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Clinton New Era, 1892-01-15, Page 3▪ 701,00•97,n ass.- -revillowirrncrliiirmerliporPrrr cPWrxtrugn rowleed rom. just now that you not .be e*posed; but You must feVs' ,WOrds of confession to ray and be quick ahent it, fpr I te 004 the express to London." neU Whe wag( still pale and agita- i selrea pen and paper, mid wrote a Wards Of aPolOg'y end a dear °on- ion. To. wnite WO hard, but he was 48401% S011..0100 his employer should vur4 alad, discOrbr his.raiserable so- ot itat he Oared nOt hesitate—dared ot beat about the hush. • Y Watched biro with•some curiosi- *ondering now that he had not tOb .00sted the Man Sooner. But, as a po of tapt, Parnell had been per- IX.,selt-POsseesed until his guilt was liseevered; it was the exposure that fftlled'brn With shame aud confusion, '+'4 net the actual dishonesty.., 1 • don't know how to thank you OPON34, Sir, for yourslenieney," he said when,he had written, in as few words ipqibe the statement of the fade. ell; jiist let the affair be a lesson , TOO said Roy. "There's a great stateald about drunkenness being the Veal:Wein, hut I believe it is betting iaat the root of half the evils of betlisy. Fortunately, things are now Set Straight as far as may be, yet re- Inerriber that you have wronged and ,erbaps irrevocably injured a perfectly arunOceet Men." bitterly regret it, sir; I do, in - '04" said Darnell. Olhope you do," said Roy; "1 am nre ,you ought to." while Darnell still reiterated :thanks, and apologies, and abject re- grets, Roy stalked ont of the shop and made his way back to the station. 4f. To think that I believed in that cur, .arisidcpubted Falck 1" he saiki to himself •With disgust. "And yet could any one have seemed more respectable than ,T,)arriell? more thoroughly trustwor- thy ? And how could I disbelieve the evidence that was so dead against Fri-, thief ? Sigrid and Cecil distrusted him, •-and I ought to have done so too, I sup- . pose ; but women seem tome to have a ,tfaculty for that sort of thing which ave are quite without." s Then, after a time, he remembered .that the last barrier that parted him afions Sigrid was broken down; and it :was just as well that he had the mail - way carriage to himself, for he began • to lung so jubilantly that the people in • the next compartment took him for a school -boy returning for his Christmas .,holidays. eIt had been arranged that if he could . catch the express from Plymouth he • should meet his father at the shop, and arriving at Paddington at half -past six • he sprang into a hansom and drove as quickly as possiW to Regent street. Frithjof justagianced at him inquirt • ingly as he passed through the shop, • then, reassured by the expression of his • face, turned once more to the fidgety • and impatient singing -master who, for , the last quarter of an hour, had been keeping him hard at work in hunting up every conceivable song that was dlr- . P .440 flrd. and which, when found, s sur 6 to prove unsatisfactory. Hae wondered much what had. passed CP,Iparurth. and -wheal- at lastahe-had- (*rid of his customer, Roy returned the shop with such evident excite- ment atidtriumph in his manner that old Foster thought he must be taking leave Of his senses. "My father wants to speak to you, Frithjof," he said. And Frithiof followed him into the • little inner room which had been the scene of such disagreeable interviews in the past. A strange, dream-like feel- ing came over him as he recalled the - wretched summer day when the detec- tive had searched him, and in horrible, bewildered misery he had seen the five: pound note, lying on that same leather - a covered table, an inexplicable mystery • and a damning evidence against him. • But visions of the past faded as Mr. Boniface grasped his hand. "How can •• I ever apologize enough to you, Frithj- • of ?" he said. Roy has brought back a lull confession from Darnell, and the mystery is entirely cleared up. Y ou must forgive me for the explanation of the affair that I was content with last • summer—I can't tell you how I regret all that you have had to suffer." • "Here is Darnell's lettee," said Roy, handing it to him. And Frithjof read it eagerly, and ask- ed the detaile of his friend's visit to Ply- - s mouth. s• "Will this 'satisfy Mr. Horner, do you 44,,think ?''s he said, when Roy had told • hiel,allsalsout his interview with Dar- nell. "It cannot fail to convince every one," said Mr. Boniface. "It is proof positive that you are free from all blame and that we owe you every pos- • sible apology and reparation." • "Von think that Mr. Horner will be • content's and will really sign the fresh de,eclaol 'partnership ?" said Frithiof. "Il'eswill be forced to see that your honoat entirely vindicated," said Mr. Bonifatesa: "But I shall not renew the offer of PhArtership to him. He has be- haved very ill to you, he has been inso- lent to me, and I am glad that, as far , as business goes, aiur connection is at an 'end. All that ie quite settled. And now we have a proposal to make to you.— We want you, ff nothingbetter has • turned up, to accept a junior partner- , ship in our firm." • Frithjof was seastaggered by the un- • expeetedness crf this offer *hat for a mo - Meant oratwo he could not say a word. Yen{ are very good," he said at •srngth. "Far, far too good and kind to • ane. But how ca,n I let you do so much ,for me—bow can I let you take as part- ner a man who has no capital to bring into the business?" • "My dear boy, inoney is not the only . thing wanted in business," said Mrs Bo- niface, laying his hand on Fri t hi of 's shoulder. "If you bring no capital with you, you bring good abilities, a great capacity for hard work, and a high sense of honor ; you will bring. too, what I value very much more—a keen sympathy with those employed by y:m, and a real knowledge of their position and its difficulties." "1 dare not. refuse your offer," said Frithjof. "1 can't do anything but gratefully accept it, but I have done nothing to deserve such kindness from you., • "It will be a comfort to me," said Mr : 13Onffitco, "to feel that Roy has some • - one with whom he can work comforta- bly. I ain growing old, and shall not -iie berry todo :little less, and to put aorne of My burden onto younger shoulders." And then,,after entering a little more into detail 11/s to the propose4 plan, tha three parted, and Frithiof luirried home eager to tell Sigrid and Swanhild of the great change that hcaconie over their affairs, CHAPTER PXXV. Cheerfulness rained. once more in the model lodgings. As Frithjof opened the door of the parlor he heart such talking and laughter as there had not been for some time past, despite Sig- rid's laudable endeavors. Swanlfild earn° dancing to meet him. "Look! look 1" slasecried, "we have got the very dearest little Christmas tree that ever was seen. And Madame Lechertier has promised to come to tea to -morrow afternoon, and we are going out presently to buy the candles for it. " Unheard-of extravagance," he said, looking at the little fir tree upon which Siprid was fastening the candle -holders. Only a shilling," she said apologeti- cally. "And this year we really dould- n't do without one. But you have brought some good news—I can see it in your face. Ola, tell me, Frithiof—tell me Quickly just what happened." "Well, Darnell has made a full con- fession for one thing," he replied. "So the last vestige of the cloud -has disap- peared. You can't think how nice the other men were when they heard about it. Old Foster gave me such a hand- shake that my arm aches still." "And Mr. ,Boniface ?" "You can fancy what he would be as far as kindness and all that goes. But you will never guess what he has done. How would you like to Count our sav- ings toward the debt -fund by hundreds instead of by units ?" "What do you mean ?" she cried. "1 mean that he has offered me the junior partnerehip," said Frithjof, watching her fate with keen delight, and rewarded for all he had been through by her rapture of happiness and her glad surprise. As for Swanhild, in the reaction after the long strain of secret anxiety which had tired her so much all the autumn, she was like a wild thing; she laughed and saeg, danced and chattered, and would. certainly never have eaten any supper had she not set her heart on go- ing out to buy Christmas presents at a certain shop in Buckingham Palace Road, which she was sure would still be open. "Por it is just the sort of shop for people like us,'' she explained; "people who are busy :all day and can only do their shopping in the evening." So presently they locked up the rooms and all three went out together on the merriest shopping expedition that ever was known. There was a feeling of yule tide in the very air, and the content- ment and relief in their own hearts seemed to be reflected on every one with whom they came in contact. The shops seemed more enticing than usual, the presents more fascinating, the serv- ers more obliging and ready to enter into the spirit of the thing. Swanhild, with five shillings of her own earning to lay ont on Christmas gifts, was in the seventh heaven of happiness; Sig- rid, with her own secret now once more a joy and not a care, moved like one in a happy dream; while Frithjof, free from the miserable cloud of suspicion, freed, moreover, by all that he had liv- ed through from the hopelessness of -the- struggleswasatlae- most perfectly - happy of the whole. Sometimes he forced himself to remember that it was through these Very streets that he had wandered in utter misery when he first came to London ; and recollecting from what depths Sigrid had saved him, he thought of her with a new and strange reverence—there was nothing he would not have done for her. His reflections were interrupted. by Swanhild's voice. "We will have every one from Row- an Tree House, won't we ?" she said, "And Herr Sivertsen," added Sigrid. "He must certainly come, because he is all alone." "And whatever happens, we must have old Miss Charlotte," said Frithiof; "but it strikes me we shall have to ask people to bring their own mugs, like children at a school -treat." But Sigrid scouted this suggestion, and declared that the blue and white china wonld just go round, while, as to chairs, they could borrow two or three from the neighbors. Then,came the return home, and the dressing of the tree, amid much fun and laughter, and the writing of the invita- tions, wkich must be posted that night. In all London there could not have been found a merrier household. All the past cares were forgotten ; even the sorrows which could not be healed. had lost their sting, and the Christmas promis- ed to be indeed full of peace and good will. How ten people—to say nothing of Lance and Gwen—managed to stow themselves away in the little parlor was a mystery to Frithiof. But Sigrid was a person of resources, andwhile he was out next day she made all sorts of cunning arrangements, decorated the room with ivy and holly, and so dis- posed the furniture that there was a place for every one. At half -past foie' the guests began to arrive. First Mrs. Boniface and Cecil with the children, who helped to light the tree ' • then Madame Lechertier, lad- en withboxes of the most, -delicious bonbons for every one of the 'party. and soon after there came an abrupt knock which they felt sure could only have been given by Herr Sivertsen. Swan- hild ran to open to open the door, and to take his hat and coat from him. Her eager welcome seemed to please the old man, for his great massive forehead was unusually free from wrinkles as he eutered and shook hands with Sigrid, and he bowed and smiled quite gra- ciously as she introduced him to the other guests. Then he walked round the Christmas tree with an air of satis- faction, and even stooped forward and smelled it. "So," he said contentedly, "you keep up the old customs, I see ! I'm glad of it -Fin glad of it. It's years since 1 saw a properly dressed tree.— And the smell of it! Great heavens lit makes me feel like a bey again! I'm glad you don't follow with the multi. tude, but keap to the good old Yule ceremonies." In the meant:rne Cecil V -as pouring out tea and coffee in ths kitchen,where, for greater convenience, the table had been placed. "Sigrid has allowed me to lig-)hdy- help and not visitor," she said laugh- ingly to Frithiof. "1 told her she must be in the other rcom to talk to every one after the English fashion, for you and ,Swanllild will be to blicYletaiing and carrying:* X am glW tt haye a Clianee of say- ing one wordalone to yen," said Frith- jof-. "re yon.sure that Mrs. I3oniface does not object to this new plan as to partnership ?" " Why,.she Is delighted about It, said Cecil "And she will tell you so when she has you to herself. I am so glati—so very glad that your trouble is over at last,and everything cleared up." "I can hardly believe it yet," said Frithiof. "I'm afraid of waking and finding that all this is a dream. Yet it feels real while • I talk to you, for you were th,e only outsider who believed in me and cheered me up last summer. I shall never forget your trust in me." Her eyes sank beneath his frank look of gratitude. She was horribly afraid lest she should betray herself, and to hide the burning color which surged up into her face, she turned away and bu- sied herself with the teapot, which did not at all want refilling. "Von have forgotten Signor Dona - ti," she said, recovering her self -posses- . "Ah! I must write to him," said Fri- thjof. "1 more and more wonder how he could possibly have had such insight into the truth. Here comes Mr. Boni- face and Roy." He returned to the parlor, while Ce- cil from the background watched the greetings with some cm iosity. In hon- or of Herr Sivertsen, and to please Fri- thjof, both Sigrid and Swanhild wore their Hardanger 'peasant dress. and Ce- cil thought she had never seen Sigrid look prettier than now, as she shook hands with Roy, welcoming him with all the charm of manner, with all the vivacity which was characteristic of her. "Tea for Mi. Bonifaee and coffee for Roy," smnounced Swanhild, dancing in. "Lance, you can hand the crom- pets, and mind you don't drop them all." She pioneered him safely through the little crowd, and Frithiof returned to Cecil. They had a comfortable little tete-a-tete over the tea -table. "1 dare to think now," he said, "of the actual amount of the debts, for at last there is a certainty that in time can pay them." "How glad I am," said Cecil. " It will be a great relief to you?: "Yes, it will be like getting rid of a haunting demon," said Frithjof. "And to see a real prospect of being free ouce more is enough to make this the hap- piest Christmas I have ever known—to say nothing of getting rid of the other cloud. I sometimes wonder what would have become of me if I had never met you and your brother." "If .you had never sheltered us from the rain in your house," the said smil- ing. It is in some ways dreadful to see how much depends on quite a small thing," said Frithjof, thoughtfully. And perhaps, could he have seen into Cecil's heart, he would have been more than ever impressed with this idea. Before long they rejoined the rest of the party, and then. all standing round the tree, they sang " Gladelig Jul," and an English carol, after which the pre- sents were distributed, amid much laughter and quite a babel of talk. The whole entertainment had been given for a few shillings, but it was probably one .of the most successful parties of the season, for all seemed full of real enjoyment, and all were ready to echo Lance's -out -spoken verdicathet,Christ- rnas trees in model lodgings were much nicer than anywhei e else. "But it isn't fair that the model lodg- ings should have both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," said Mrs Boniface, "80 you will come down to Rowan Tree House this evening; and stay with us for a few days, will you not There was no resisting the general entreaty, and indec d, now that all was cleared up, Frithjof looked forward very much to staying once more in the household which had grown so home- like to him. It was arranged that they should go down to Brixton later in the evening ; and when their guests had left, Sigrid began, a little sadly. to make the necessary prepaid i The was eager to go, and ye • ... fling told her that never agair a • . s the same circumstances, would ' , • little ho ehold be under her carc. ill take in the tree to the Halli- fiel s," she said; "the children will be pleased with it. And, Frithjof, don't you think that before we leave you had better just call and thank Mr. Osmond for his help, and for having been so kind to Swanhild? Ile will like to know that all is cleared up." -Frithjof agreed, and set off for Guil- ford Square. The night was frosty, and the stars shone out bright and clear. He walked briskly through the streets, not exactly liking the prospect of his interview with the clergyman, yet anx- ious to get it over, and really grateful for what had been done by him. Charles Osmond received him so kind- ly that his prejudices vanished at once, and he told him just how the five - pound note had affected his life, and how all had been satisfactorily explain- ed. "Such coincidences are very strange," said Charles Osmond, "hut it is not the first time that I have come across some- thing of the sort. Indeed, I know of a case very similar to yours." "11 Lady Rorniaux is still withyou," said Frithjof, flushing a little, per- haps yoeiwill tell her that all is set straight, and thank her for having re- leased Swanhild from her promise." "She is still here," said Charles Os- mond, " and I will certainly tell her. I think when she gave the money to your sister she yielded to a kind impulse, not at all realizing how foolish and useless such a plan was. After all, though she has livedatheough b inuch she is still in some ways a mere child." He looked at, the Norwegian, wonder- ing what lay beneath that handsome face, with its Grecian outline and nor- thern coloring. As if in answer to the thought, Fri- thjof raised his frank blue eyes, and met the searching gaze of his compan- ion. " 'Will not Lord Roniiaux remember her youth ?" he said. " Do you not think there is at least a hope that he will forgive her2" Then Charles Osmond felt a strange gladness at his heart, and over his face there came a look of indescribabte con- tent. For the words revealed to him the noble nature of the man before him; he knew that not one in a thousand would have so spoken under the cir- cumstances. The interest he felt in this man, whose story had accidentally be- c a m eknown to him, changed to active lave.11 I am not without a strong hope that those two may be atoned,' he re- plied. "But as yet I do now know e- nough of Lord Rennie= to feel sure. eat.usd thAtly IDA aye the StterifiCe roir A. of his. publie,litet I‘do notlaiew ther his love is equal to suebu sacrifice, er Whether be 110 strength and Our - age enough to offend the werld, Or whe- ther he M the leapt unclerstandii the law of fergivenese. ' "ItvOil could only get to know him," said Frithjof. "1. quite hope to do so and that be- fore long," eald Charles 'Oenlond. "1 think I can get at Win through a mu- tual friend—the member for Greyshot —but we must not be in ter) great a hurry. Depend upon it, the riglit time will come if we are only ready and wait- ing. Do you not know the old Scotch proverb," 'Where twa are seeking they- 're sure to find?' There is a deep truth beneath those words, a whole parable, it seems to me." "1 must not keep you," said Frithjof, rising "But I couldn't rest till I had thanked you for your help, and let you know what had happened? "The affair has made us something more than mere acquaintances," said Charles Osmond. "I hope we rcay learn to know each other well in the future. A happy Christmas to you." He had opened the study door, they were in the passage outside, and he grasped the Norwegian's hand. At that moment it happened that Blanche passed from the dining -room to the staircase; she just glanced round to see who Charles Osmond was addressing so heartily, and, perceivieg Frithjof, col- ored painfully and caught at the ban - iters for support. Having realized what was the Norse - man's character, Charles Osmond did not regret the meeting; he stood by in silence, glancing first at his compan- ion's startled face, then at Blanche's at- titu,de of down -cast confusion. - As for Frithjof, in that moment he realized that his early passim was in- deed dead. Its fierce fire had utterly burned out; the Weary pain was over, the terrible battle which he had fought so long was at an end, all what was now left was a chivalrous regard for the woman who had made him suffer so fearfully, an unselfish desire for her future safety. He strode toward her with outstretch- ed hand. It was the,first time he had actually touched her since they had parted long ago on the steamer at Bel - holm, but he did not think of that; the past whith had lingered with him so long and with such cruel clearness seemed now to have withered like the raiment of a Viking whose buried ship is suddenly exposed to the air. "I havejust been telling MrOsmond," he said, "that, thanks to your note to Swanhild, a curious mystery has been explained; he Will tell you the details." "And you forgive me," faltered Blanche. "Yes, with.all my heart," he said. For a moment her sorrowful eyes looked into his, she knew then that he had entirely freed hiniself from his old devotion to her, for they met her gaze frankly, fearlessly, and in their bine depths there was nothing but kindly forgi veness. 'Thank you," she said, once taking his hand. "Good-bye." " Good-bye," he replied. She turned away and went up stairs without another word. And thus, on this Christmas eve, the two whose lives had been so strongly woven together parted, never to meet again till the clearer light of some other world had revealed to them the full meaning of their early love. impumaimpumplowswerommamoompompiampf %Vas( hat is ittth Comte.rotl. more Castoria is Dr. Samuel Pitcher's preseription for infallt$ aud Children. It contains neither Opium, MOrphine nor other Narcotic substance. It is a harmless substitute for Paregoric, Drops, Soothing. Syrups, and Castor OIL /t if! Pleasant. Its guarantee is thirty years' use by Millions of Mothers. 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" Co.storia 18 80 well adapted to children that I recommend it as superior toany pralcriptioe known to me." IL A. ..f4 WEER, M. D., 111 Co. Oxford St., Brooklyn, N. Y. "Our physicians in the children's depart, ment have spoken highly of their experi- ence in their outside practice with Castoria, and although we only have among our medical supplies what is known as regular products, yet we are free to confess that the merits of Castoria has won us to look with favor upon it." UNITED Ilosmrst. AND DISPENSAET, BOADEI MNSM Amax C. SMITE, Pres., The Centaur Company, TI Murray Street, Noor York City. CHRISTMAS GOODS AT JAJNLEM3S 0014t3333367 We have just received a large invoice of fine Bohemia Cut Glass Bottles filled with finest PERFUME. Call and see the fine display. Prices within the reach of all. RUMBALL'S Carriage Factory, CHAPTER XXXVI. For a time Frithjof was rather silent and quiet, but Sigrid and Swanhild were in high spirits as they wentdown to Rowan Tree House, arriving just in time for supper. The atmosphere of happiness, however, is always infec- tious, and he soon threw off his tacitur- nity, and dragging himself away from his own engrossing thoughts, forgot the shadows of life in the pure brightness of this home which had been so much to him ever since he set foot in it. With Swanhild for an excuse they played all sorts of games; but v. hen at last she had been sent off to bed, the fun and laughter quieted down. Mr. and Mrs. Boniface played their nightly game of backganamon ; Roy and Sig- rid had a long tete-a-tete in the little inner drawing -room ; Cecil sat down at the piano and began to play Mendels- sohn's Christmas pieces; and Frithiof threw himseo back in the great arm' chair close to her, listening half dream- ily and with a restful sense of pause in his life that' he had never known be- fore. He desired nothing, he revelled in the sense of freedom froin the love which for so long had been a misery to him; the very calm was bliss. "That is beautiful," he said when tbe music ceased. "After all, there is no one like Mendelssohn, he is so human." "You look like one of the lotus-eat- ers," said Cecil, glancing at him. "It is precisely what I feel like," he said, with a smile. "Perhaps it is be- cause you have been giving me '"Music that gentlier on the spirit lies Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes.' I remember so well how you read that to me after I had been ill. ' ugust Flower" I-Inron Street, Clinton Do you want a first-class COVERED or OPEN BUGGY, got up with the very best material and finished in a workmanlike manner; or do yon wanted daisy, easy. riding ROAD CART; or even an excellent, well-built LUMBER WAGGON or DEMOCRAT; because if you do, come and see the subscribers who will supply your wants on very reasonable terms. 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