The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-08-16
TIE STOLEN NOTE.
BY A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

the poor of the earnings Of long and weary
years. When the rich rob the rich, it seems
Eof half 50 wicked, is when man of humble
means is deprived OF his substance have
often seen the entire property of individuals
swept away at a single stroke of ill-tnrtune
and more than once have seen man. who
Thought he had competence, ruined in
>ingir da, bv villain.
The instance which am about to relate.
though happily the designs of the robbrr were
frustrated. Is one OF this charartcr, where an
un>rrupulou> person designed to send misery
and rum to Tie family OF humble mechan-
Except that he indulgcd too freely in the
use of the Intoxicating cup. John Wallace
was an honest. high minded ana exemplary
man HIS one great fault hung like a dark
shadow over his MANY virtues He meant
we'll. aui when he WAS sober he did ", H.
He was a halter bv trade, and bv his in
dn>'ry and thrift had acquire money enough
10 bu, the house in which he lived He had
purchased 1t several wears before for three
Thousand dollars, paving one Thousand down.
,I'd securing The balance bv a mortgage TO
the seller
The mortgaHe-no'e was almost due at the
time when the circumstances made me "a
Vu :In'ci with the affairs OF the family. Bat
v ailarr vas r",iv for the day; hr had saw
rd up the money, and there seemed no posi-
hili'I OF an arcid-nt
always bou.h, nv hats of Wallace, and
am free TO say they were the best hats the
| city afforded. had also doue some little
collecting. and drawn up some legal docu-
nirut> tor lin.
Que day his daughter Annie came TO nv
/ ot,i'e III great distress. declared that her
father wa> ruined. and that they should be
turned out OF the houS,. in which they lived
! Perhaps not, Miss Wallace | replied. trv-
ing to console her, ard 1--WE the altar, what
ever IT was. u h'iLhrcr aspect.
You KNOW IL, father. Mr. Docke; -
i DO. very well
You know his infrmtv -
i Io-I an sorry tor him There is not a
more honest or better disposed man in Boston
than vour father
He is very Kind and gool to US all but
i hope his ii!rnrv does not render HIM
troublesome AT home =
No sir but Icu,,lc take advantage Of
him
What has happrned?' y
lie had the money to paw the mortgage
on the house in which We live-Lut it j, all
gone now.
'GoneN
Yes zone
Il don't know; suppose 50. Last week
he drew out the two thou>and dollars from
the bank and lent it 10 Mr.. Bryce for ten
dayS'
Who Is Mr. Bryce?
lie is broker. Nv father cot arquaint-
ed with him through t;rorgc Chandler. who
boards with Us and Is Mr.. Brvcc's clerk
The poor rirl blu>hrd when she mention
ed the clerks name. and it did not require a
great deal OF penetration for Me to discover
that he was her lover.
Does Mr.. Bryce refuse to paw it ~
lie has ya,d IT,
Welt what is the trouble them
Father saws he has not paid it,
Indeed, but the note will he evidence that
he has not paid Ol course YOU have The
note -
NO; Mr.. Bryce has it.
Then of course he has paid it,
i suppose he has, or he could not have had
the note
What does your father saw? .
'lle is positive he never received the mon
cy. The mortgage must be paid tomorrow
Very singular Was ,onr father--
hr>l'ated to use ,he unpleasant word
knew must have gratcd harshly on the ear
Of the devoted .irl.
MIR. Bryce says nv father was not Jus,
right when he paid him, though not yer.
bad
i will see vour father
lie is coming hrre in few minutes;
thought | won.d see YOU, and tell YOU tn,
facts before he came
i do not see how Bryce could have obtain
ed the note. unless he paid the money
Nor L.
wv here did your father keep it y
'llc gavr 1t to me and put in the sccreta
: ry III The front room
: die! you give t to your father again =
NO.
who were in the room when you put it il
the Secretarv?'
Mr.. Bryce, George Chandler, my tathc
and myself
, Have YOU seen the note since it was plac
ed there
= .No'
v Has yOur father: =
: lie SAYS he has not
VERY rtmarkablr'
1T l., indeed know nv father wonld no
tell he about 1t. But he might have t.kti
! II out when he did not know what he was a
r bout
: Very likely: but if he was in a condition
= to take Ii out al all. he could untersran,
what he was about. " hat kind of man i
BIyce?'
;. i don't know: George-that is Georc
o Chandcr-Ikes him very we'll only he say
he Is very close.
In, conversation was here INTERRUPTED h.
: the entrance Of Wallace. He looked pal
i and hd9gard, As much from the effects Of
| anxiety a> OF the dehauch from which he wa
Just recovering.
{ She has told YOU about 1t suppose 2 sal,
: be III very sad tone.
She has
piIIed INN, poor fellow. for the two thou
5 SAND dollars was large SUN for him to accu
4 niiidtc III his Iltrle business The loss of /
would ndkt The future look like a desert I,
| blm. Ii would be misfortune which on,
. must undergo to appreciate 1t. Besides, al
lace was an honest man, and a person OF Tin,
, feelings Liquor only made hIm more fre,
and generous; 1t only seemed TO INTENSITY tn,
pccuildriiie, of his nature Dcn...nccy say.
that Inen are not d'>gu.'ed by liquor ON iiI,
: contrary, most men are disguised bv sObrle
~ and II is WHEN drinking that men di,I,la,
themselves III their true complexion OF char
atter. Wallace when tpsy, wa. never more