT
"Yes-yes, my child"
"Then will try to deserve your con-
fdence henceforth. Oh, I do want to
be happy once more. and never,
Robert caught he. to his bosom and
held her there; and her father came
and rested his hand upon her head.
II know it is bitter lesson. dear
child; but believe blessing will fol-
low 1T. 1t is possible that from this
time you may he happier than you
have been."-Waverley Magazine.
Chineee and Chrf an MoraIifv