The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-22

Mr. Gilchrist had risen on his elbow.
and Philemon was making that plead
ing gesture Of his which we know so
well. Agatha alone looked eager
What is it," she cried. Il have a
right to know" / went to the door.
sI1: e and stood wftIr.ny back againsr
1t. a figure of shame and despair Sud
denly the confession burst from me
Agatha" said 1. why did you break
with my brother James? Because yoJ
thought him guilty of theft: because
you believed he took the 1000 out OF
the sum intrusted to him by Mr.. Orr
for your father? Agatha. it was no,
James who did this; it was 1. and
James knew it and bore of my misdo.
ings the blame because he was always
a loyal soul and took account Of my
weakness and kDew-alas. too we'll
that open shame would kill me-"
1t was weak plea and merited No
reply. but the silence was so dreadful
and lasted so long that I felt first
crushed and then terrified Raising
my head, for l had not dared to look
any of them in the face. | cast one
glance at the group before me and
u.
one of the three was looking at me. and
that was Agatha. The. others had their
heads turned aside. and l thought. or.
rather. the passing fancy took me. that
they shrank from meeting her gaze
with something of the same shame
and dread / was myself suffering from.
But she. Can / ever hope to make you
realize her look or comprehend the
pang OF utter self abasement with
which l succumbed before it. 1t was
so terrible that ! seemed to hear her
utter words. though | am sure she did
not speak. and. with some mild idea Of
stemming the torrent of her re-
proaches, l made an effort at explana-
ton and impetuously cried: ut was
not for my own good. Agatha. not alto
gether for self. did this. l loved you
too madly. depairingly, and, good
brother as / seemed. / was jealous OF
James and hoped to take his place in
your regard If l could show n greater
prosperity and get for you those things
his limited prospects denied him. You
enjoy money. beauty, ease; could see
that by your letters. and If James
could not give them to you and l
could Oh. do not look at me like that!
see now that millions could not have
bought you"
"Despicablev' was all that came frofn
her lips. at which l shuddered and
CROPPED about for the handle of the
door, But she would not let me go.
Subduing with grand self restraint the
emotions which had hitherto swelled
too high in her breast for either speech
or action, she thrust out one arm to
stay me and said in short, command
ing tones: How was this thing done?
You say you took the money, yet it
was James who was sent to collect it,
or so my father says" Here she tore
her looks from me and cast one glance
at her father. What she saw l cannot
say, but her manner changed. and
henceforth she glanced his way as
much as mine and with nearly as much
emotion. Il am waiting to hear what
you have to say" she exclaimed. lay
ing her hand on the door, so as to leave
me no opportunity for escape. l bow
ed and attempted an explanation. Aga
tha," said l. 1.-The commission was given
to James, and he rode to Sutherland
town to perform it, but it was on the
day when he was accustomed to write
to you, and he was not easy in his
mind. for he feared he would miss |
sending you his usual letter."
And then l told the story you know |
SO well-how l took the money and /
how, after Mr.. Gilchrist had accused I
you of the theft. you found out my |
guilty secret and told me that you had |
taken my crime on yourself and how |
afterward my virtue was not equal to |
assuming the responsibility for my /
crime.
John" she said-she was under vio-
eut restraint-"why do you come !
now?'
l cast my eyes at Philemon. He was
Just as before, with his eyes
nent in his attitude. mingled with a
certain grand patience. Seeing that he
vas better able to bear her loss than
either James or myself, l said to her
very low: II thought you ought to
know the truth before you gave your
inal word. l am late. but l would
nave been too late a week from now"
Her hand fell from the door, but her
yes remained fixed on my face.
The clergyman has just gone who
nited me to Philemon"
The next minute she had faced her
ather and her new made husband.
Father. you knew this thing Keen.
harp, incisive, the words rang out