Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-12-28

lips. and his voice changed a little /
as he proceeded.
oh. the newspapers made a fine /
sotry out Of it. but they might have
made q better one could they have
gotten at the facts that followed.
They might have evolved quite a TO
mantle tale. 1T to adorn even a sun
day edition, If a reporter had been |
around to see how the girl RES gned all |
chance OF pre.nt happiness, turned |
from life OF ease and luxury TO one
Of toll and slavery. SO that she might |
pay bacA 10 the bank that which they |
claimed her father had stolen. Her
struggles and failures, her sufferings
borne in silence and solitude, her con-
tinued resistance to the oft-repeated
pleadings Of her lover to give up the
unequal struggle OF even to let him
share il, might have made a good
story If they could have gotten hold
Of the facts, but they never did, and
the years drifted slowly by, each one
finding the woman-now no longer
young-still more determined 70 perse-
we're until every cent, capital and in
terest was repaid to those who had
lost Il,
"Oh. but you are leaving out the
best part Of the story. Howard!
Helen broke In. "The woman never
could have done her part. never could
have remained true 10 her old vow
if the man had not stood by her 50
4 faithfully. II he had not been near
to comfort every sorrow, TO soothe
every pain, to encourage and cheer
and love her. the woman would have
/ failed long ago.
THE woman would never have
failed" Howard insisted. and the
mans part does not concern the
| story"
There would have been no story
without him. she whispered, lovingly
and she raised her head from the table
and leaned trustingly against him.
If the reporter had been looking
for his story Howard went on, "he
would now follow for awhile the al
| fairs of the bank. When the position
of cashier was left vacant by the
events recorded, It was voted that the
son Of the president, a promising
Young man formerly employed in a
minor position should be promoted TO
m the vacancy, and this was done TO
the satisfaction Of all concerned, ana
for about ten years everything went
on as usual. then the health OF the
young cashier began 10 fan, ana
finally he was forced to resign his
positlon. His father took him travel
ing. and they went from one place 70
another. yainly seeking for the los'
health. until finally father and son
realized that there was no hope, ano
they settled in a little Florida village
TO await the end.
eone day the elder man was seated
on a chair near the couch Of his son
sadly wondering how long the pre-
cions life would still be spared him
when the young man opened his eye
and began to talk.
eHe recalled to his fathers memoir!
the newspaper story Of which ! spoke
and then he made a confession!
"A Confession repeated Helen.
yes. II appears that at about ina
time he had gotten into difficulties
and had at various times taken sew
eral sums of money from the cashier
q drawer TO which he had access. You
/. father had discovered il and threat
ened exposure, and the young ma
begged and pleaded for just littl
longer time. Helen. Helen, your Ia
5 ther's only crime was in trying Z
shield the boy!
"And The shot?" faltered Helen.
when your father sought the pr
vate Office on the day of his accuse
ton il was with the idea of trying I
gain time to fabricate some story I
4 clear himself and shield the boy, bu
D the Young man. terrified at the IDEA c
discovery, drew his pistol ana hre'
No one suspected him. and the evi
dence pointed so clearly to your II
ther's guilt and suicide that d
: crashed at the idea of saving himse
e nv silence. But when death al
proached he could not help confess
! ing" =
Helen's head once more sank to th
: table.
He was innocent" she sobbed' an
- all these years We blamed MIN. vi
nv father. my father!'
No thought of herself nor her fre'
/! dom from the burden Of years; on
the memory of the long dead fath'
and grief at the thought that she ha
!, wronged him.
Howard soothed her as gently as
woman. waiting until her sobs ha
: ceased before he continued;
Z After the death and burial OF n
: son the president started for Ne
work" he told her, and this mornir
i came into my Office. As | had alwa!
acted for you in the past, SO throug
4 me he wished to make restitution
y Dear. he returned to me all that ye
: nave ever paid the bank and gave
10 the written confession that his SC
NwnH N