The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-05-21

retured Dir. Randall.
/ &C, God "eiacuated the youth, cla-ping his
hands together IN turned agony what have
done that have cope 10 Ihis =
Mr. Wiley began 10 show evident signs ts re-.
pontance that be- had been instrumental "a bring
rg this about, and as Randall noticed it, he made
haste to cat the meeting short.
'l"u'e:,' not go back TO the store with me. .
sa'd he to his clerk, but shall ses you this
evening"
wilton Cunningham turned his step, home
ward, but his step was slow aud sad. lie knew
the disposition Of Mr. Randall, that he was bard.
hearted, grasping avaricous and capable Of doing
anything shat might answer hi. own ends-but he
Knew not then all the ends the trader had in view
--ends which will be easily understood by a
slight conversation at the store.
Lyman" said Sir. Randall, after he had re-.
turned from Mr Wlley's, I've got young Gun.
ninghnm hard and fast. The evidence il clear.
and # Bulard gets home to night, Il have him
bound over to trial
But YOU dont mean to Try Wilton for theft DO
you T. as Lyman.
| 'Ofcourse do. Do YOU suppose a man shall
rob me with Impunity"
/ Bot you might turn him off, father and keep
back his last quarters salary.
You don't know all LYMAN. The Young fel.
low might have been likely. hadn't this thing
turn-d up, to have proved dangerous rival 10
u.s.
How So hther"
by selling up an opposition store
but he hasn't the capital"
"He can raise it, though. That old Jones that
was here ibis morning ha. offered to lend him tw o
thousand iollars, and others have offered to ad
vance him money il be will open new store"
I "1Hat Vpull ie ra,LpF tIupg.rnua hn.ip.ga C,r
YOU remarked Lyman in a thoughtful mood
"But be- won't do II now" the old man II turned,
with considerable satlsfac ion. "lhis thing vii!
shut him up"
When Wilton reached his home he found lis
mother sitting in the front room. ani hc at once
told her all that h'd passed. She was horror
struck. but not single in.tar. did she entertain
question that she had it N her possession for sew.
eral weeks before it was paid out.
/ The conversation between the mother anJ child
vas long aud earnest, but thoy could find no clue
to ,he solving Of the diliicul y. All looked dark
and gloomy.
! After dinner, Wilton put on mis- hat End took q
few turns IN Ne garden. lie seemed to be s,rug.
Cling with strong desire, AMI more than once he
laid his hand upon the latch Of the gate and then
turned and went back again. At length be
placed hl- hand upon his brow. and mutierpd a
few lncohent sentences to- himself When he
looked up again. he was pale and sld. but ap.
pclrel no longer undecided He opened the gate
md passed ont into the street, and turning 70 tho
left he walked away from the Village. At the
di.tance Of about half m,le he came to small
white farm house, where lived Mr.. Drake, one OF
the thrftirst farmers in the town. and "a he turn
ed up the pink. bouicrrd walk that led to the door
he was met by happy, laughing, beautiful girl
u.l f.lu ritt t,
Why, what il the matter dear Wilton she
exclaimed a. she noticed the pallor that over
spread his features
! Come INTO the house and will tell YOU" he ex
claimed.
Alice Drake took the young man 10y tie hand
and walk with him up through the garden When
y & ey reached the sitting room Wilton Coming
h IN closed Nhe door anl told her all that tran
s,rrd. His yoicr was hr, fo. b. hIl sehloled
bm.elf to the task
I And now he continued, as be finished his
story, have thought Alice. that it would be-
orteg for NE to tell you this, than to have il
come to YOU from other lips know not how ii
will turn cut but ! fear that shall be- unable t.
d.pruve MIR Ra.L-lrs charge In all probability
shall be called before Squire Billiard for eX
lsmnaun and the eyen, cannot but east q fru
,taln upon my rcpUta,uuu. 1t Is a painful thing
"a be situated thus, for Others must suffer be
sides myself: but YOU, dear Alice, would r..
from the
Wilton hyeila,el AMI wiped a tear from hi.
eye hut he soon gained his ref possession, though
hs yulce lIllered and he continued:
"IOu know our relations, dear Alice, but If thi,
stain falls upon me, must release you from youl
VOWS. One - pure as you should not unite wll
man upon whose name even Suspicion Of crime
can fisten itself /. is like taking my life itsel
thus To-"
Hold, Wilton, uttered the fair girl, who had
managed thus far to keep back her tears Are
YOU guilty of this thing e
ut is cruel to ask me that Alice"
Il ASK i, nevertheless"
AS there is God who hears me now, the
thought, even, of such crime never entered my
mind The person does not live who can say with
truth that ever wronged him or her"
Il believe you returned Alice LAYING her hand
upon WlItou's shoulder and gazing aileGlionatrly
into his face Il know YOU, aud knowing YOU u.
| do, shall never forsake you When promised
to be yours for life, did II upon mature dclhcra
tlon, nor did mean that the first time that III,
cold breath of slandcr or suspicion rests upon YOU
should throw you oil
Noble, generous girl" murmured Wilton, n
he wound his arm about her, this takes away
half the sting; but you must remember well wha
you do
81 know what would do, Wilton. All! III
could fnrsakc YOU IN your trouble how unworthy
should | be of the sacred office Of wife, But tel
me, have you no su'piclon,t You say that fo
some time various small sums OF money have beer
taken from Mr. Randsll's drawer
"lss, dearest For over year there have
been frequently discrepancies between our ra,l
record aud the amount IN the drawer, butin man,
cases, it has been the result ol Mr liandalls owl
carclessness in taking mouey during the day lo
small purchases without giving u minute ui It
but, in some cases. know that the money ha
been stolen"
"And have you no suspicion Of who took il l
asked Alice, with much earnesneSs.
III do not know who tool; 1t, aud II would b
ungrnerous to tell of mere .uspiciuns,'
We'll have my suspicious SAID Alice. I"
was IN the store after you went to supper las
Wednesday evening and waited some time f.
you to come back, but got tired, So cam
away without seeing YOU"
"Well," uttered the young mnn, in Olmos
brea,hIess anxiety, did you seo anything out Il
the way p
Not thai | know Of; but while was there.
saw Mr. Randall 60 away from the de,k whet
You write, and put some heavy pieces OF silvc
into the money drawer, and when he wen, out q
the store, went too for did not like to rcmai
( after he had gone
THAT was probably the money hc marked, an
| it was after he had gone that the money was tn
KEN fnr when the drawer was taken out of til
. safe the next morning he saw. /, wns gone nm