Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-17
the ground upon which her brother wa. &C

to the door to observe the mad animal, leaving
tue hundred dollar bill, as he declared, and
the nai written letter, on the desk.
On MS return, the moneygas no where to
be found, Richard had not ~ II Searcb
was instituted, but il could ncl De found It
happened that our Landlord, who is q brother
in-!aw OF Mr.. Denley, wished 10 change a
hundred dollar bill, and casually mentionaa
| that he had received il from Richard In nav
ment for bis rent, which had been DELAYED
several days.
"Mr. Denley immediately identified tho
bill as the one he had lost. He is very posi.
tive, and is ready TO swear il 10 the yery Lii
be lost. An officer was called, and poor
Richard was thrown into prison OF cour,e
he could not produce the person who lent him
the money, and Mr.. Denley choosed 70 regard
Richards explanstio as mere invention
1t was heavy blow to the poor girl, and
heavier still to her sick and suffering mother
1t certainly looked like bad case. The
young mans sadness i'm view of his unpaid
bills, his sudden cheerful ness, though the
debt itself still remained. and worse than an
the positive nature of Mr. Denley's evidence.
were all against a successful defences But 1
lad hope Of getting him of, for the identity
OF the bill, unless actually registered by num-
Der, was matter to which few could posi-.
lively swear
made up my mind to clear him, II there
was any such thing-even to clear him on
quibbie, II no other means offered. had
little hope OF establishing his innocence. for
my reason assured me that Richard, good son
| which he was charged
succeeded 80 well In assuring Alice Wade
that her brother would be restored to her
that she was tolerably cheerful before shc
left
You are very kind, Mr.. Docket: and
rear we snail never be able fully to repay
you. Here are twenty dollars, it is all We
have, but you are very kind :" and she ten
dered me roll of bills.
No, Miss Wade, nothing. Keep your
you may not"
She took her leave, after thanking me again.
and proceeded to consider the case
need not detail to the reader the particu-
lars Of Richard Wade's examinatiop nnon
which he was fully committed. The grand
jury found true bill, and he was arraigned
for trial.
All that my poor skill and humble eloo uenee
could accomplish for the prisoner, was unsuc-
eessful, and, to my grief and consternatiou.
the jury brought him in guilty, after being
out five hours. :.
Poor Alice! l could not endure the thoupbt
OF meeting her and telling her of the destr1c-
ton OF all her hopes; and instead of going TO
my office, where / knew she awaited INV
coming, took Mr.. Denley's arm, with the in
tention of getting him to make statement
oy the ald OF which mitigation of the un-
fortunate young mans sentence might be oh
tanned. Almost unconsciously led him into
Parker's, where we seated ourselves ar Ia.
BILE, and called for lunch.
1t is very hard case, Mr. DenIey. - said
L, poor Wsde's mother will suffer more than
he't 'Na
al know it; but one cannot submit to be
plundered in this manner Besides IL is a du-
ty we owe to society to assist in Furnishing the
guilty" 49,"
True; but after all, Mr.. Denlsy you NAV
be mistaken about the bill"
" Mistaken! Impossible, am sure of the
bill. 1t was the same one /; if there had been
particle OF doubt about il, 1 should not have
sworn to it, of course"
" 1t might have blown out of window
" The window was closed
You must think Richard w ade was a fool
10 take such an opportunity Of robbing You.
when, as you testified, he handled hundreds
Of dollars of your money every day. If be
nad meant to rob you, it seems to me be would
nave chosen better opportunity
"T The fact is undeniabIe
oh, no; L could mention dozen pIainer
cases than this where innocent men have hesn
punished" >"
There is no chance for mistake
You might have thrust the bill In your
pocket and lost it."
my brother-in-law, who received IL from
Wade, replied be, involuntariIy thrusting bis
hands into his vest pockets.
Suddenly L observed q nervousness in mis-
manner, and with both hands be began 70
tumble with great violence at the left hand
pocket he had thrust one finger through q
hole near the top of the pocket, and was er.
ploring the recess inside of the lining of the
garment.
MY God!' exclaimed he. suddenly ,;s;,r
from his chair, in the highest excitement
while with a nervous twitch he tore swav tbe
pocket, and drew out bit Of crumpled paper.
My heart leaped as his trembling hand nm.
folded the paper 1t was a hundred dollar
bill. N'"'
"God forgive me-" exclaimed he and his
cheeks glowed with shame
You were mistaken, then ''
was; come to the judge with me, Dock
ct, and he rushed furiously towards the
Courthouse. -
l need not inform the reader by what s,r.
malities the judgment was reversed-but IL
was done at onee-perhaps some violence was
done to the forms but Richard w sde waited
with me to my office, where he was folded in
the arms OF his loving and devoted sister.
lie was saved. He was Innocent Whata
thrill Of joy ran through the veins Of the fair
girl. 80
We were Immediately Joined by Mr.. Den
ley, who took to himself much blame for the
part he had acted He apologized in very
humble terms to his book keeper
% You meant right, Mr. Denley, /" said Rich
ard, taking his preferred hand in token of his
forgiveness.
81 was wrong, and the events Of this dsv
nave taught me lesson which shall never
orget," replied the merchant al shaIlmaks
Tou suea amends as are in my power, and
,egin by raising your salary"
Thank you, sir, you are too kind. My in
lOcence is established, which is Of more CON
cauence to me than anything else I"
The parties left my Office soon after. The
Gene when the poor mother was informed of
he result, can easily be imagined by the
eader Since that day, have been proud
D number among my personal friends the
nembers of the Wade family. % .a-r
Richard S friend returned from the South
ew days after. He had not received the let
er Richard had sent him, and was ignorant
{ the events which had occurred in bis alb
ence. Richard paid him, and it is not very
ngular that this same friend became the
usband of Alice two years after. Mr. Den.
xrorJ 18th R;oha