Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-09-28

The man paused TO moisten his dry
iips, and his voice changed q n''l0
as he proceeded:
ooh. the newspapers made o nne
sotry out Of 1t, but they might nav
made better one could they nave
0ottan at the facts that followed
They might have evolved quite TO
mantle tale, 1T to adorn even q sun
day edition, II q reporter had Deen
around to see how the girl resigned al
chance Of present happiness turneo
from a life Of ease and luxury to one
of toll and slavery, so that she might
nav back to the bank that which they
claimed her father had stolen. Her
struggles and failures, her sunerings
horne in silence and solitude, her con-
tinued resistance to the ott-repeated
pleadings Of her lover to give up the
UNEQUAL struggle or even to let MN
share II, might have made gooo
story II they could have gotten hold
of the facts, but they never did. and
the years drifted slowly by eacn one
finding the woman-now no longer
younE-still more determined to perse-
we're until every cent, capital and In
terest. was repaid to those who mao
lost it."
"Oh, but you are leaving out the
best part of the story, Howard!
Helen broke in. 1.-THE woman never
could have done her part, never could
have remained true to her old VOW
IL the man had not stood by ner 30
faithfully. If he had not been near
to comfort every sorrow, TO sootne
every pain, to encourage and cneer
and love her, the woman would nave
failed long ago."
1.-THE woman would never have
failed" Howard insisted. and the
mans part does not concern inc
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, ne
would now follow for awhile the al
airs of the bank When the position
If cashier was left vacant by the
events recorded, it was voted that the
son of the president, a promising
Young man formerly employed in q
minor position, should be promoted 10
All the vacancy, and this was done to
the satisfaction of all concerned, and
for about ten years everything went
on as usual; then the health OF the
Young cashier began to fail, and
finally he was forced to resign MS
position. His father took him travel-
, ing. and they went from one place TO
another, vainly seeking for the lose
health. until finally father and son
; realized that there was no hope, and
they settled in little Florida village
, to await the end.
zone day the elder man was seated
, nm A chair near the couch OF his SON.
/ sadly wondering how long the pre-
cious life would still be spared him.
when the young man opened his eyes
/ and began to talk.
ale recalled to his fathers memory
I the newspaper story of which | spoke
and then he made a confessionI"
D "A confession" repeated Helen.
Eyes. 1t appears that at about that
!, time he had gotten into difficulties
and had at various times taken sew
eral sums of money from the cashiers
= drawer, to which he had access. Your
father had discovered it and threat
ened exposure, and the young man
begged and pleaded for just a little
. longer time. Helen, Helen, your IA
! theirs only crime was in trying To
r shield the boy!"
"And the shot?" faltered Helen.
q when your father sought the pri'
r yate Office on the day Of his accusa-
ton it was with the idea OF trying e
gain time to fabricate some story tc
: clear himself and shield the boy, bul
the young man, terrified at the idea Of
discovery, drew his pistol and fired
No one suspected him, and the evil
" dence pointed SO clearly to your ia
. theirs guilt and suicide that h'
- grasped at the idea of saving himself
\ by silence. But when death ap
= preached he could not help confess
d ing"
Il Helen's head once more sank to thu
N table.
If He was innocent" she sobbed, "ant
l. all these years we blamed him. Oh
4 my father, my father!"
" No thought of herself nor her free
l. dom from the burden Of years; onl!
the memory Of the long dead fathel
II and grief at the thought that she hal
d. wroDged him.
Howard soothed her as gently a.
re woman, waiting until her sobs ha'
~ ceased before he continued:
Re After the death and burial Of hi
son, the president started for New
er York" he told her. "and this morninl
came into my ONCE. As had Away
A. acted for you in the past, 80 througl
ey me he wished to make restitution
re Dear, he returned to me all that yol
Id have ever paid the bank and gave m
sy the written confession that his Sol