The absence of Harriet on the night following alarmed the fears and awakened the suspicions of her father and mother.  Early on the next day, Mr. Meadows learned that his daughter had been seen entering the——­cars in company with young Sanford.  Calling upon Millard, he ascertained that Sanford had not been to the store on the previous day, and was still absent.  To merge suspicion and doubt into certainty, the alderman who had married the couples was met accidentally.  He testified to the fact of his having united them.  Sick at heart, Mr. Meadows returned home to communicate the sad intelligence to the mother of Harriet.  When he again went out, he was met by the startling rumor that a defalcation had been discovered on the part of young Sanford to a large amount.  Hurrying to the store of Mr. Millard, he was shocked to find that the rumor was but, alas! too true.  Already false entries in the cash book had been discovered to the amount of at least five thousand dollars.  An officer, he also learned, had been despatched to——­, for the purpose of arresting the dishonest clerk and bringing him back to justice.

“Quite an affair this,” remarked Larkin to an acquaintance whom he met some time during the day, in a half-serious, half-indifferent tone.

“About Meadows’ daughter and Sanford?  Yes, and rather a melancholy affair.  The worst part of it is, that the foolish young man has been embezzling the money of his employer.”

“Yes, that is very bad.  But Millard might have known that Sanford could not dash about and spend money as he did upon his salary alone.”

“I do n’t suppose he knew any thing about his habits.  He is an unsuspicious man, and keeps himself quietly at home when not in his store.”

“Well, I did then.  I saw exactly how he was going on, and could have told him; but it wasn’t any of my business.”

“I do n’t care so much for Millard or his clerk as I do for the foolish girl and her parents.  Her happiness is gone and theirs with it.”

“Ah, yes—­that is the worst part.  But they might have known that something of the kind would take place.  They were together a good deal, and were frequently to be seen riding out on Sunday afternoons.”

“This was not with the knowledge of her parents, I am sure.”

“I do n’t suppose it was.  Still they should have looked more carefully after their child.  I knew it and could have told them how things were going—­but it was n’t any of my business.  I always keep myself clear from these matters.”

Just at this moment a third person came up.  He looked serious.

“Mr. Larkin,” he said, “I have just heard that your daughter and Hatfield, your clerk, were married at the same time that Sanford was, and went off with that young man and his bride.  Alderman——­, it is said, united them.”

Larkin turned instantly pale.  Hatfield had been away since the morning of the day before, and his daughter was not at home, having asked the privilege of going to see a cousin who resided a few miles from the city.  A call upon Alderman——­confirmed the afflicting intelligence.  The father returned home to communicate the news to his wife, on whom it fell with such a shock that she became quite ill.