Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-05-09
let the money run out-was, he observed


deed one-the sooner it is over the
better As the time approaches,
sort of desperate courage
is given one; and poor old Pilkerton,
who would be broken man on the NOR
row, was absolutely a brave and ready
one, on the evening before the fatal day.
He balanced his books, made every thing
as clear as daylight, performed the place
of a boy, and swept up the shop and pol
ished the snaffles and curbs himself, as if,
with the presentation of the bill, one of
the commissioners in bankruptcy and a
; file of policemen would walk into his little
shop, and declare him ruined.
Now, father, it's all ready" said Pol
ly ruefully, with sad smile. "Ready,
if they come at six in the morning"
.Umph they are bound to present it
before twelve"
Don't talk of it, father. Let us have
some tea." 1t was little past six o'clock.
Old Pilkerton was as obedient as a child
Polly led him in, and poured out his tea,
and stood up to say grace. Now all was
to pass from him, the old man looked
round the comfortable room with sigh
and a groan, and thought how dear it was
to him. His home had never looked so
well before-so homely, yet so neat and
comfortably warm.
ave thank Thee for this, our daily
Bread" said Polly, with tears in her
voice.
eve have wept, and we have not been
comforted; we have prayed, and we have
not been answered." said old Pilkertcl
savagely.
"Don't father" said his daughter i'm
ploringly. "Graciousl what's that ?"
Rap, rap. How both started. 1t was
the postman, who was in the middle of
the shop, with registered letter. With
trembling fingers Polly signed for it,
and took it in. Whats this father ?'
she said.
Nothing; some pertikler for saddles,
with drawings; them swells think every
thing belonging to them valuable"
1t was just one week before Christmas
Day: for bills will come due, through
feasts and fasts-except on the free days
and the new Bank holidays-and some
times new saddles were made up as pres
ents; so the old man was not, perhaps, so
far out.
"Let me open the letter, if its bust
ness" said Polly, forcing a cheerfulness,
and sitting down, after closing the glass
door of the parlor. "How nice and red
and warm postmen do look. Do you like
your tea, father ?"
pretty well, my dear perhaps its the
last we may have. Yes, they are draw
ings."
"Oh, my OH father, dear father
look mere" She opened the letter, found
two stiff cards, which caused the old sad
dler to utter his remark, and then, un-
winding the string which bound them
pretty tightly, opened six new, crisp.
charming-looking pieces of copperplate
engraving worth at least fifty pound each,
] for they were bank notes.
When old Pilkerton fully comprehend
ed that they were real, he laid down his
bit of bread and butter, smoothed his
hands upon his apron, and fell down on
his knees, crying, "God forgive me for
a torrent of tears, in which Polly Joined
him, laughing and choking in the mean
while, with one hand round his neck, or
sometimes patting his back, while she
said, Cry away, father; it will do you
good"
Christmas came and went the bill was
paid. Old Pilkerton wanted to rush at
once to old Mansell, waving his notes
over his head but Polly told him to bear
himself like man-to change some of
the notes, and to await the clerk.
A very gentlemanly young man called,
and presented the bill, just about twelve
whereon Pilkerton took him into his glass
cupboard; and Polly My clerk. sir,"-
produced the money from the desk,
and it disappeared at once in black
leathern pocket-book, chained around the
young gentleman's waist. Then the old
man got his bill, and, when the clerk was
gone, tore it into fragments, and vowed
he would never take contract or draw a
bill again. His shop was not shut up.
A customer, more thoughtful that the
rest, paid his bill, and put our old saddler
in possession of some ready money and,
to Keach's disappointment, Polly got
another engagement, and determined
to give up her friend Sally Stoker
after finding out that it was not,
as old Pilkerton long protested that it
must be, that generous man the ID. ID. who
had furnished the money.
"That's mystery, father" said Polly;
"and we will rake the money together,
bit by bit to pay our generous benefactor
when we find him."
''It's mysterious; it's providential So
was that old bad debt turning out so Won
| derfully month after. That gave us
hundred towards it, Polly"
Ben said we should be helped" said
Polly. To which the father gravely re-
piled, Benjamin Mansell was right-for
once in his life" 1t was curious that the
opposition he had shown to that young
man had not decreased, nor the admira-
ration he felt for Reach Stoker.
1t was more than week after Christ
mas that Polly, meditating still upon the
grateful mystery which had saved her
fathers credit, and perhaps his life, hur-
ried away home from giving a lesson at
her new pupils. The weather suddenly
changed, and Polly, who had brought no
umbrella, found herself obliged to stand
up for regular London downpour. She
had scarcely adjusted her clothes, looking
most ruefully on some spots on her neat
| and handsome silk dress, meanwhile
grasping her music-roll in her hand like a
policeman's baton, when MIR. Reach Stoker
came upon the scene. Polly could not re-
| fuse his offer of shelter. Keach was de-
| lighted.
He talked Of everything; then led up
to the races. There had been some steeple-
chasing in the South; and he had under
| stood that an acquaintance of theirs-he
would not say frlend-had dropped some
thing on the race.
Dropped something. What is that?"
"Lost some money"
Who was it?"
"Why, nobody less than Mr.. Mansell,
the bootmaker."
"Poor old gentleman" said Polly.
"Twasn't the old; it was the Young"
"What he take to racing-her Ben.
And he lose money at racing-large,
heavy sums, when her father was suffer-
ingw Polly's head was, as she afterwards
said, in a whirl
care you sure of this dreadful accusa-
ton, Mr.. Keach?" said Polly, sharply; for
to her a gambler was a creature to be ever
avoided.
"Wc're close home; now l will leave
you; so sorry" said Reach, as they ap-
| preached the door, rejoicing that he
had planted wound that would
rankle: "sure, Miss Pilkerton. oh, yesl
we men of business are sure. / was told
of the name (NIr Reach belied himself):
and on the 18th of settling
day-young Mansell, who had been saving
up money, drew the whole out-siX po-
MES"
"What are ponies, sir?"
" Ponies? OH forgot; six fifty-pound
notes-for paid it him. Good morning,