The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-16
Misfellauenas.
HOW PAUL'S DEBT WAS PAID.
CHAPTER I.

20 Paul Paul how could you !? and
the speaker. n pale. deiicatc-lo looking girl.
wruug her hands, while the tears ran down
her checks
Paul Grassland. q handsome and rather
dissipated looking youth Of two or three
and twenty, with bold black eyes and
curling dark hair. looked little ashamed
and not little defiant
Who was TO know that he'd be home.
he exclaimed. and that things would be
looked into rs they are being looked into
now I tell you, Milly, after the old mans
buried I shan't be safe from discovery for
one more day something must be done ;
hut what |. / don't see that there's any
thing loft foc me but To hook 1t, and then
what's TO become Of you {"
What indeed Paul's salary was all
the two had TO depend upon for the few
pupils Milly WAS able 10 procure were but
a prccarious provision for her own por-
sonal expenses. The two pounds u week
had been sufficient for their living i'm those
meagre little furnished rooms in dingy
suburb Of London, to which they have
l,ecn reduced since their fathers death had
plunged them into poverty and obscurity |;
but Paul. finding the tedium OF his life in
supportable, had been tempted into the
society Of gay youths of his own age. The
enjoyment OF that society necessitated In
creased expenditure. induced debt and TO
free himself from his liabilities he had
been tempted to sin. The gentleman in
whose office he WAS, WAS an old man; hc
had been his fathers friend, and upon
behalf Of that friendship had given Paul
the post he occupied.
When Paul Grassland hal written hi:
employers name. securing An advantage
To himself by doing so. cannot say To
what he had trusted most to preserve his
sin from being found out; whether 10 the
laXity of discipline in the Office, to the
falling health and consequent sbsenteaisn,
OF Mr.. Newton, or 10 the proverbial rs
sistance of that evil character who never
fails to aid those who have set their feet
upon the slippery downward path thai
leads 10 destruction IL is certain thai
fsr awhile be- had been successful In uiain-
tanning his secret. Still, Mr.. Newton had
suspicious that all WAS not going on rs Il
should be In the Office, and he wrote ur'
gently TO his son in India. beseeching his
return. The result Of this letter Of en-.
treaty was the return to England Of Ro-
land Ncwtoa. to the superintendent o
his fathers affairs.
The rumor was that Roland Newton
was in truth very Nabob. and that IN
the event Of his fathers dying, the bust
ness would be wound up. Already. 50
SHORTLY after his return. things were more
strictly looked into in the Office thar
they had been before for many years. II
WAS dread and the probability of disoov
cry that caused Paul Grassland to make
his confession to his sister but for thai
he might have kept her in ignorance while
he sunk deeper into the mire. Milly's
shame and distress wa, very great.
That You should have done this Paul!
you Grassland. and my dear. honorable
minded fathers son d Paulr cried the
poor girl. 1t Is dreadful. I can hardly be-
lieve Ii Of you-th.st you should commit
forgery
Nonsense. Milly.' he replied. endeav-
oring to assume u careless manner, though
he Was evidently touched by the way In
which his confession had affected his sister.
It's only borrowing . part Of the money
which old Newton had lying by. that nei-
ther he nor his son were ever likely To
want What's . pAlry fifty pounds 10 the
like Of them always meant to pay Il
back. too. II this fellow had not como both
ering home. Why didn't he stay ou'
there with his rupees. and not come fer
rcting out his fathers pitifhl savings'
But how could you ever have repaid It.
Paul. You know IL takes every Bit ol
your salary to enable us TO live in the very
humble rcspcctability that we are doing
now
Surely said he. III can lose rs much
Mt cards, I stand chance TO win rs much
any night
% Paulr said Milly. with cry Of hor'
ror, do you mean TO say that you have
learned 10 gamble Then. indeed We srs
ruined .-..f.
Don't talk such nonsense, Milly, but dc
like a sensible girl. think Of some way o.
raising the money. Only let me once ge
clear Of this debt and will never touch
card again.
Miliy's lovely face grew bright through
her tears.