The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-08-09

THE ADOPTED SON;
OR, CHiRITY'S REWARD.
BY PAUL CREYTON.
CHAPTER 1.

One Coiu, "iuuy, ureaTy udy, III tne
month Of November, lS43, tall, dark in
dividual might have been observed passing
to and fro, in mysterious manner, in one
of the most retired streets in the city of
Boston. His finely made form and hand
some features were disguised by the folds
of a spacious cloak and scarf, which he
had assumed for the douole purpose of
concealment and defence against the cold.
Several times had the strange individ-
ual walked up and down the street, like
one distracted. But, although he seemed
to have no OBJECT in view, keen obser-
yer would have remarked at once that he
was deeply interested in some object he
saw, or wished to see, in cottage over
the way; for, his dark piercing eye was
turned in that direction continually.
At last, as the stranger was approaching
the house of one of his rounds, lad of
about twelve summers-pale. and poorly
clad, came out of the door, and ran lightly
down the steps into the street. The
stranger paused-but as the boy ran on
before him, he followed, quickening his
pace, and was soon led by the unconscious
youth into a more busy quarter Of the
town.
The two kept on at a rapid pace, the
stranger gradually nearing the boy, until
the latter suddenly turned into large,
crowded building, composed of offices de-
voted TO the use of lawyers, brokers and
other business men. The lad mounted a
broad flight of stairs, and entered side
door, which he had scarcely closed when
the stranger entered and followed him in.
There was but one man in the Office, and
he sat at the desk with newspaper in
his hand. He looked up as the two en-
tered, and after glancing at the stranger,
who coolly took seat near the stove,
rnotioned the boy to approach him.
The lad was embarrassed, and seemed
afraid to speak. With his cold, numb
fingers, he played with the buttons of his
coat. while his eye turned alternately from
the stranger to the man at the desk. The
latter was middle-aged man, with cold
hard. calculating look, such as chlils the
heart unused to the sel6shness of the world.
We'll, William said he, turning to the
how. with the mockery of a smile-it was
xo cold and heartless-'well, William, has
vour father sent ME the money for the rent
az he promised my clerk. when he called
ON hin. the other day?-Speak out, Viii
Eam.'
he sent me, SdlQ tilS ooJ, oitOi ooiii'
hesitation, .to tell you that he couldn't pos
sibly raise the money for you to-day; bu
that he hopes to be able to get 1t Tor yo'
s~-s-------.c q -----l-.-
The man at the desk scowled darkly.
Tell your father.' said he, in tones o
hasshness, shat can put up with thi
treatment no longer. have been put OF
row day after day with promises and pro
.esta,ions, until am tired of the sam
e.srnal lingo. However,. will let thing
remain until Saturday, when, if the rem
is 10, paid, l shall be under the necessit.
of adopting measures that would be un
pleasant both to him and me-
sBut father is very sick, began the LAD
his eyes glistening with tears.
He would have said more, but sob
choked his utterance, and he hurried fror
the Office into the street.
said the man at the desk scowled dark
ly; but when the boy was gone, and nj
eye fell upon the stranger seated at the .ir'
at the sight of the digni6ed bearing of tn
latter, and his rich but simple dress, hi
worldly heart was pleased, and his bro,
brightened with smile.
EXCUSE me-, said the stranger, az
preaching the door; 4 perceive have er
tered the wrong place. But will YOU te
me whether or not that lad is the son {
Mr.. Jonathan Harding!'
AYE; that's his fathers name replie
the other, politely.