The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-09-24

ume. He rose and welcomed his visitor,
begging him to be seated.
"Mr. Summers" said he, "you finished
that floor at such short notice that was
fearful you had slighted your work but
find you did it in the most workmanlike
manner. I suppose you would like the
money for it. Short accounts make long
Friendships"
"I did not come for the money, SIR"
answered Summers, with some hesitation.
No; well, l am very glad to see you--in
fact, you have saved me the trouble of cal
ling on you. But your business before
mine."
came to pay you money instead of to
receive it sir.''
"To pay me money On whose ac-
count? You owe me nothing"
Rather, sir" said Summers, mastering
resolution, "to restore you sum stole
from you yesterday"
"You are mad, Gilbert. had no mon
ey by me 1 have missed none."
"And you never would have missed it.
You were richer than you thought SIR"
"Explain yourself young man."
"There, then sir" said Summers, and
and while tears rushed to his eyse, he
threw the purse of gold upon the table.
"Take it, sir, it is yours-two hundred
guineas-I have not touched one of them"
"I am yet in the dark" said the squire,
gazing on the purse.
yesterday, in removing the flooring,
sir, I found that purse, which was probably
placed there by some of your ancestors
many years ago."
"And you have restored it the first
thing in the morning. Well, am lit
tie richer than I thought. But half of this
certainly belongs to you as q reward for
your honesty"
"Do not say so, Mr.. Belden you over
whelm me-" cried Summers. "No sir,
not farthing of that sum belongs to me.
took it with the intention of keeping it,
"That was wrong, but you meant to in
vest it in your business-you meant to re-
pay me at your leisure" said the squire.
"Such were not my intentions sir. l
meant to employ it in speculation or gam
bling. meant to leave my native place,
to abandon my friends, the girl l had sworn
to protect and cherish-in short sir meant
to be villain"
He could say no more his tongue refused
its Office he became deadly pale, and cold
drops Of perspiration stood upon his brow
The squire rose and placed his hand kindly
on his shoulder.
"God forbid ~ said he, solemnly, that
! should condemn you. Judge not lest ye
be judged, said One, who spake as no NOR
tai ever spoke. No man knows of what he
is capable till he has undergone temptation
and happy are those whose evil designs
perish in the conception and bear no fruit.
You must permit me to present you with
half of this sum do not fear you will
misuse it now"
81 cannot take it, said the young man,
shuddering. "There is:.a spell upon that
gold. Let my peace of conscience reward
me for the restoration may Heaven par
don my evil purposes"
Mr.. Belden respected the young mans
scruples, and forbore to press him. He
did better. He soon gave him an important
contract for building, and had the satisfac-
tion of establishing him in business. The
first payment of money the housewright
had laboriously earned, was made in gold,
of American coinage however, but con-
tanned in the identical silk purse found in
tho old oaken chamber.
Summers employed it in purchasing ma
terial for a small cottage he was building
on his own account. When it was finished
and furnished, he waited ON the good squire
in company with the fair Hannah, and af-
ter certain ceremony performed by the
magistrate, they took possession Of the
new house as man and wife, to the great
joy of the towns peoYie, and particularly
of Zeph Rogers, the honest wheelwright.
Sometime during the honeymoon, while
Mrs. Summers was setting their kitchen
"to rights" she came across the portraits
of the New York dandy and the New York
belle.
"What shall do with these ?" she ask
ed. Summers colored deeply; and snatch
ing the prints thrust them in the cooking
stove, where the fine lady and gentleman
soon suffered martyrdom. Summers never
wore checked pantaloons and breastpin
for reason best known to himself, and he
saw that Hannah looked as little as possible
lilra tfa proa ~ halla