Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-15

didn' you pay more heed to what I've al
ways kept tellin' your
Not so bad as that, hope said the old
man cheerily, though the muscles of his
lip and brow quivered.
Father, is it st. John Martin, the
Leeds street lawyer, to whom you owe
this money p
Yes; what doyou know about him ?
Not much; but met his son at several
parties last fall, and II think, if you
were to go there and tell him just how 1t
is, or write, even
No use,' croaked Mrs Parker despair
ingly, 'other folks amt so ready to let go
of their money as your father is, Lucy
Maybe it's worth trying said old Paul
hopefully, well write this very night
and next week we'll go up to Boston and
see what answer he makes u.s.
And then Lucy, flushing like sweet
pea ran to get the pen and paper, timidly
trusting in the efficacy of her plan.
For his father can't be so very hard
hearted she thought, 'and they are so
very rich that surely they will be willing
to wait for this five hundred dollars until
we can pay it.
The elegantly furnished little Office on
Leeds street did not often have such
0ett1e equipages drawn up before it as
Paul Parker's mud -be-splashed box wagon
and shaggy old pony, and the elegantly
attired young lawyer, who sat at the desk
examining some papers, glanced up in
surprise as the blooming girl and the bent
old man entered together, like May and
December.
Lucy !
'Ninian 1 thought your father-I did
not know that
my father is detained at his country
seat and | am acting member of the firm
Lucy. He took me into partnership last
week, and this is
He turned inquiringly, and with some
thing of start, to the brown faced old
man, who stood modestly in the back
ground.-Lucy introduced her father,
aud stated their business, with profu-
sion of very becoming bushes. She had
not expected to find her gallant young
cavalier of the past fall in the office of St
John Martin.
I'VE are in very Strengthened circum-
stances, Mr.. Martini concluded Lucy,
'and my father cannot at present hope to
discharge this debt, but [ am soon to have
very good situation in. Madame Ell
vaine's school as music teacher, we can
get along aud pay part at time if your
father would be SO kind as to wait lit
tie
Lucy stopped short, her voice was get
ting unsteady, and she was far too proud
to yield to the fast coming tears in Ninian
Martins presence.
The young man had listened in silence,
but now he took tin box from its shelf
in the safe and unlocking it, disclosed
sundry packages of labelled notes, receipts,
etc.
Let me see,' he said, running his eye
over them, it was note for five hundred
dollars, believe
yes, sir answered the old man, for
FIVE hundred dollars
Is this your note ?
Yes, sir
Ninian Martin tore it in two, and laid
the fragments on the fire. Paul Parker
and Lucy gazed in astonishment as the
Young lawyer lifted his dark eyes calmly
toward them.
Mr.. Parker, you will please consider
thaty have this day received payment for
a very old debt. We have balanced ac-
couuts.'
Sir, don't understand YOU said the
bewildered old man. L don't remem-
ber-'
But do. It is rather more than ten
years, Mr.. Parker, since you put that
money at interest
'Sr%
L will be more plain with YOU said the
young man, smiling. Perhaps Miss Park |
or is not aware that am only the adopted |
son of my more than father. My real
name is Nino Berlani. am an italian
by birth. just ten years ago [ was beg
ging in the streets of Landhill, starved |
aud peuuiless.-A kind hand-yOu know
whose, Mr.. Parker-extended itself to me
in the hour of need
The old mans face lighted up.
Il do remember now. It was fifty |
cent piece; and I told you to come back
just week from that time and
And I did not come. No, but tried
my very best to come, but was prevented
by the brutality of the man whose slave
and drudge 1 was. Well, I begged my
way TO Boston, having run away from my
tyrant. St. John Martin found me one
night in the streets, perishing from cold
and starvation. He had just lost his only
child, boy of about my own age, and
not unlike me in personal appearance, and
somehow / seemed TO take the sore, vacant
place in his heart. [ resolved that if i'll
ever lay in my power | would return the
gift a thousand fold. But I never dream
ed that Lucy's father was my banefactor.'
He turned to her with a bright CON
gratulatory smile, as he concluded while
the brown face of old Paul Parker work
ed with emotions he could not conceal.
/ thought you wouldn't ha' cheated
me, boy thought your face was good
aud true one! But ha'nt no right to-
your generosity. Your father
My father and are one, one in thought
deed and wish
I don't know how to thank you, young
man.
Then DO not attempt it. Perhaps one
Of these days L may ask you for yet more
favors.'
Old Paul Parker went home to his wife
sedately triumphant.
Wife, you've said, I told you So all
your life now it's my turn
what on airth do you meauY grum-
bled his ascetic helpmate. I do believe
you're gettin' in your dotage.'
May be | am ; in that case though |
wish I'd got into it long ago.
Aud he told his adventure, while Lucy
sat by smiling like morning in May.
'Dldn'C [ invest that fifty to pretty
good advantagep he asked.
well, I never : was her ultimatum.
He wants new. fayors some day from
me. What do you say, mother ? Can we
spare our little girl here p
Don't, fatherr cried Lucy, hiding her
face bat sh3 didn't look very angry after
all.
Selections.