National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-11-10

that my friend John would make for New
Haven early in the following morning, {,
catch the steamer that then piled from tn,
pier to Burntsand. So on Monday ! go
up before daybreak, or rather in the per
fe"t darkness of the prior night not yeI
modified and having dressed myself,
took my dreary way TO the old fishing
village. The day was beginning TO break
when arrived at the pier where | took
m seat on the edge Of one of the hauled
up b. IS. The fishermen had been dowr
TO the Isl of May, and having arrived witt
five or six oargocs of fish during the night
were all ready, m their thick pea jackets
long boots. and red nightcaps, for the
fish fair which is held on the pier almos,
every morning during the fishing season
The regular fishwomcn were beginning tc
come down from the village. Then ther,
came the crowds of the Edinburgh fish
hawkers, ahlost all young Irish huzzies
resonant Of oaths, and each with the hurly
without which she could do nothing in hei
wandering trade.
There was /, sitting in the midst of thi.
at six o'clock IN the ing, looking for
a young man had lever seen. | was
busy enjoying ''.e scene before me, not a
little amr sd by the remarks Of some OF
my pigh street children, who knew me
weil enough, il more than one had not been
through my hands.
Presently | saw young man coming
sauntering down through the crowd, whose
appearance claimed my special attention.
lie was very like the description given me
by Anderson: yet my marks were so
dubious | could draw no very satisfactory
conclusion. He passed me as he went
down. but the light of the morning was
yet so hazy that | required a Dearer view
] rose from my seat, and followed him
down the pier, getting as close to him as
of his face with the image | had formed Of
him from AndeIson's account While thus
examining him, | observed on his coat
some hay-seeds. "That lad," thought |,
" has had hay for his sheets !" and then |
recollected that, in the gray dawn, had
observed large hay stack on the right
side of the road coming down from Edn-
burgh. Going up to him carelessly
"Raw morning, my man."
"Ah," with some confidence. almost
enough to shake the hay seeds out of my
mind.
"You'll be for Fife, fancy ?"
"Right," replied he; "when will the
boat be here y
"You'l see her near Granton, yonder
she'll he here in quar- ter Of an hour We
have time for dram to keep the sea air
out of our empty stomachs."
"Come up to Wilson'S said |, "and I'll
stand your glass besides my own"
In two minutes after had him eated
in Wilson's, with the gill of whiskev be-
fore US.
"Come my lad," said for truly
had some pity fcr him, so cold and heartless
he looked" you will be the better for
this"
And, giving him his dram and taking
my own, of which stood in some need a.
we'll
4" Are YOU from Edinburgh ~
"No, Cramond." said he, irresolutely
at is strange how friends meet" said |, |
81 did not think that Jack |
Ferguson would have forgot an old fellow
"Well, don't remember you," said he,
without protest against my soft impeach- |
nent
And how is Bill, your brother p said
I, without telling him that had lodged
he said Bill in safe quarters on the pre-
'ious night.
so, well enough" he replied; and yet
ust with a trace of repentance that he
lad said it.
Yes" said I, now perfectly sure Of my
nan, "he is well enough, for he's in prison
Waiting for you, as his accomplice in rob
,erv of three coats in Bond street. on
saturday night.
The words were not out when he start
d up, as if a cannon had been fired close
" his ear, and made for the door
Come" said !, laying hold of him
you can make nothing by flight in this
horoughfare you may as well be easy.
Iere's drop of whskey in the stoup yet.
AXE it kindly, and then | will fit you
With these" taking out my cuffs.
Jack sat quietly down, and, taking up
be stoup, poured out the remaining half
lass, took it eff. and then took on his
urb.
" We'll, now, Jack" said |, for | was
urious on point, didn't You sleep all
light in the haystack up yonder, on this
ide OF Bellfeld p
"Yes, did" he replied how do you :
now that ~
"Why. by these hay-seeds on your
,cket." said l. "Don't you see that if
Ding to bed and had taken off and put
n your coat, as honest men do, these
eeds would have been shaken of? And
len, don't you further see it was very :
nlikely you could have got these seeds :
pom you this morning, when newly out
bed So, Jack | continued, "it was ,
,ally by seeing these very small particles
pon you that was led to the thought :
n was not sure about you-that you !
ere skulking for some cause, and, there :
re, very likely one of my friends"
GOOD God is it possible ?" he cried, /
if he had been on the Instant made :
ware of something he had not thought of {
efore
6 YES said /, ait is possible and real. !,
is not ] who am the thief catcher :" ,
I'd as pronounced the words I pointed I,
Y finger to the roof, and looked in the !
me dire, on, with solemnity really
the moment felt. O
Nor was the effect less apparent upon i,
le face of the struck youth. A tremor C
emed to shake his heart.
"Yes," he said, there is another thief n
tcher higher than you, and feel His S
md upou me with firmer grip than that r
these cuffs. will, il God spare me, be I
different man. | will confess the rob d
Try. Yes, / will convict myself and Fl
ay, and my brother, if they t,
ID my father should murder me for it a
I'd if you dent find me changed, my name n
not Jack Ferguson" C
" We NAV get Won made a witness. and &