A DARING IMPOSTOR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5284, 30 July 1888, Page 4

A DARING IMPOSTOR.

[BY ALFBED E. CALBffBN.J I

CHAPTER XV. AN IMPOSTOR. Although only the middle of the afternoon, it was so dark in the tenement house that the men and -women working the restless machines lit their lamps earlier than usual. . „ The pale-faced children, driven from the narrow dirty street by the rain, crouched on the stairs, or drowned out the rattle of the sewing machines by their shrill yells in the halls. Hitherto Allen, who loved children, had always met the little ones with a smiling face, and once a week he appeared beforo them with his pockets full of peanuts and CBndies, and he gave the boy or girl, voted " best " by the others, the largest share. To-day he ascended the bare steps with heavy feet and a sad face, and the children at sight of him, drew back and let him pass on without a word. Tho account of "ADaring Impostor had appeared in the papers a few days before, and had been read by Allen and his sister, but, eager to save their mother, they took earn that she should not see it. Mrs Gilbert, who had not been feeling very well, was asleep in hor own room when Allen entered. . , On tiptoe Florence met him, and kissing him, she led him to a seat by the window that commanded a view of tho street below. " Do not tell mo what I already know, Allen," she said, with her hands clasped about his arm. "Let it comfort you to know you have lost only after having made a brave fight in a good cause." "lam so accustomed to defeat, he said, gloomily, " that I should not hare expected anything else. Every one of my customers has taken his collections away from me. They protested that they were eager to help me, but they wero shocked to find their names in tho pupers as the employers of an ox-convict; so they sent mo adrift after wishing me well." , "And the doctor?" sho said, with her eves on the floor. *" Far be it from me to speak or think unkindly of a man who has been so good a friend to me. But he persists in thinking I deceived him in not confessing aU. My position is gone, to my now acquaintances I am an impostor, and to my old ones a criminal. The name Gilbert is as thoroughly disgraced in the eyes of tho world us tho name Lee. I feel like giving up the struggle, for it seems as if Heaven and earth were against mo;" and Allen buried his face in his hands and a tremor ran through his frame. " My brother, God knows how I love you, and why I love you," aaid Florence, taking ono of the hands from his face, and pressiug it between her own warm palms. •* But, though I realise tho trials that beeet us, I cannot despair, foe that would mean death. All day I have been thinking that this is a great, broad land, and if it absorbs the world's surplus people—good, bad, and indifferent—there surely should bo room enough in it for us. I have saved up nearly two hundred dollars, and our furniture ought to sell for fifty. This will be enough to Uko us to the great new West, and support us until wo can get work. There wo can begin life anew, and taking the dear nemo of our father again, struggle so as to deserve success, and then leavo the reat to God." " That seems to bo tho only tiling left— " That, and youth and hope," who said, encouragingly. "Do not speak of tho hop 3, sister. " But I shall; leavo that out and what is

life , :" , . , " Life without hope is the earth without the sun." These words were spoken by some one who had entered the room unobserved, nnd looking quickly up, the brother and sister saw Irene Lclferts in the act of throwing back her voil.

" I knocked," she said, " but as I got no reply I took the liberty of coming in, as of old."

Allen and Florence rose to their feet. They had not seen Irene since the night when Reybold appeared at the meeting, and by his accusations made those assembled forget the object for which they were called.

Allen bowed, but his heart wus in his throat, and he could not utter n word. With awouiausquickpenx.'ption Florence road I'Cr visitor's face, and coming to her she threw her arms about her neck, and kissing her, said, with a sob of joy: " God bless you for this !"

"Did you tlimk I believed Reybold ? Did you imagine I would forsake- you in the hour of your great tribulation?" asked Irene, as she approached the w.'udow and reached out both hands to Allen.

" I have been ho shocked and confused," he said, "that I did not know what to think. Other £oo<l friends have cast mo oif, why should you cling to me i , " She looked at him steadily for &omc seconds, then repeated, in a low, questioning tone : " Why should I cling to you ?" " 1 am sorry if I've, pained you," ho euid. An if she had not heard him, sho continued : " I cling to you because I bcliovo in you." " Vhen you run the risk of having your name associated with that of a criminal and an impostor," said A'len, half delighted, half desperate. "Should I be swerved from doing what I think is right simply by fear of what the world would my': Why should 1 degrade myself to keep ihe approval of the world r . No, no ; I have no war with the world, but I can d»*fy it« prejudices to save my own sense of honor."

Jrene Lefferts did not raise her voice, yet so clear aud penetrating were her words that they struck on tho heart of the brother and sister with a more thrilling effect than the trumpet tones of au orator. With tears in her eyes, Florence thanked the friend who, like a good angel, had brought light and warmth iuto tho darkness of their lives.

Allen then told Tier of Ka sister's plan to go to the fur West and begin life anew, but this Irene promptly opposed. " No,' she wtid. "To fly from the scone of your suffering—of your social degradation—would bo to assure tho world that you deserved it. Your foeH might Wow you to the new land, or in Home unexpected way the story of the past night come out and crush you again. Hero aro to be found tho facts and the people to clear you, and here you must reimiin and light it out to the end like a knightly man." " Ireno—you know you told me to call you Irene—" " And Irene I am still to you, my dear," said Irene, kissing , Florence again. '' Lot me say thin for my brother : He and I beljovo as you do, and if he could livo hero and maintain himself while ho fought, lam cure his would do bo. But tho knight, with an empty purso fights at a disadvantage. My brother will not beg, and he will not steal. He is ready to work, and he has shown his ability to work well and honestly, but his employers havo cast him off. Other employers will do the same should ficybold appear to tell of the past." " I have thought all that over, Florence. Indeed, I havo talked to my father about it. He is somewhat conservative, but at heart ho is a nobleman. He believes with me thnt Allen Lee has been wronged ; and, for the good ho actually knows of him, ho is willing to give him a plauo in his main shipping office on Broad street." " And for that I thank him," said Allen. " But so long as Keybold has access to your father, so long my position would bo in d#.tiirer." " I fhfuk not," she replied, quickly. " Through you his eyes have been opened to the doings of 3#ott Roybold, and the muti who could cast oit his flwn son because ho persisted in a life of disgrace, will hardly c'-ng to the son of another when i convinced of his periidy. What say you!' in this matter will you bo guided by me?" Irctio reayhed out her hand to him, and as Alice ben/: over it and pressed it to his lips he said, reyefontjy ; "I will."

Shortly after this Irene went fyome alone, for it was not yet dark, and Allen and Florence sat for tome time by the window in silenne, for they felt as if an angel had been in the room and that any noise would be a profanity.

The very next morning Allen, at the hands of a messenger, received a note from jjfr" Lutl'crts, asking him to come at once to his otticc.

Ho complicu,- nn( l the old gentleman met him with tho of manner ho had always shown, and never b.Y ovun t nu slightest hint did he refer to the charges made by Keybold.

After some talk aw to his qualifications, Mr Leflurts called his superintendent, introduced Allen, and nuked to have him assigned to what wan known as " Tho Custoiu-Houso Department" of the business.

Allen entered at once on his duties, which took him to his " old stamping gror \d " in Wul! -street.

Again the resolution to win stirred him, and he prayerfully resolved to do his whole duty—as he had ever dou« it—uncaring for the opinion of iho world. Often, us ho went to and fro from the office to tho Custom House, he saw Mott Key bold, and more than once ho was brought fiice to fiieo with Fruuk Leiferts, tho latter always more or less under tho influence of liquor. Allen would have been more than human had he permitted hie indignation against Reylwld to die out. With all tho strength of his forceful nature he loathed and hated the heartless ruffian, and if hu had only himself to think of a collision would have taken place between tho two long- since. One night Allen was returning- home, iiftev having- been to see Mr Lerlerts on some business, when a man, evidently under the influence of drink, daggered against h:m, and nearly knocked him down. 1 hough the act was rude, Allen would have brushed his hat and hurried on without further notice of the man, had not the electric lights in the square near by revealed the faces of Mott lioybold. The sight fired hi.s blood, and, with a cry of rage, he leaped forward and caught tho ruffian by the throat. [TO BK CONTINUED. |