Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-16

anu Omcefs.were sent on In vail ious direc
tions TO recapture the offender.
Mr. Gray seldom alluded to his public al
fairs when among bis children; but tina
evening he broke through the rule. A
dessert, with little Everett. as usual, besid
him, he mentioned the mysterious inciden
OF the morning to some friends who wer
dining with him, adding his own conf jectute
as to the cause Of the sirang disappe arance
1T ia certain he was lei out. He could no
have released himself. Circumstances ur,
suspicious against Mshby, 100; and be will
probably lose hts Office. Like Cesar's wife
a constable should be beyond suspicion, an,
he must be dismissed, ir'--
'Oh, papapT-and Everett's orange fell I,
the Aoor, ssd ,Essrstt's face was lifted to hi
fathers, alIsglow with eager, painful feel
ing. f...1. ...
You dom, like old Roger said Mr.. Gray
patting his cheek. We'll, II is likely yo,
won't be troubled by him any more.'
'Ob, papa! oh, paps! Roger is an ugly
cross man. Blu; be didnt,--he didn't
Didn't what. my boy!'
Let the man out. He was in the kitchen
all the time. heard him laughing
'You heard him! Howp
T-I-oh, papa!
The curly head sunk on the inquisitor'
shoulder.
60 on, Everett What do you mean
Tell me the whole truth. You are not affai,
to Go thatu fl'' 'ri '''" '." ttA''n'2 'a
rNo, papa n' ,'nr.r t.. -'g.".'s 11
He looked up, with steady eyes,bnt cheeks
on which the color flickered most agi,atedly
Il only wanted to look at the man; an,
the men had left ladder against the wal
BY the little grated window; and l climbed
up, aud looked in. And, oh! he had such
miserable face. papa! And | couldn't hell
speaking to him.
'Well, 60 on
The tone was not so peremptory as the
words; and the child, too ignorant to be
really frightened at what he had done, wen
on with his confession, quite needless of the
numerous eyes fixed upon him with variou,
expressions Of tenderness, amuse ement, an,
dismay. And very soon all cume out. Ev
verett had deliberately and inientionall,
done the deed. He had been unable to with
stand the misery and entreaties of the man
and he had slipped down the ladder, rur
round to the unguarded strong door, an,
with much toll forced back the great bolt
uniastened the chain, and set the prisone
free.
'And do you know, Everett, what it is yo
have donei--how wrong you have beenr
Il was afraid it was a little wrong,--h
hesitated; 'but,'-and his courage SCENE
to rise again at the recolection,--'it woui,
have been SO dreadful for the poor man l.
60 TO prison! He said he should be quit
ruined,-quite ruined, papa; and his wifi
and the little children would starve. Yo
are rot usry ungry, are you! Oh, Papa!'
For Everett could hardly believe the sterl
gaze with which the magistrate forced him
self TO regard his little son; and stern
uttered were the few words that folowe ed
by which he endeavored to make clear t
the childish comprehension the gravity o
the fault he had committed. Everett wa
utterly subdued. The tone OF displeasur
smote on his heart and crushed it for th
time. Only once he frightened up, as wit
a sudden hope Of complete justification
when Mr.. Gray adverted to the crime of tn
man, which had made it right and necesssr
that he should be punished. ,.,a... f.
But, papa eagerly Sroks;in the boy, 'h
hadn't stolen the things. He told me so--
He wasn't thief s.. .s.
One case was proved beyond doubt
Indeed, indeed, papa, you must be- mis-
TAKEN cried Everett, with fearful vehem
ence; he couldn't have done it;' know h
couldn't. He said, upon his vord, he hadn't
1t was impossible to Persuade him tha
such an asserveration could be false. An
when the little offender had left the room
various yemarks and interjeclons were in
dulged in,--all breathing the, same. spirit.
What jolly little muff Everett ISL wa
his brother Dicks contingent.
'lDnocent little fellow!, said one. .n
Happy little vsionary!' sighed another
And Everett grew in years and stature
and still u1consciously maintained the sam
character. 1t is true that he wssa quie,
sensitive boy, with an almost !emlfine ,si
fectionateness and tenderness Of hesrt,-
and that keen, exquisite appreciation bot
Of the oyful and the pOinfpl, which is
feminine characteristic, too. Yet he wa
far enough from being efiemnate. He wa
thoughtful, naturally, yet he could be activ
and take pleasure in actian. He was al
ways ready to work, and feared heithe
' hardship nor fatigue. When the great foo
came aud caused such terror and distress i
the village, nc, one, not even Dick, hom
from SaRdhurst for the midsummer holiday,
, was more energetic or worked harder Q
more atEectually than Everett. And tn
boys (his brothers chums at Hszlewood
:. never forgot the day when Everett foun'
them ill-treating a little dog; how he resc,
ed il from them, single handed, and knocl
ed down young Brooke, who attacked hi
both with insults and blows. Dick, not i'll
pleased. was looking on. He meyer calle
his brother sop from that day, but prait
. ed him and patronized him considerably ft
good while after, and began, as he sal
'to have hopes Of him.
! :, But the two brothers never had much
= common. and were, indeed, little throw
: together, Everett was educated at bonn,
| he WAS mt strouo ard WAS 4nsturaIlv 4,