Show ax 01 ee THAT STOLEN KISS by AUGUSTUS 0 SHERWIN derision armed apra dennison stood looking down at a telegram bearing these words a date an and a signature the same told her hat the brief message camo came from tho the city acro where the state supreme ourt met that a legal friend of her father had sent cent it and that it was a 0 crushing blow to the hopes prospects and ambition of that doar dear fattier father who had fought so hard it IL means ruin sho she said sadly poor father poor fattier father she had mar when nhen a few minutes nii since lie had loft left the house abruptly without rissing her goodby good by as was usual with him now she bho comprehended chilt a terrible blow had blighted all his hopes holies arid and the quick tears came to her eyes ns as she realized recalled real led that he had rou elved a death blow to his fondest ambitious ambitions judge dennison had never been a wealthy ann since the death of nellies mother they had lived in a quiet humble way tho the little ciomo ionic ilow how over ever was all they possessed the practice of the judge was small and irregular Ino gular for two years they had lived in great hopes of receiving a large amount of money with avith tho the death of mrs alra dennison there had come complicated litigation over a 9 will ninde made by the uncle of voras veras mother in case the claims of mra airs den arilson were proven vera vcra as her heiress would mould receive a legacy that would provide for or both herself and hor her father for life the judge studied up the case critically ile he decided that lie ho could contest the will lind and gain gala ills his contention jle ia put time and money into tile the suit lie he was sure of success but bitt his ous labors prostrated him on a bed of sickness the day the case was called another lawyer unfamiliar with wi th tho the details of the case was called in and the suit stilt was decided against them after thai that the judge was not as he had been before ills his great disappointment biad bad unnerved and discouraged him bilm lie ile at once set at work to the case ills spirits had risen Borne what as the time approached ii lien hen a decision was expected and now the end had come decision of the lower court affirmed wera vora went out to the vino vine shaded porch and sat down on a rustic bench trying to be calm and patient counting the seconds until her fattier father returned it must have been an hour later when his heavy spiritless step sounded on tho the graveled walk iler her I 1 U trying to da be calm and patient heart sank as she noted that ho he had become visibly older within the hour dear father she spoke springing aown the steps and fondly linking her arni arm within hla his own you have been llo ito the office tor for the last time dear was the anle g antle but hopeless reply Oh papa what do you moan mean that my broken practice wl will it not admit of atthe expense of maintaining an office was the reply 1 I havo have given I 1 have bave ordered my law library sent hero here what little busl business incest 1 shall have can be done quite well from the house vera said nothing she understood full fully that her fattier father had sunk utterly beneath the cruel crushing blow of the day she led him into tho the con cool pleasant parl parlor or lind and urged him to a rest in his favorite arm chair vera regarded him anxiously she realized that in III his present despondent condition the arst worst thing he could do was to retire from active business ills his mind unemployed would prey on itself Is there no way that you can retain your office father she inquired surely you can build up a new legal practice my jy child 1 arn am too old worn out declared the judge wearily perhaps then a rest will do you good murmured vora vera soothingly do not worry father wo have the little home hero here and we shall get along isome way I 1 can get gel a tew few more nit att stu stud dats ats and that will help when tho the things from the office arrive we will have to olean clean out tile the library and put them there sald said the judge 1 I cant understand why that t was not reversed he went on there were some come points my IL rep didiot did not bring up that li if not its his fault however you know krilow 1 lost som bonie valuable abla me memoranda morandi ind a volume colunio with some bamo important deci decisions sione affecting our case I 1 havo have never been beed ablerto find them and my memory hat hae been poor since my last spell of sickness oil oh by tile the way about my clerk young morton yes papa said vora vera and she lowered her eyes and flushed slightly sho she had come to know her fathers law student quite bulto well she cherished him as a loyal trusted friend of tho the judge and liked him for that ward alerton alorton asks permission to como come to tho the house and study in tho the library explained the judge poor follow I 1 am sorry for his sake ile ho does not want to make a now new connection however with three months study he can qualify for the bar and start in III for himself out of the change in the professional life ot of judge dennison Donn lson there grow a sweet romance ward morton forton canio came dally daily to the house and studied in the library vora could not help but meet him tills this young man received a commission for some old documents involving quite good pay ile he asked vera to assist him and she was glad to earn a little extra money ono one morning vera was sn the library arranging some booekr on thell their shelves and dusting and cleaning ur generally it was quite early lind and she expected to complete her task before morton arrived lie ho surprised her on tile the little atop ladder however arranging some ponderous ponde roun law volumes you must let nic me take that heavy work oft off your hands miss alias dennison Denn lson insisted morton in its his usual courteous i way and they chatted pleasantly she eho handing up the books and morton orton ar ari ranging them then suddenly a ponderous wine tomo slipped from lilt hie hand there was a sharp cry of pain as it struck vera on the face and fell to the floor instinctively she raised her hand band to her injured cheek check oil oh how awkward of mot met cried ANI morton orton self reproachfully you are ara hurt and in III deep solicit solicitude udo he removed her hand from her cheek check A dark bruise showed and my stupid fault said iN morton lorton and then because he could not help it lie ho pityingly reverently with his lips touched the cruel bruise in confusion vera kneeled to pick up tip the book and morton assisted her in gathering up somo some papers that hai bad fallen out of it suddenly vcra uttered a i quick cry your cheek legan the solicitous morton no not no she wavered drawing with shy ally consciousness away from this fervent admirer as it fearing his earnest sympathy would carry him away a second time these papers oh ob father must know about these at once within the hour judge dennison Denn lson was tile the happiest man in all christen dom A more mere accident had brought to light the tha mislaid millaid decisions and memoranda in the great will case and as ho he and morton went over them both were sanguine that a higher appeal would win them their case in the memory of that stolen kiss in the library there could be but one outcome a love declaration an engagement and a happy happy wedding copyright 1914 1 by W 0 chapman |