Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-19


versaton. But I know you will pardon
me-"
"Tbere is no need for PARDON" said Mr..
Nicholson. You do me favor by taking
me into your confidence. 1 am a lonely
old fellow who has spent the better part of
his life away from his country"
"Ah whereof"
"The last few years at Smancas before
that, in Paris before that, at Gottingcn. 1
am little moro than musty old book
worm crawling from library TO library
living so in the past, as to have lost all con-
nection with the present. You have re-
called feelings, sympathes, associations,
which I thought we're lost to me forever"
He paused for awhile and then said abrupt
ly-"How you must hate that member of
your family who brought upon it the shame
of which you speak p
80, no, no, nor cried Harry. "You lit
tie think-but will tell you about it some
day. l see that you have finished your
pipe; suppose We go down stairs again"
Said subject of fconversation did not creep
up again, and the rest of the evening,
though "musical," was not melancholy"
FUTURE.
One evening in October, Harry Maple
son came home at the usual time, but not
in his usual state of calm composure. His
face was pale, his eyes were sparkling with
excitement, his forehead was bathed in
paper about.
"What is the matter ?" cried Susan.
"Don't be alarmed; it is good news. We
can look the world boldly in the face, my
dear; our father was innocentr'
81 know it; dear mamma always said
So"
"Ay, but it is proved See here. l don't
mattor?"
mo; never wished to do so.''
"Well, then, will not enter into them
now. 1t is sufficient for you TO understand
that our father was man of considerable
talent, who took high degree at his uni
versity, and was looked upon as a rising
man by the political party whose cause he
espoused. Indeed, for some time he was
private secretary to a minister, and it was
only because of his desiring more certain
income upon his marriage, that he resigned
that unstable office, and accepted an ap-
pointment which was no dependent upon
one set of men going out of office, and an
other coming in. 1t was a position of trust,
and large sums OF money passed through
his hands. Well, there was wrong doing,
embezzlement, downright theft, in the de-
partment. Our father could not clear him
self; his name appeared to fraudulent doc
uments which could not have been used
without his signature-in short, he was
condcmned-sent across the sea-lost, for,
from that time our dear mother could hear
no more of him. 81 am innocent he said
when they parted "but what does that
matter-the disgrace is the same. hope
to die soon; but if that blessing is denied
me, desire to be forgotten, as though I
had really escaped from this den of thieves.
1 VIII not drag you and my children any
lower. Do not speak of ilc to them-nev-
er seek for tidings OF me-" Our mother
prayed, demonstrated, weptin van-he was
firm, saying that he knew it was for the
best. This was eighteen years ago, Susan,
when you were quite a baby, and | so
young that have only the vaguest remem-
brance of the calamity and change. Well,
our father had no more to do with that
crime than we infants had man in the
same department forged his name, and em-
bezzled the money ; he is dying-struck
with painful disease which leaves him in
full possession of his faculties and in his
terror he has confessed, and he appeals
TO the family of the man he has worse than
murdered-to us-for forgiveness! Here it
is-see ! Can you forgive him, Susan? l
can't. Forgive him! I wish him well and
strong, that might have my fingers round
his throat and my knee on his chest, and
watch his black soul sitting in his black
heart Soul l hope"
"Harry, Harry!'
"Wcll, well, forgot myself; don't look
frightened, Susan. 1t is well the wretch
has spoken Mt last at all events our poor
fathers memory will be cleared from re-
proach; and you can stay sometimes with
those good Poynter people, and see a little
good society"
Susan was protesting that she was quite
contcnted and happy under present cir
cumstances, when she was interrupted by
knock at the door, and the felow-lodger
entered the room. He too, held a newspa-
per in his hand; he too, was evidently under
the influence of a strong emotion, for he
stood glancing from one to the other with
strange yearning expression in his eyes.
Twice he essayed to speak, and twice his
voice failed him.
"You have seen this account in the eve
ming papers, aud have concluded that we
belong to the family of Mr.. Mapleson,
whose cruel story Is told there?" asked
Harry.
The old man nodded.
"You are right; we are his children.
This sympathy is indeed kind"
"PcrhaI you yourselfare a Connection"
said Susan. with woman's penetration.
The fellow-lodger at last forced words to
his lips: "Yes," he said, Ill"
"Look TO him, Harry p cried Susan /; and
If they had not run to support him the old
man would have fallen
They got him into chair, bathed his
forehead, gave him sherry, and he soon
came out of his faint. 1.-The emotion was
too much for me-" he said presently. 81
am myself again now. No, no, do not go
for doctor. l am not i'll. 1t is nothing
but an overdose of ofhappiness medicine"
he added with sad smile, "that have not
been much accustomed to-"
"You were great friend of his perhaps?"
asked Harry, who looked puzzled but
Susan glanced rapidly from the youthful
features of her brother to the time and care
worn face of the other, and light flashed
upon her.
"FatherP' she cried.
"My girl! My children ~
In thecourse of the evening he told them
all. How that, when a few years OF his
sentence had transpired, he was allowed to
live as free man within the boundaries
of the co ony, how his book-crait had gain