Part 26 (2/2)
”Yes, papa.”
”And have you ever left your desk unlocked, or the key lying about?”
”No, papa. I am quite certain I have not,” she answered unhesitatingly, though her voice trembled, and she grey very pale.
”Very well, then, _I_ am quite certain you have told me a falsehood, since it is evident this _must_ have been your work. Elsie, I can forgive anything but falsehood, but that I _never will_ forgive. Come with me. I shall teach you to speak the truth to _me_ at least, if to no one else,” and taking her hand again, he led, or rather dragged, her from the room, for he was terribly angry, his face fairly pale with pa.s.sion.
Lora came in while he was speaking and, certain that _Elsie_ would never be caught in a falsehood, her eye quickly sought Arthur's desk.
He was sitting there with a very guilty countenance.
She hastily crossed the room, and speaking in a low tone, said, ”Arthur, _you_ have had a hand in this business I very well know; now confess it quickly, or Horace will half kill Elsie.”
”You don't know anything about it,” said he doggedly.
”Yes, I do,” she answered; ”and if you do not speak out at once, _I_ shall save Elsie, and find means to prove your guilt afterwards; so you had much better confess.”
”Go away,” he exclaimed angrily, ”I have nothing to confess.”
Seeing it was useless to try to move him, Lora turned away and hurried to Horace's room, which, in her haste, she entered without knocking, he having fortunately neglected to fasten the door. She was just in time; he had a small riding whip in his hand, and Elsie stood beside him pale as death, too much frightened even to cry, and trembling so that she could scarcely stand.
He turned an angry glance on his sister as she entered; but taking no notice of it, she exclaimed eagerly, ”Horace, don't punish Elsie, for I am certain she is innocent.”
He laid down the whip asking, ”_How_ do you know it? what _proof_ have you? I shall be very glad to be convinced,” he added, his countenance relaxing somewhat in its stern and angry expression.
”In the first place,” replied his sister, ”there is Elsie's established character for truthfulness--in all the time she has been with us, we have ever found her perfectly truthful in word and deed. And then, Horace, what motive could she have had for spoiling her book, knowing as she did that certain punishment would follow? Besides, I am sure Arthur is at the bottom of this, for though he will not acknowledge, he does not deny it. Ah! yes, and now I recollect, I saw and examined Elsie's book only yesterday, and it was then quite free from blots.”
A great change had come over her brother's countenance while she was speaking.
”Thank you, Lora,” he said, cordially, as soon as she had done, ”you have quite convinced me, and saved me from punis.h.i.+ng Elsie as unjustly as severely. That last a.s.surance I consider quite sufficient of itself to establish her innocence.”
Lora turned and went out feeling very happy, and as she closed the door, Elsie's papa took her in his arms, saying in loving, tender tones, ”My poor little daughter! my own darling child! I have been cruelly unjust to you, have I not?”
”Dear papa, you thought I deserved it,” she said, with a burst of tears and sobs, throwing her arms around his neck, and laying her head on his breast.
”Do you love me, Elsie, dearest?” he asked, folding her closer to his heart.
”Ah! so very, _very_ much! better than all the world beside. O papa! if you would only love me.” The last word was almost a sob.
”I do, my darling, my own precious child,” he said, caressing her again and again. ”I do love my little girl, although I may at times seem cold and stern; and I am more thankful than words can express that I have been saved from punis.h.i.+ng her unjustly. I could never forgive myself if I had done it. I would rather have lost half I am worth; ah! I fear it would have turned all her love for me into hatred; and justly, too.”
”No, papa, oh! no, _no; nothing_ could ever do that!” and the little arms were clasped closer and closer about his neck, and the tears again fell like rain, as she timidly pressed her quivering lips to his cheek.
”There, there daughter! don't cry any more; we will try to forget all about it, and talk of something else,” he said soothingly. ”Elsie, dear, your Aunt Adelaide thinks perhaps you were not so very much to blame the other day; and now I want you to tell me all the circ.u.mstances; for though I should be very sorry to encourage you to find fault with your teacher, I am by no means willing to have you abused.”
”Please, papa, don't ask me,” she begged. ”Aunt Lora was there, and she will tell you about it.”
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