The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-01

vindication. He is now at my house ant
has expressed wish to see YOU
L don't know that any good will grow
out of seeing him., said MIR. Grant, who fel
bat little inclined to meet the preacher.
I'm sorry to hear you say that, Mr.. Grant
You have made complaint against Mr.. c.
and when he wishes to confer with you OF
the subject, You decline under the assump
ton that no good can arise from it. That is
not right; and | hope you will think better
OF it,
Perhaps it isn't right; but so it is. Al
present, do not wish to SEE him. | may
reel differently Tomorrow
Shall We call upon You IN the morning !?
If you please to do so.
Very WELL
And the two official members departed.
No sooner were they gone than Mr.. Grant
put on his hat and left his shop. He Went
direct TO the store of Mr.. Harrison.
You are just the man | was thinking
about, said the latter, as the jeweller enter
ed. What is ali this trouble about YOU and
Mr.. c.? | hear some rumor of it at ev-
cry turn
That it is just what have come to see
you about
Very we'll; what can do in the matter
Mr.. c., you allege, has held ynu up in
the congregation to public odium p
4 do
In what way
Strange tEat you should ask that ques-
ton.
why So? What have to do with it p
"A great DEAL said Grant, his brows fall
ing as he spoke.
i must plead innocence until shown my
guilt. So far, / have not even been able to
learn in what the allusion to yourself con-
sisted
You have not
NO
Grant stood tightly COMPRISING his lips
for some moments. He then said,-
'You remember that affair of the gold
ring?'
Very WELL
You mentioned this to c.
No. Nor living soul since the occur
renee of the fact
What
Nothing on the subject has ever passed
my lips. believed that you saw and re-
pented of Your error, and IN honor and in
conscience refrained from even the remotesl
ailusion 10 the subject
zant of the fact !?
Ii cognizant at all, it was from another
source than the one you supposed
never mentioned it. You were the on
ly one to whom the circumstance was com
How, then, could the matter
have got abroad?'
i don't believe single member of the
ever heard OF it,
%, yes they have. There has been a
marked change il the manner of very many
towards me. So apparent was this at one
time tLat | absented myself from church
rather than encounter H.
An your imagination, brother Grant, and
nothing else. believe that | minsle as
freely with the congregation as any one, and
| know that | never heard word against
YOU. At present every one is at a loss TO
know in what way Mr. c. pointed you
out; he is equally in the dark.
was sure he meant me. 1t was so
plain said Mr.. Grant, his countenance fall
ing. and his manner becomink subdued.
There was nothing of the kind. YOU may
depend upon it, replied Mr.. Harrison.
And You never spoke of it?'
Never
a gully conscience, it is said, needs no
lccuser. Inc likeness 10 me was SO strong
nat really thought the picture vas sketch
ID from myself as the original Ah. NE,
nad YOU net better call on Mr.. C-gi
s>keJ Harrison.
Np, no. See him for me, if YOU please.
and tell him that am convinced of nv er-
ror in supposing he pointed me cut in the
congregation. As TO the particular alusinn
that ttlt To be offensive. | h 'pe YOU will
still keep Your own counsel. | did wrong.
under temptation. and nave suffered and re-
pentei in c1aseq.eLCe- Ii can do no good
to h.ing The matter To light now
None at ali. will not speak Of it.
Nor did he. Many and various wee th+
suggestions and SIprpsi;;nrS OF he congrr-
cation touching the nature OF TIE preachers
personal aiiuSiUn 20 the jew,1.r. and Some
dozen o. ii;tle Sossiping stories gat into CT.
culation; but the truth did nol tind lis way
to the light. Ard not until the DAY on which
he was leaving the station for a new tield nj
labor did the preacher himself understand
the matter; and then he had it from Mr..
Grants own lips.