Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-04-18
81
LOVES SACRIFICE
~ ILBERT RAwsoN was chief &C.
(S7 countant to the firm of Jasper
~c~(1~No~1~S~1lo

I ~~NNN<>>NNN
~ ILBERT RAWSON was chief ac-
NH countant to the firm of Jasper
Denman & Bro. People called
Jasper n hard dealing man, but two
loves were woven into the warp and
welt of his life-his daughter Mabel
and his younger brother and partner.
Horace.
There was indeed something almost
fatherly about Jasper's love for his
brother. He had never forgotten his
promise to the mother who bore them
both. After long years. the mean little
room up, an all but endless flight of
stairs was still visioned for him rs
the place where he had looked into her
dying eyes, and kissed and fondled her
frail fingers, growing colder as lie held
them In his own. He still heard her
voice as he heard 1t on the day he bent
over her for the last time-'sTake care
OF Horace. Jasper. don't desert the.
boy"
As he had given his bond, 80 he kept
It From that day Jasper shared every
thing with his brother. In the days OF
his poverty he hungered that the lad
might eat. In the days of his pros
perity he had raised him up, educated
him, taken him into partnership. But
Horace did not care for business. He
drank early and gambled late. And
Jasper's love was blind.
In these circumstances, 1t was inev-
liable that the neglected work of the
Junior partner should fall upon Gilbert
Rawson. Horace Denman worked, when
he worked at all, by fits and starts.
What he left unfinished Rawson had to
complete, and the difficulties of seeing
straight path through the middle and
confusion of accounts and correspond
ence thus made him many sleepless
night.
But there was another side to Raw
sons responsibility which paid for all
1t often happened that Rawson had to
go to Jasper Denman's home to talk
over business, and going over business
led to his going over MS a guest, for
Jasper had begun to make friend
this keen and able young man for
whose shoulders no responsibility seem.
ed too heavy.
After awhile Jasper's daughter Mabel
crept into his life almost impercepti-
bly,, almost before he was aware Of 1t.
Her big, deep eyes seemed always
brighter for his coming, and by and
by he took courage to hold her hand
little longer than formal greeting
warranted, and to press the white fin
gers gently, and to look into her face
Till her eyes seemed to melt before his
gaze. At last he had to confess the
truth to himself and speak.
mabel" he said, II have come to tell
you just one thing-I love you. Will
you be my wife?"
She was happy at the words, and her
happiness shone in her face.
I'll seem to have loved you since
first saw you," she said, with cour.
age which surprised herself. 81 will
be to you all-ali you wish"
And the next moment she was trem.
bling In his arms.
That night Rawson returned to his
rooms treading on air. Business was
banished from his mind. He drew
up Ills chair by the fire, lit his pipe,
and weaved his romance into the cir.
cles of smoke he4blew from his mouth
1t was splendid thing, was love. How
1t heartened man for his life's work (!
The bell of the outer door Changed
through the hall. Rawson awakened
from his ecstatic reverle with a start.
He turned round in his chair to hear
the maids knock at the door, to see
the next instant the figure of Horace
Denman moving unsteadily towards
him. His face was white, like the hue
of chalk.
Its all up!" Horace greeted without
preliminarles. II know can't hide 1t
any longer. But it's only n thousand
or two. Jasper won't miss 'em. He's
rich. He can afford to lose a bit Raw
son"
You've the advantage ow me, SIR"
sald Rawson, fixing the pitiful figure
with his keen eyes. Perhaps you will
De mOre-m0re explicit.
Thunder aud lightning, man." came
the reply in truculent tone, IAN l
not plain enough? I've been Juggling
my accounts! That's English, anyhow.
Rawson gasped and stared.
Juggling your-the-firm's accounts
-robbing your brother? Is that your
mcaning?" +
.'That's more brutal than the way
put 1t. said Horace, "but It'll serve"
For while Rawson stood staring at
tile creature like man hypnotized.
Then his features set hard, and from
under his brows there came flashes as
of glinting steel.
"Your brother has succored you from
boyhood,". he said slowly. Hes been
blind to what's bad in you in manhood.
He's trusted you because he loved you.
What you've done will cut into his
heart like knife. And then there's
there's Mabel-Miss Denman. You'll
shame them to the dust"
The man now began to whine
Eyes, I've seen that. But don't tell
them, Rawson. Don't let them know
they needn't know. You can cover 1t
all up. Jasper will never know if you
make 1t right on paper That's why
/ camel"
Rawson did not remove his eyes from
the mans face.
''In plain English, once again, Hor-
ace Denman,s II you please?" he said.
you're a,clever chap, Rawson," Den
man answered, shutfiing and hesitant,
land 1t wouldn't be difficult for you to
make-to make things balance"
Rawson strobe to the door and open
ed 1t.
"Get out!' be said. with wrath in his
face.
Dsnman heard the words dazsdly.
Hs stared at Rawson open mouthed.
Get eutl" Faps aawsoa's voice
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