Middletown transcript., 1907-03-16

Mrs. Cherrival gave a little
! whispered scream.
But, Crawford, how could they
do such a thing /? They must
haze been told by Mr.. Meeker.
Oh, that man! The duplicity Of
that awful man! / knew it.
My dear, Meeker is not tc
blame a bit. He declares no one
but myself knew of the contem.
plated rise in the stock, and that
consequently, the secret musI
have leaked out here.
| In this house? Oh. the villain
Please be quiet, ma. Nobody
had it from my lips,-at least.
except yourself.
And not a soul from mine, add
ed Mrs. Cherrival, with a verbal
snap.
Lucia, who had just entered,
went across to where the old
people were sitting. Her eyes
were red and her whole appear
ance betrayed excitement. She
handed her father letter in a
torn envelope, and said, family;
Papa, read it; I got it this after,
| noon.
The little parson opened it with
misgivings. As he glanced down
the written page, he drew his
lips together with unwonted firm
ness and decision.
So, said he, lowering the letter
for a moment, l have someone in
my household who has been play
ing the eavesdropper. Surely,
daughter, it was not you?
Yes, papa, sobbed the con-
sciences-stricken girl. Forgive
me, oh, forgive me | was pass
ing the door, that night, when
mamma and you were talking
l didn't mean to hear, but l could
not help it,-and then, when Tom
came next day,-I,-I- and the
sobs choked utterance.
Pastor Cherrival's brow cloud
ed for a moment and then re-
laxed. He put his arm around
her and kissed her.
My dear, he said with a culver
ing voice, I forgive you, as I hope
myself to be forgiven. What you
did, you did thoughtlessly,-not
with evil purpose. I, too, was
tempted to wicked course, which
I deeply regret.
And so the whole secret was
out. AS she lay sobbing on her
fathers shoulder, Lucia told how
young Tom Grissom had heard
first of the precious pointer"
from her thoughtless lips. 1t
had weighed on her conscience
afterwards; but the act could not
be recalled. From him, it had
spread to others, until Mr.. Cher
rivals flock, and ultimately all
Sparville, knew of 1t. Toms
note, which the pastor held in
his hand, made frank confession
of his unwilling but mischievous
breach of faith, and begged
Lucia S forgiveness.
There was just one dash of con-
ISOLATION in the bitter cup which
the Cherrivals were draining so
deeply. When Will Stanwood
and Comfort Joined the little
group in the corner, the faces of
the two young people were radi- !
ant.
Comfort is Mrs. Stanwood
now, and the young pair are
housed in New York, in a cozy
little residence on the west side,
uptown, where Mother Cherrival
is a frequent and welcome visitor.
Lucia has long since forgiven
Tom, and restored him to favor,
and even Papa Cherrival has
been conciliated. The good little
pastor never visits Broad Street
now, and shudders at the mere
mention of the stock market.
Sparville folks take only Ian
guild interest in the doings of |
"bulls and bears, and a stranger
who should happen to mention
Wall Street in their hearing is
pretty sure to be regaled with
the history of Silas Meeker's
famous pointer, and how 1t we'll
nigh cleaned out the Sparville
Bank. The Meeker place has
passed into other hands, for it's
speculative owner fitted almost
Immediately after his haul, which |
Cashier Chase of the Sparville
Bank estimated at something like
forty thousand dollars.
Pastor Cherrival goes about
his duties like true philosopher
and good minister. He has the
and esteem of the
little community. A favored few
among his flock know the true
story of his temptation and the