Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-10-12


was a loaded, gold-mounted pistol
which had been given to Dolly's pap
by his friend, the general It was
dangerous as well as a b6autltu
weapon, and was kept in the secre
drawer mainly to be away from th'
likelihood Of doing harm.
Dolly read her book till she fell &c
day dreaming, and from day dreaming
over what might have been she fell
asleep and TO real dreaming, still over
i what might have been.
She was awakened by a sense oil
danger, and found herself with hei
/ first waking consciousness nstening in
4 tentiy and gazing about with fearful
expectancy A moment later she heard
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 your hands above your head,
sir" she exclaimed, with nerce 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, "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 | 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.
Il think you know me- Il is 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.
Yes, | 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. | thought the house would
be entirely deserted for the afternoon.
20, Nathan, how did you ever come
to this?' she cried. Il have always
thought Of you as-as-as so noble and /
true And you have turned common
robber, and that OF man who used to
be your friend!"
Dolly, | would have preferred to be
ranged, had | supposed you thought
we'll of me, rather than forfeit your
good opinion. | do not know what mad
ness brought me here Without SlO,-
700 more than ! have been able to raise,
am a ruined man. And it is just
when, too, for the first time in my life,
seemed to have financial prospects.
have spent trust funds in getting my
business under way; now | must ac-
count for them, and shall be unable to
10 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
IF the old hopefulness. you would
not feel as you do now 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
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 consider
able sum Of money to the house. And Il
he avowed that had he succeeded in
his business he would have again offered i
himself to her; that he had lived for
the day when he could do so with a hope
of being accepted; and that it was the
Of love which had led him
beyond the confines Of honesty.
'Good-by, Dolly" he said, at last
My life is failure, but hope you will