The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-07-26

Z through ala open wlndow.
"He writes EN- In there" said she
There's his table and his typewriter.
do you suppose said !. ''that Mr..
I Durland would object 10 my using his
| typewriter for about two minutes,
while I'm waltingf would Ike ia
write a little note
/ She made haste 60 show me into the
suthors study and presently | had
written upon sheet of heavy type.
writer paper the words. In payment
Of the debt which you may not remem.
I Der"
The result was even more conclusive
than ! had hoped. The Irregularities
that had appeared In the original were
faithfully reproduced In my copy, Be
yond doubt the line accompanying
the money which had been sent to me
had been written with this instrument.
| returned 10 the veranda, and pres
entity Mrs Colyin came. She greeted
me with sincere good viii and without
trace OF embarrassment.
Mrs Colvin." said |. there is a
small matter OF business between us.
/ have recently been led TO review the
old accounts, and find that there has
been an error owe you something
like hundred dollars"
She regarded me shrewdly, with an
interest which | would venture to call
affectioBate.
.'Iow did you learn that was press
cd for money!" she asked, and then,
after a pause; But you needn't tell
me. II Is very kind Of you to offer me
this help. and do need It. had
to make an unexpected payment
"And by singular coincidence" |
interrupted. II received an unexpected
payment The sum was 5000"
"And you don't know who sent It."
she said. How odd This seems like
some romantic restitution. Have you
ever been robbed? Why, yes, surely
when you lived here. How muchswas
II that was takenf"
Eight hundred and fifty dollars"
replied.
And this sum?'
WAS 1868"
There was moments silence. Then
she said, hesitatlng, Gould - could
there be-interest, perhaps?"
Mental arithmetic has been my forte
since childhood, but this was the quick
hot I vpodn.
Eight hundred and fifty dollars, with G
per cent interest for twenty eight
months, 1l4XSJ0=a969. | saw it In
fash and it fairly stunned me.
Sydney Durland, accepted sutton of
the woman | loved. had striven to ease
his conscience on the eve Of marriage
by making this restitution, and In so
doing he had put his liberty and per-
haps his life into my hands.
Well" said Mrs. Colvin, smiling,
what do you think Of my explana-
tionY'
l made Jest of 1t and turned her
mind away.
Mrs. Colyin. insisted that should
stay to dinner and as 1t had now be-
come necessary that l should see Dur
land accepted the invitation So we
passed to indifferent topics of CONVEX
sation and finally to Amy's approach
ing marriage, and heard much praise
Of Durland.
''He has changed so much!" said she.
II confess that when he first came here
and began to know him was almost
afraid of him. he had such Respondent
and desperate views Of life. But he is
different man now"
Some matter Of the household de-
manded Mrs Colvin's attention, and |
was left alone with narrowing thoughts. |
| am a narrow man In my Judgment
OF character and have small faith In |
reformation. I saw Amy Colvin about
to marry a thief and housebreaker.
man of weak principle and criminal
tendencies. s,4t.g...
was aroused from this black rev. ,
erie by the sound Of Amy's voice, and,
looking through the vine covered trel-
lis, ! saw her at the gate with Durland.
He entered alone, and she went on,
doubtless upon some errand to neigh.
boris house. | saw how this momen-
tary parting tugged at their hearts.
read the love In her eyes, and my whole
being became one agony OF bitterness
and loss.
Durland came up the walk, his head
turned over his shoulder, his eyes fol-
lowing her, as needless child runs
upon danger In the delight of play. He
trfpped upon the steps and the next in
slant looked up into my face. Not only
did the blood ebb away from his
cheeks. but the bronze OF the sun SEEM
ed to he washed out OF them. He put
up his hand 10 his heart. and his lips
fell open.
He assumed instantly that | had
traced his money back to him and had
discovered his offense
"Durland,r said |, "the truth. de-
nand II.
lie assembled the steps unsteadily and
staggered into the house, reckoning me
o follow him. but when we had reach
u his room saw that be had regained
Command Of himself. Facing me and
'peaking In firm tone, he said:
svIshfs IA my story. I uayar had snv .