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Ei a a Te Fe LD OHAPTER XXXIV, ~--(Cont' d) 'But,' exclaimed Roy, when | IY su Were once more out of debt how was it that you did not gonfess; and go what you could to make up for four. shameful conduct?' § "Well, sir, 1 hadn't the courage. Bometimes 1 thought I wonld; and Shen again I couldn't make op my fmind toh =e got: to: hate Mr, Walck, and ted him more he- pate He behaved well about it; and ¥ got into the way of spiting him and naling the place disagreeable him; and I hoped that he would ave. But hel atuck torhis post rough it all; and I began to think would 'be safer that I should ave, for I felt afraid of him some- ow, fo at Michuelmas I took this tu tion, And oh, sir, for my 6's sake don't ruin me; don't pose all this to my employer 1" & {1° promised you just now that you should not be exposed ; but you "must write. a few words of confess on. to my .father; and be quick bout it, for I want to catch the xpress to London."' & Darnell, who: wad still: pals' and Bgitated, seized pen paper, nd wrote a few words of apology ##nd a clear confession. b Roy watched him with some curio- of fact, Darnell had peen perfectly self-possessed until his guilt was discovered. "I don't know how to thank you ugh, sir, for your lonfoniey, he Lhe had written, as' pol Swewor ve facta" "Well, just let the stig bo bey Jesson to you," said Roy: Is an deal said mbout druakene ness® being. thé national sin, but T believe it is betting that is §t the root of half of the evils of he day. Fortunately, things Aare, w;. 88 straight as far as may be, re - member, that ; yoti & and perhaps" irrevo ly injured a perfectly innocent many' y "1 bitterly regret it sir; I deed I" said Darul. "I hope yo do {8 ep you-onght be nd 'while arnell in erat ed thanks and apologies; and ab- fect. aEpBats, Roy stalked out of the shop and made bis way back to the statjo! ry think that I believed in that "our, and. doubted Falck!' he said | © "to himself, with disgust: "And yet, could any one have seemed more respectable than Darnell, more thoréughly trustworthy. And how ovould'T disbelieve the evidence that ".was'8o dead against Frithiof | Big- 'rid 'and' Cecil trusted him; and I - ought 20 have done so too, I sup- Jota but women seem to mie to "have a faculty for that sort of thing which we are quite 'without."' Then, after a time, he remember- ed that the last barrier that part- ed him - from Sigrid was broken el ] Ne dear boy, money is not the} down ; and it was just as well that, he had the railway carriage to him. self, for he began to sing so jul - Analy that the people in the next tote a hansom and drove as ick. : ssible to Regent Street. Frithi f just glanced at him Him in: Suirinel a¢ he passed through the e wandered much what had foi at Plymouth, and when ab last 'he had got rid of his customer, Roy returned to the shop with such evident excitement and. triumph in his manner that old Foster thought he must be taking leave of his sen- thiof, Holgi hor face said hoon] i B68. "My father wants you; Erithiof,"' he said. And Frithiof followed' him "hito the little inner room which had to speak to been the scene of such disagrees able interviews {in the past. A strange dream-like feeling' tame over him as he fecalled the wretch- ed 'simmer day 'when the detective had searched. him, and in horrible, bewildered misery he had seen the five-pound note dying on that same leather-covered table; 'an inexplic able 'mystery ahd. a 'damning, evi-~ dence' against him. «But visions of the past faded as | Mr. Boniface grasped; his hand. "How can I ever apologize to you, Frithiof " he |eaid. "Roy Hus brought back a full confession from Darnell, and the mystery is entire- ly cleared up. | You must forgive me for the explanation of the affair that I "Was content. with last sum- mer--I can't tell oo i all that you have "Here is Darnell'#"i Roy, handing it im And Frithiof reafit-eage asked the details of his > CHSOPI HOt ofS WilL- this satisfy Me: alyou fp 2' he 43 when Roy bad} ooh be to18 hin al}, about his' interview | if with Darne "I van nt Fail to" {ogtiviticd' very one,' said Mr. Boniface. 'It is proof positive that you are free from and that we owe you all blame ; SFY posible apology 'and repar- ave 'wronged | & ; Hin Hhink that) Mr. Bbrner will b fo font, and will really sign the of partnership" fhaid wil be J to see that) as To nor is indioste bs ig Bons Bu T nh sa renew the offer of partnership to him. He has behaved very ill to you, he has been insolent to me, and I am glad that, as far as busi- mets 'goes, 'our connedtion is at an 1'that is quite settled. And oe we havea proposal to make | to you. We 'want you, if nothing}. better has turned up, to. -acoept a junior partnership i in our firm." . Frithiof was so staggered by the unexpectedness of this offer that for a moment or. two he could not say a word: "You are very good," he said, 2% : length. 'Far, far too good and kind to me. But how can % 'let you do so much for me--how can I let. you take as Jartnet a man who no capital to only thing wanted in business," | said Mr: Boniface, ] his han took for a school. | 08, Fri ing for his Christmas | oan only do their shopping in 'bring into 'the busi- a my "ind 3 Mr. Bonitace?" 'You can Laney u Twould be' that goes. praia by Hund of by unite?' "What do you mean' abe eried. "le he hag offered me the' Kooi E ncahi said Fei} delight; and rewarded for all he had been through by her Tapture of hap- piness ahd! bet shad, surprise; As for Swa afted the long train of secret ansi. sty which had tried her so muchiall thes cputumn, she was like a wild thing; she laughed and sung, danced and chattered, and' wonld +4 'certainly never have eaten any sup- per had she not set her heart on going out 0" buy "Christmas pre- 'sents at a dertain shap in Bucking* which ham Palace she was sure would still be ope. 4 Por it is just the sort of: shop for people like us," she sxplained, "people 'who are buly all: ay and evening," ; Bo precisely 'they 'locked up ithe rooms and all three went out' to- gether on the merriest shopping ex- =~ that--ever Be WOE Rh: whomliibhey in ¢ gh shops seemed more enticing an TEE ok aed Christmas g heaven of ha; al § Bigrid, with | her own secret.now once more a joy and not'a care, moved like 'one in a happy dream ; while Frithiof, free from: the miserable; 'cloud of Bus] jon, freed, moreover, by all that: had lived through from the hope: ild, in the reaction When his 'Excelloiioy arose, a burst of handelappin hesitate in his' spoken © That instant. spelled oom, ts when. 'the Mound of applause" died: down, not a word could the; greater re- Sally Sosnetl ps-half a ac is audience; tryin desper- ately to get the rat pend Jences o out i Shay Ta Jus Shey : Bey wi as Bainful. Fina Finally fhe more sat a few Wikis & pleas: A over by calling upon another mem- w] lessness of 'the strugglé, was the| most erfectly shappy of 'all: Ee forced himself to rem that it was throm ough these very streets that he h wandered in utter misery when hefirst cameito: London § aod xecollosting # from. what) depths hmeba thought. strange revérence--there 'was thing she would. not, ¢ reflections were interru . by Swanhild's WO! "We will have every one on Tree House, won't said. "And Hair! Bivertaen,"' Sigrid. because 'he is all alone." *'And whatever happens, we ust 'have old Miss Charlotte," said thiof ; "but. it strikes me we: shall has | have to ask people to. bring ° own mgs, like children at's 8 you learaod to swim in 'the | deh Rud' rethe: river Shat-flowa by or [2 when; "No, sir," Te replied; "40 £4 tow the, Za den ae . "He must certainly. come : SS baie ero an shat 'thinfité he |