The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-02-12

face. GUILD, Shame and bItter hatred

race. Guilt, shame and bitter hatred
drew his face into hard lines.
Gladys happy eyes beamed upon
him. III she knew-Heaven help hint
If she could see into his heart, what
would her eyes look like then?
His shaking hand turned the driv-
ing wheel. The car shot forward rap
idly. He pulled the speed lever,
sounded the horn and dashed abrupt
ly away up the road out into the
wide. open space about Hyde Park
Corner.
What happened there he did not
know. The traffic was busy, but no
saw nothing. There was a confused
noise in his ears, but above all no
heard Gladys clear voice, with the
glad sound IN it, Eric has come
home"
The warning shout he did not hear.
The running policeman he did not
see. The broad gateway seemed to
have vanished into air as he sped to.
ward it. He turned the lever sharply.
The car, like a living thing, sprang
forward. AS it dashed into the stone
work he threw up his hands with a
cry.
An hour at most" said the doc
tor. HE cannot live longer than
that. III there is any one he ought
to see he should be fetched at once. "
Gladys put her hand to her shak-
ing lips and turned to Eric. who
stood beside her. They had seen the
car dash forward and had followed
it; and it was Eric who went now
and fetched Sir William-Eric the
forgerl
Sydney lay very still. The hard,
keen look had gone from his face.
He had forgotten Gladys and the hap
piness in her eyes; but suddenly it
came back. She was sitting beside
hlm-there, close to him, and she
was crying.
At the same instant Sir William
Kennel came in. Sydney was look
ing at Gladys.
"Forgive-if you can" he said, in
feeble voice. II loved you So
from the very first and 1 hated Eric
because of you-that was why I
planned his ruin-why / forged the
check"
"You!" The word came like n
cry from Gladys and Sir Williams
lips.
"You!" Sir William repeated.
The son of my old friend"
The dying man did not move.
That was why" he went on slow
~. L put it in Erics desk-the
check-where it was found-it got
him out of the way-but it was no
good-she did not care-you, I
mean, did not care-I might have
known-ah, Gladys, forgive!'
She rose to her feet. Forgive?
Forgive the shame and disgrace?
Eric's bitter pain? Forgive the deed
that had branded him as a forger
and thief? How could she?
She turned away. The face Of
Eric on the other side OF the room
met her eyes. She went up to him
and put out her hands with a sob.
Eric's whisper was heard only by
her.
We must forgive him-he is dy-
ing" he said.
A day or two later on every wall
in Sir William Kennels business
house was posted the following an
nouncement:
Sir William Kennel, having re-
ceived proof of the innocence of Eric
Chesterton of the forgery with which
he was charged, has decided to an
point him manager in place of the
late Sydney Devereux, which position
he would have occupied had It not
been for this most unfortunate mis-
take. Sir William feels that the re-
grets and congratulations of the
whole house will be with Mr.. Ches-
terton on his return"
And when Sir William drove I'D in
his motor car with Eric at his side
the 500 or COO employees were crowd
ing doors and passages to welcome
him
Both Eric and Sir William were a
little white when they reached their
rooms, and Sir William held out his
hand.
'No,l for a fresh start" he said.
Mrs. Annie o. Tlbbits. in English
Magazine.