The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-17
MY YOUTHS TRIALS.
BY ". 8. MARVIN.

, oouscS ike L06 wall 0I some p6TtuIuCu
spirit, WEAKNESS Of body and soul that
nade thought and exertion alike diff
cult and hateful.
For eight years had been in the en-
ployment of a rich manufacturer in
Longborough as his confidential clerk.
His house had been my home. Mrs.
Ashton had been as mother to the
: motherless boy; and Katharine Ashton
well, she was mere than sister. She
was my idol-my angel. Bear with me,
ye who read this page! l am not about
to infi'ct upon you description OF
Katharine Ashton's beauty.
y Mr.. Ashton employed another clerk
beside myself. Russell Wiley was my
senior in years, but he seld a subordin-
ate station, fact which always an
noyed and nettled him.
There was, there could be, no friend
ship between us tive. Twice l had
broken up disgraceful connexions be-
tween Russell Wiley aud two of the
prettiest factory girls; twice l had ye-
stored daughter to her parents when
ruin seemed staring her in the face. For
this he hated me, and swore openly to
be revensed.
Mr.. Ashton spoke to me sternly one
morning, demanding my presence in
the counting-house. | had never before
received aught but the kindest treat
ment from him. / followed him, and he
took down the cash book, showing ME
three palpable errors, each involving a
considerable sum. was thunderstruck.
examined the figures carefully, and
thought could detect in each careful
erasure, but / could not be positive. 1t
is unnecessary to say to whom my
thoughts pointed, but had no proof,
only suspicien-and what would that
availi A large sum had evidently &C
crued to the author of the fraud, and l
did not greatly blame MIR. Ashton for
attribnting it to me.
81 must dispense with your future
services" was all that was said, but it
was enough.
| left the note on the hall table as l
ran up stairs for my portmanteau and
the money which Mr.. Ashton had paid
me week before for my salary. l
caught tie CLEAN of Kate's white robe
as it fluttered among the garden beds,
and heard her sweet voice calling me
back from the high road, which had
now reached. l did not dare to look
back; it would have unnamed me at
once. l breathed prayer for her hap
piness, and went on.
Suddenly thought seized me that
would 90 to sea. The thought was
hardly conceived before it was confirm
ed. A ship lay in the roadstead. The
pilot was just going out to her. | had
money enough for my passage. lsprang
on board the pilot-boat, and in half an
hour was sailing on voyage to Sea-
combe.
Circumstances unnecessary to be de-
tailed realized my vow. l entered into
business in Seacombe, first in small
way, then gradually increasing, until
reached the summit of my wishes.
had occasion to visit MeltOnville on
business, and during my sojourn
there met with u singular adventure.
l was returning home from a party,
when ! was attacked by man who
sprang up behind a group of olive trees
which stood in my pathway. was
not without the means of defence, and
nv pistol had full effect in laying the
ruffian low. 1t was very dark, but L
availed myself of contrivance which
| carried about me to procure light,
| by which examined his countenance.
What discovery the little lamp effect
ed My asssilant was none other than
Russell Wiley. l called for help and
had him conveyed to neighboring hos
pital. He was not mortally wounded,
and | think he was truly sorry that /,
of all men, should have known of his
crime. He was miserably poor, and had
intended only robbery, not murder. In
deed, he had not sufficient courage for
that.
He confessed to ME that he had al
ways entertained jealous spite to-
wards me for possessing myself of
Katharine Ashton's affections; and he
intimated that he might make another
confession that affected me still nearer.
urged him to make il. No, he said,
he would never commit himself until it
was certain that he had not long to
: live. Before night he grew worse, and
, in the immediate fear of death, he let
fall some expressions that let me at
once into his secret. 1t was he who
had made the erasures in the cash books
at Mr.. AshtOn's counting house, and
substituted false entries. Terror and
apparent vi
the doctor thought it impossible for
him to live-induCed him to make the
only reparation now left him; namely,
to clear my name. His nervousness and
fear made it doubtful if he could relate
the circumstances coherently. We
summoned lawyer, and, after deal
of hesitation, Wiley's confession was
written down from his lips. 1t cleared
me triumphantly. Russell Wiley did
not die. When he recovered, l advauc-
ed sufficient to place HIM in comfort
able situation on the proyiso that he
should never come in my presence
again. | was most grateful TO the idle
fellow-more grateful for clearing my
name than l had been angry at his
blackening it.
How exulted at this new phase in
, my life! 1t was not that | cared 60
, much for Mr.. Ashton's friendship, as
did for his being forced TO retract his
unjust suspicious. l could not wholly
} forgive his willing reception of that
which my whole course of life had dis
, proved. But | SHOULD be free to ask
Katharine Ashton's hand, without hear
] ing again of any imputation on my
ldlE iduics uaI was lIluHipu IuhcCu'
was sufficiently wealthy to be able
to give up.my residence in Seacombe;
but that would suit me less than TO
f have Katharine come home to me. l
embarked almost Immediately, and in
: the dawn of summers morning, /
t stood knocking at Mr.. Ashton's door,
!, with head erect, and my heart beating
high with proud exultation. Inquired
r for the master of tho house, and was
:, shown to the library. Mr.. Ashton was
0 sitting listlessly beside shaded win.
D dow, with a book lying unread on the
table before him. He looked dull and
s even sad. He did not know me. ad
!, vanced toward him aud laid the paper
= which contained WIley's confession OIL
d the table, and then, folding my arms,
stood by, watching his face as he read
e the document. He locked up, and my
face seemed familiar TO his gazs. He
i rose, came toward me, and held out hi:
9 hand.
- am glad, indeed, Mark. There
has not been day since you left us il
n which / have not grieved for the circum
4 IL, r