St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-05-06
"Fourteen years7"

out OF his once WlnuoW upou LihSoih
Inn Fields, his gray eyebrows sternly
knit.
Eyes. sir. it's fourteen years" said
the clerk In a low voice. his hand upon
the closed door. you'll see him. won't
your"
"I'll see him. Of course. But
The lawyer stopped abruptly, for
Just then q carriage and pair pulled
up at the entrance. and face---the
face Of q lovely girl OF one or two
and twenty-appeared at the carriage
window.
Latimer and his clerk exchanged
glances.
THE young lady will be coming into
the ONCE, sir. What had best be donef'
GO out to her." said Latimer. Tell
them to drive around the square Till
I'm at liberty. Don't let her quit the
carriage on any account. There's no
knowing what might happen II
Leave that to me, SIR" said the el'
derly clerk, hurrying out. I'll see to
that"
Latimer sank into the chair at his
desk. The day was closing In. A
young clerk came In and III the desk
lamp and drew down the blinds.
And now the lawyers look grew
graver. more concentrated. for there
was a step on the air. Presently the
door opened. opened slowly. and
weary.looking man came slowly Into
the romo.
"where's my daughterf" said he.
standing with his grasp upon the back
Of q chair.
John Masterson." said he. In q tone
Of reprimand. chats q question which
II was understood between us. four
teen years ago. that you would never
ask. Your daughter regards you--it
was your wish then. II not now-re-
CARDS you as-deadi"
"Ah! And she 10 woman now"
said Masterson. "When-when ! was
convicted. unjustiy convicted. In that
forgery case and sentenced TO fourteen
years. Nora was nearly eight. She
would now be twenty-one-a woman
now. She is beautiful. too. isn't shef"
. And he looked keenly for connrma-
ton into the lawyers face.
YES" said Latimer. "she is a
woman now. and very beautiful. And
the lady OF fortune. the lady who
adopted her when you were sent TO
prison. Masterson-has lately died and
} left her property TO Nora. and
"An heiress3 My daughter an heir
essy" said Masterson. rising quickly
, from his chair. Take mo TO her' I'm
destitute-nearly starving. 10 there
anything now to keep us apartr
, "Yes. there's n barrier"
.. "what is III"
"Yourself," said Latimer. "once
make yourself known 10 your daugh-
ter and the property. by a clause In the
Will, reverts 10 another"
"Nora shall not be made penniless
through me. No. I'll never But
; stay! What II my innocence were
proven-the stigma taken from my
nameT"
D .Ah. that might alter the case" said
Laimer. cautiously.
Help met" cried Masterson. u had
no hand in the business. Give me
, your aid-for Nora's sake-for ] sol
J emnly take oath that I'm not guilty
D OF the crime that fourteen years age
G was laid at my door.
"The man who did it-who forged
those drafts on the Philoboro' bank
!. was a fellow clerk Of mine. Robert Hol
. royd; and I've already begun my
search for him." said Masterson. with
a keen look In his eyes. II mean "a
n IN
} him q full and true confession. oI
Q else"
well, we'll, Wen not pursue the
subject any further--not Just now.'
said Latimer. "I'll turn II over In my
: mind. Leave me your address. III
see that the matter 10 looked into
: III see II anything can be DONE"
When Masterson left him LatimerI
asnd trembled as he placed the sliI
J. of paper In his desk whereon the mar
had written his address. The inter
view had agitated the lawyer deeply
But as he went downstairs to the car
riage all signs of agitation vanished
4 and when a lovely girl appeared a
his carriage window to greet him hi
stern features even broke into smile
As the carriage drove away, befor'
II had turned out OF Lincolns I'M
Fields. the girl placed her hand upoI
the lawyers arm and looked up will
an inquiring glance into his face.
"Who was thatr'
II Latimer looked down at her and nc
ticed that she was unusually pale.
II who was thstY' he rtiterated. witt
|. i q sudden sickening sense Of dread. :"
i II don't quite follow you"
III II mean that man who came out q
your once door some minutes bsfor
J you," said she. He looked a. II Il
II terrible distress. 10 he? ! saw hin
stop under the street lamp. strike hi
! forehead and look distractedly abou
him. Then he walked on. and
Al "ses!" the girl suddenly interposet
''there's the very man. How daze
he looks! He u staring into people
y faces az II he were In search Of som
n oue-some one whom hs-"
q Mora. sit down. my DEAR" said La
Ii inner. a. she rose and leaned out q
. the window. "Are you crazedr
Z The girl uttered low cry Of paiI
Tor Latimer. In . sadden frsazy Of q