St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-02-17

: llincks extended his hand to take it g.; il
so doing his elbow touched the other can
dlcstck it tottered and fell, and tn
room was as dark and black rs cavern
) A furry of exclamation, and outcry, an,
sklrmishing for matches; and Just as
match was being scratched, and failing
TO answer, Mr.. Beverley opened the dool
and came in innocently, humming The
end of tune, and the statute under hi.
arm
what. put out your light p said he.
"Confound these candles, they're always
doing that! Well, here's the law. Got
it lighted? Now to business. Where's
the bond -
But that bond was nowhere to be
found neither on the table nor under it.
Nobody had touched it, nobody hal seen
it, nobody knew where it was. Charlie,
in the bewIldcrment of a guilty conscious
ness having longed for its destruction,
feeling his situation to be suspicious, and
in an insane pcrpleXity refusing to sus-
pect the others, begged them TO search
him, which, of course, they declined to dc,
though evidently, as it seemed to him,
with a strong belief that he had secured
it to prevent the consummation of the
bargain. And after much loud talking
lnd angry affirmation, Mr.. llincks threat
ening Charlie with the law, Mr.. Bcvcr-
ley vchemcntly declaring he could not
have believed it, Mr.. Green assuring them
that he should hear from them through a
sheriff if the bond were not forthcoming
by the morrow, and Charlie all ut once
enlightened but keeping his own counsel,
since they had stolen the rope to hang
themselves, the party broke up with feel
ings ON both sides to which language is
inadequate-a guilty satisfaction on the
one hand, and on Charles some anger,
some amusement, but a world of joy.
On the thirtie,h Charlie presented him
self in the sane room, but except ali office
boy, with his shoulders in chair and
his heels ON the mantlc-shclf, the place
was vacant, and Charles hcart-which
had lcapcd up the previous night like Il
balloon from which weight had been
removed, now that the time had expired.
now that whether the bond were found
or no. it WAS good for nothing, and the
land remained his own-wcnt soaring
away into the limitlr>s ether of castles in
the air.
They d, things quickly in this fast
age. Ga the noon OF the thirieth there
was one brief secret interview with Flora
stolen, dozen words. Il long embrace:
then there WAS Il contract made with the
old capitalist who had stood his friend
before. n mortgage drawn, II check cash.
ed, an engineer and a rang of laborcrs
found, a saw-mill dispatched 10 tie dis
tant township and six months from that
time "a gentleman ran up the steps of
Flora's house, entering past the wonder
my servants who 10 longer dared refuse
admittancc 10 one coming in turnout
that every eye on the street had followed.
''Sir," said this gentleman when he
had closed the library door behind him
and stood opposite Flora ssurpri>ci papa.
''yuu once gave me to understand that
when my fortune could equal your daush
ter's provision she should he mine. | do
not know, sir, how much you may be
worth, but perhaps you can tell me how
much | am :" and he laid Il hank book
before the old merchants 5 wondering eyes.
"S;uly it out, sir" said he, ioyousIy.
alt is half my property. Ii you doubt
il, the president of the bank Is in my
carriage at the door. Here is a bank
check, signed. Here are revenue stamps
When you have made out the amount,
fill up the check and deposit it for my
wife, ii you will be 50 good. You asked
of me 4 hcrculean labor-tLc cleaning of
an Au.cln stable, in fact; but it is done.
There Is no gol but cent. per cent, AMI
petroleum is his prophet :" said the gay
young millionaire. ''For my part-you
have MT Il word TO say-thcre is ny adj
mi->iol-l am going to see Flora -