Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-07-03
DODGEvILLE, WISCONSIN, FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1863

the great race. On the morning of the
day when the blight fell upon my life.
was hurriedly getting ready to start for
the race course, when the collector re-
turned with e300 - one hundred and
fifty in notes and the rest in gold. T
had not a moment to spare; therefore I
hastily placed my initials against the
amount in the clerks book, locked the
money in my desk, instead of putting it
into the iron safe, and started for EpsOm
The Youngest of the three partners
was my companion, and both he and nv
self were heavy losers by the race. and
for the first time in my life that dav
realized the squalid misery of being drunk.
On reaching town, instead of going to
my home, I went about from place to
place-I never could remember where
with some of my companions of the dav.
Late at night, impelled by the tip3y idea
of seeing that the money in my desk was
all right, I went to the counting house,
and was admitted by the house keeper.
after she had tried in vain to dissuade
me from going in. [ fnmbled in nv
pockets for my keys, but had left them
in my office coat in the hurry of getting
away in the morning; and when I sue
ceeded in recollecting that fact had for
gotten the purpose for which l wanted
them. Without using them, I put them
in my pocket and reeled home. Next
day I was late at business, and some time
passed before had occasion to open nv
desk but the moment did so, saw that
the go1d-upwards of e150-was gone"
You feel the pressure of my hand,
father?"
"I feel it, my darling; but listen we'll
In the bewilderment into which this terri
BILE discovery threw me, did what de-
stroyed mel shut down my desk as if
with the closing of the lid, I would have
locked up forever the secret of nv loss.
Hour after hour / pondered on what had
happened; but when the time for paying
in moneys to the bank had come I was
still unresolved as to what I should, or
even as to what could, do. At that mo-
ment the senior partner came into the
counting house and asked the amount of
the previous days collection [ told him
heaven knows in what terms s-of the
loss of the gold. Before single word
had passed his lips, saw that he thought
me guilty"
Father, dear father, you do not feel
my grasp relax"
"For Heavens sake, continue your
story, sir (" cried the young man.
:" I have little more to tell" replied John
Henslip "The partners-two out of the
three-for the youngest, who had been
with me to the race course, was attacked
by brain fever, arising from the over-ex-
citement of the day-spared me for the
sake of my wife and little child, the igno-
miny of public trial; but they believed
me to be guilty. Your mother, Carrie,
your mother only knew that [ was inno-
cent. The weight of my affliction be-
numbed my faculties, and | could think
but of one practical course as open to me
to fly to America under an assumed name,
leaving my wife and child behind until |
could make new home for them In less
then year / was so far successful that l
had written to my wife to come to me,
when received letter telling me that she
was i'll that-that-thank God, / was in
time to fold her in my arms, and to read
in her last look that she knew l was inno-
cent"
"All this took place seventeen years
ago, sir? ?" demanded the young man, pale
with excitement.
Seventeen years ago"
"One question more, sir. Is your name
Fleming?"
at is. But how came you to know it ?'
40. sir" cried the young man, deeply
moved, 81 have now painful duty to
perform. But first allow me to leave you
for few minutes, and to return with a
friend-an old friend Of yours, Mr.. Flem-
ing"
And without waiting to say or hear
more, he hurried from the house in Cra-
buildings back to the theater, from the
stalls of which he almost forcibly carried
off the hearty-looking old gentleman
whom he had so long deserted, and who
had been wondering for the previous half
hour what had become of his companion
When the father and daughter were left
alone, both gave way to their pent-up
feelings, and for some minutes neither Of
them spoke.
"Your birth-night has been strangely
kept, my Carry" he said, at length. "You
love me, my child?"
"Love you, father!" she cried; 90,
yes and if 1 had not always loved you
with my whole heart, | should love you
more than ever, now that | know how
great is your need of love to sustain YOU
under the heavy trial of your life!"
You know, as your mother in heaven
knows, that your father was innocent of
the crime by the shadow of which our
lives have been darkened? 1t costs your
faith no effort to believe-?'
"Dear father, do not torture your poor
heart with such dreadful thoughts"
Heaven bless you, my darling! kept
the secret from you till you was woman,
Garry, with something of woman's expert
enceS, and all womans strength of mind
and heart to aid you to bear the burden
l kept it from you almost too long but
acted for the best"
"And it was for the best, father"
But there is a new mystery closing
round us, my love-"
The conscious blood reddened the young
girls cheeks as she replied:
eyes, father"
"This young gentleman has also some
revelation to make. Do not droop, my
love-. A little suffering bravely borne now
for 1 am conscious he has won your
heart-may save you from long years Of
misery. Be prepared, my own one, for
whatever may be the result of his commu-
nication-whether it be great Joy, or
great disappointment"
The room door opened, and the young
man of whom he had spoken entered, in
Producing his companion of the theater.
"Mr Fleming" he cried, "I have
brought an old-very old friend to see
you"
'Mr. Sterling - exclaimed John FIem-
ing starting to his feet, but Instantly fall
/ Il. IL.