Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-06-23

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One thing always IN this hidden place
was a loaded, gold-mounted pistol
which had been given to DolIy's papa
by his friend. the general. 1t was 0
dangerous as well as a beautiful
weapon, and was kept in the secret
drawer mainly to be away from the
likelihood of doing harm.
Dolly read her book till she fell to
day dreaming, and from day dreaming
over what might have been she fell
asleep and to real dreaming, still ovel
what might have been.
She was awakened by a sense OF
danger, and found herself with hei
first waking consciousness Iistening in
tently and gazing about with fearfu
expectancy. A moment later she hearc
a soft step descending the front stair
Dolly was by no means a coward
With the thought of a possible house
breaker came the suggestion of the
hidden spring and the pistol. In q
moment the shining weapon was in
her hand and she was stealing on tip
toe toward the front hall. A moment
later the portieres were parted and a
tall, bearded man stalked into the
room, to find himself confronted by
an angry, stout, middle-aged woman
holding a pistol to his face.
Hold vol hands above your head,
sir!" she exclaimed, with tierce in
tensity.
He complied.
what are you doing here?" she de-
manded.
The man peered at her ~curiously, for
a trapped burglar.
Il came to steal" he said.
aren't you ashamed to own 1t?
Why didn't you tell some plausible lie?
| will ask you to kindly sit down there
by the front window"
Again the man complied. Dolly did
not want a vulgar spectacle, or she
would have marched the man away at
the point of her pistol to find help in
securing him. She made him sit down
because she thought him less danger
Gus sitting, and she wanted to get time
to think what to do next. 1t was
plain that the man was caught, and
she did not want to let him get away.
Replying to your question:" said
the man, a curious smile betraying It,
self about his bewhiskered mouth, 1.-The
reason | did not lie is that am in the
habit of speaking the truth. And |
may add that the reason | am so easily
caught Is that l am not in the habit of
robbing and do not understand the
trade.'
AS the man spoke Dolly's steady hand
began to tremble.
"Who are your" she cried.
81 think you know me. 1t is a dread
full thing that | should have come to
this. And to be detected by you, of all
the people in the world!"
who are you? Speak,"
She was white, and trembled from
head to foot. The man could have cas-
lily disarmed her.
Eyes, l am Nate Brown he said.
slowly.
The pistol dropped on the floor.
Il would not have come here had
| not supposed you were still absent
from home. l thought the house would
be entirely deserted for the afternoon"
90, Nathan, how did you ever come
to this?" she cried. II have always
thought Of you as-as-as SO noble and
true. And you have turned common
robber, and hat of a man who used to
be your friend!"
Dolly, | would have preferred to be
hanged. had | supposed you thought
we'll of me, rather than forfeit your
good opinion. l do not know what mad
ness brought me here. Without $10,-
| am a ruined man. And 1t is just
when, too, for the first time in my life,
| seemed to have financial prospects.
nave spent trust funds in getting my
business under way; now | must ac-
count for them, and shall be unable to
do it. This has been the only dishon-
est thing in my life"
She sat down while he was speaking
and covered her face with her hands.
He arose and stood before her.
Dolly, you did love me, after all, in
the old days?" he said, with something
of the old hopefulness. You would
not feel as you do 10Y had you not
cared for me then"
She made no reply.
And he sat down again, drawing his
chair close to hers, and begged to be
forgiven for his present offense-not
to be loved. but just to be forgiven.
He told her all the circumstances of
his original fault in spending the trust
money. He told her how he came to
try this robbery, and how he had learned
that her father had carried a consider
able sum of money to the house. And
he avowed that had he succeeded in
his business he would have again offered
himself to her; that he had lived for
the day when he could do SO with a hope
Of being accepted; and that 1t was the
temptation Of love which had led him
beyond the confines of honesty.
"Good-by, Dolly" he said, at last.
my life is a failure, but | hope you will
g. - - a.--II-~ -