The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-26


ask leave to trust him myself. I ar
sure he will prove deserving Of conf
dence.' ....
Old Mr.. Grinby took ont his snutf.boz
and looked Mt Mr.. Morris. 4.,. -...f p.
I've noticed the lads eye; it's n goo
one said Mr.. Morris. u E I... .-st-r.
lisa risk. said Mr.. Grinby. but wei
consider ...-.
And I suppose the result was wha
young Grinby wanted. for little Ben Wad
came to Us the next Monday.
Now he was clean and whole, he didn'
look so bad. and good food and no abus
made a difference In him In week.
In month or so people stopped pre-
dieting that young Grinby would repen
some day; and in year / don't thinl
there was one in the Office who didn't low
that boy. grateful, and so trustworthy
and so ready to do everything for ever.
one. Young Mr.. Grinby had him taught
and well.taught. too. The lightning cal
culator might beat him, but I doubt 1t
and ! never knew that lad to forget 70 do
his Is or cross his Us in all my acquaint
ance with him after he had learned e
write Mt all.
At twenty he was one of the best clerk
in our establishment, besides being q fin,
looking young fellow rs one would wisl
to see. On the whole, / did not wonder
that Miss Lucy Evans took fancy 70 hin
IA sister. sir. of one of the young fellow.
at our place. and girl who looked lik,
queen, and was rs good as she wa
handsome.
fused to meet them walking on th'
battery, where lovers used to walk in those
days. He was so fond and proud of her
and she had such tender way of looking
at him, that they made my old heart youn:
again. rs often told Mrs. Humphries, Il
whom always contide everything. An,
how he reverenced her-why ribbon o
n faded flower that she had worn wa
cherished by him rs u miscr cherished hi
gold.
At last he told me. in confidence-fo
her name was sacred. and not to be spoker
before every one-that they were to b
married.
And when | look back. sir said he
.and remember the miserable years of m,
wretched childhood. and think how friend
less nd forlorn was, and how there wa
nothing before me but prison or the gal
lows, and think that now have every
thing to make mans life blessed-th'
power to win respectable livelihood b,
reputable labor. the respect of honest men
and the love Of such girl rs Lucy-I Cat
never be too grateful To the kind frient
who saved me from life dare not con
template. God bless Mr.. Grinbyr sale
he, lifting his hat rcverently rs he nigh
in church. and there WAS 4 prayer In hi
dark eyes rs he looked upward.
Those were the last words ever heart
him speak. except goodnight All, deal
me, 1t should have been good-by. Tel
minutes after went one way and he th'
other. took my way home. and he, ~
seemed afterward. walked just two block,
and then came back here. At twelve
o'clock that night I awoke Mrs. Hum
phries.
My dear said I, 4 must have had the
nightmare or something.
Goodness said she. lit seems so. Yonl
hands are like ice. What gave il to YOU
love? The lobster. I'll be bound
Perhaps said 1; i admit ate q heart.
supper. And nothing else could make
me fancy young Wade at my bedside
white rs ghost, with both hands on my
breast
.Ah, but tn, nightmare is always black
not white.' said my wife. And then she
went to little cupboard aud brought mt
u glass of wine. Afler that l went tc
sleep again.
l did not rise early, and was quite be
hind my usual time. But when reached
our place found It in great commotion
Clerks running hither and thither, the
heads of the firms standing about in the
most unbusiness like manner, and three
constables on the premises.
What is the matter, sir" said. ad
dressing Mr.. Grinby.
Matter enough said he. We've beer
heavily robbed
Il fancied that couldn't happen here,
said |. Il really believed il would be i'm
possible for burglars to break into Morris
Grinby & Sons, SIR
All, said he. they did not break in
The door has been quietly opened from
the inside
And l believe" began Mr.. Morris.
Sir cried young Grinby, out Of breath
Il beg, rs n gentleman. rs u man Of prin
ciple, you will not give utterance to YOU
unfounded suspicions-totally unfoundet
and unworthy of you
Prove them so, sir said Morris, cool
ly. and I'll apologize"
llookedan inquiry.
Don't ask explanations, beg Mr.
Humphrics,' said Mr.. Grinby, Some
thing has been said which the speaker vii
regret. All, here comes my messenger.
And In ran one of our boys.
We'll. Tom,' said Mr.. Grinby.
MIR. Wade amt been home all night
SIR said Tom.
Il told You so.' said Mr.. Morris.
And l tell you even yet I will not heal
my dear friend's-yes, my very deal
friend's-character aspersed,' said young
Grinby. .Humphries, know you love
young Ben Wado rs I do. Fancy hin
connected with this robbery. AS wei
suspect my father, or myself, oryou.'
Hes missing said Mr. Morris, shutting
the Office door upon us three. He wa,
seen to return late In the evening. HI
WAS one of the band Of housebreaker'
when we took him In. and many declare
the character to be formed ut six year.
old. He was nine. believe he has beer
won back tn his old ways
You viii not express your belief t.
Others said Mr.. Grinby.
Not rs yet, most certainly said Mr.
Morris.
Well. sir. that was hitter cold day tc
me-a bitter day. We could learn moth
ing of young Wade after eight o'clock or
the previous night. Then several hat
seen him. He had taken tea at u littl,
coffee house. rs he sometimes did wher
he did not intend to return home unit
quite late, and had said to some one there
i must 60 back to the Office. Ihavc for
COTTON something.'
Half an hour afterward Mike, the Por
ter. had passed him In the street. anG
young Wade had said <:
Whats the time, Mike