Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-11-26
els duty to release Bessie from her

| NhohScu toW0iu ucE ~ Ouce, becoming
unusually kind and deferential. He
listened to what she had to say, then
| said to her:
1T gives me great pleasure to assure
you that Mr.. Stanford is not a thief,
though he has confessed himself one,
The bills he admitted he had stolen
were returned by the real thief"
A great Joy welled up In Bessies
breast.
DO you mean It? No: you are too
kind to me. You are trying to shield
me-"
Listen. left the bills on my desk
and went out Of my office. Stanford
came In while was gone. Thinking
that he had been the only one in my
ONCE during my absence, / accused
him of the theft At first he denied It,
but later confessed. Before his con-
fession the real thief returned the
bills. admitting that be had taken
them"
Bessie was astonished. She sat look
ing at Mr.. Douglas h1edly for some
time, then asked:
DO you suppose Arthur confessed
to shield tho real theft?
Il don't know his motive. 1t Is q
mystery to me-"
II shall send for him at once and
renew my engagement with him"
Mr.. Douglas was silent.
SHOULD I not do soT she asked
eagerly.
THAT is for you to decide I would
suggest. however, that you first dis
cover his motive In this matter"
Il shall ask him at once"
''Will he tell your
Bessie was silent. Arthur had not
given her his confidence In the first
place. and he was not likely to do 1t
new.
Il feel 1t incumbent on me-" contin-
ued Mr.. Douglas, Ito endeavor to IN
rayel the mystery because 1t has oc-
Cured In this concern. II you like
can give you the solution when have
learned IT.
THANK you very much. Mr.. Doug
las. l shall leave the matter entirely
in your hands, remaining myself in
active. When you solve the problem
kindly drop me line, and I will call
for it.
Rather permit me to bring 1t to
you. Your visits here might defeat
the purpose"
Bessie left him relieved of one anx.
iety to be confronted by another. Her
lover was not thief, but there was
question whether his confession was
caused by a noble or an ignoble mo-
tive.
She waited impatiently for Mr.. Doug
las report, but he did not make any
report.
Then she wrote him asking what
progress he had made, and he answer
ed her In person. He said that he had
learned something that had led him to
form an opinion of Stanford's motive
In confessing himself thief, but since
1t was only an opinion he would pre-
fer not to make 1t known to her. She
asked him II what he considered to be
the solution reflected in any way upon
Arthur Stanford. His reply was that
since 1t was merely q matter Of opin-
Ion he would be al inexcusable II he
answered the second AZ the first CUES
ton.
It was evident from this that what
Mr.. Douglas suspected was detrimental
to Mr.. STANFORD. Bessie had herself
heard a report that had set her to
thinking. 1t was that Arthur had
been seen several times recently In
company with the daughter OF a
wealthy man-indeed. a millionaire. She
suspected that Mr.. Douglas opinion
was based on this report She could
not but contrast his sense of honor,
his delicacy. with what she suspected
Arthur to have been guilty of. But
with her, as with Douglas. 1t was only
suspicion.
II will state an inference of my own"
she said to Douglas. land leave 1t to
you whether you shall tell me II 1t Co
incides with the opinion you have form
ed. l suspect Mr.. Stanford Of con-
Tossing a deed be did not commit to
induce me to break my engagement
with him that he might be free to
marry into a wealthy family"
I'VE have both arrived at the same
suspicion" was the reply.
You mean conclusion"
well. be It conclusion. II you like
that word better"
When Mr.. Douglas rose to 60 he
asked that the acquaintance might be
continued and received permission to
call again without reference to the mat
ter that had brought the two together
Stanford continued in the employ of |
Douglas & Son. In time his engage
ment with the young lady to whom be
had been paying attention was an
One day Bessie Ellison met |
him on the street and cut him.
Then It was announced that bis en-
gagement was broken. He appeared
one evening at Bessie's home. claimed
that his object In confessing q theft |
he had not committed had been with |
Il view to testing her love for him and
confessed that be bad discovered that
be was 30 completely wrapped up In
her that be could not hive without her
Il am sorry." she said coIdly. Your
confession comes too late. am en-
gagged to Mr.. Douglas."