National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
SILAS GRIMGRIN'S TRAP.

" It's plain case" Mr. Grimgrin said
Against whom would there not have beer
plain case. Mr.. Grimgrn Judging
" No doubt he j. guilty but what are
the facts ~ inquired Miss Thugge, in
whose theory of fjustce striking came
before hearing.
They are very simple" Mr.. Grimgrin
answered presented an altered check
at the Oxide Bank this morning in Jail
for forgery this evening.
" But there may be some explanation, v
umidly remarked young lady, at whose
simplicity Mr.. Grimgrin smiled, and Miss
Thugge shifted.
" He should have made it at once.
then" said Mr.. Grimgrin, instead OF
standing dumb before his accusers. After
explain atoms don't go for much in such
Cases"
Poor Edith lit will break her heart,
the voung lady could not help adding.
Pooh - said Mr.. Grmgrin as you
will find cut some day, heart-breaking is
only figure of speech"
Leaving the rest of Miss Thugge's party
to laugh. and the young lady to blush, at
Mr.. Gringin's sententious observation,
let Us go back STEP.
Ernest j ,sper, whose arrest for forgery
was Just now the subject Of conversation.
had hitherto borne an unbl-mished char.
acter. He and his brother George. ont of
moderate saleries, after supporting their
widowed mother, managed to lay MP
something every year, and each was look
ing to Il happy time-not far distant, ne
hoped-when certain tender engagements
would no longer need to be deferred.
The course of truthful love never ran
smoother thar in the case of Ernest Jas.
per and f iith Wade, Too trusting to
allow mischief to be made between them
and too generous to make it between
themselves, what conld disturb the even
tenor of two such lives
George Jasper was OF different temper
from his brother. With heart ss true.
he was more impulsive and passionate. Ii
is snch men that are easily melted to
jealousy, and who act rashly under it.
When George Jasper and Mildred
Heath plighted their troth, they would
have staked their lives on each Others
loyalty. But evil tongues came betw cen
them. Stories which should have been
scorned-and were so at filst--in time
began to be listened to. Then came
quarrels and reconciliations, time and
again repeated. till at last it was insinnated
To George that he had n rival in his love-
He demanded an explanation in tone so
imperous that Mildred's pride took
offence. and she answered it with silence.
They parted in anger, and Georges visits
ceased
A few days later, cool note from
Mildred informed him that all was over
between them. In his bitterest moments
he had not counted on this. IL came
upon him like thunder clap. His first
impulse was to fly from the scene of his
misery whittier he cared not - the
further the better.
A letter, received through the post
Office, announced to Ernest his brothers.
departure.
Leaving on you," the letter went on
the burden of our mothers support,
enclose you my employer. Mr.. Winters.
check for all nv savings over the neces-
sary expenses Of my journey. l cannot
tell you where | am going. for | do not
know. To Won and our mother-the only
ones to whom have the right to offer it
i leave my fondest love. Farewell"
Ii was the check thus enclosed, which
on Icing presented by Ernest, was ascer-
tained to have been altered to larger
amount.
On being questioned. Ernest offered no
explanation. Instantly it flushed upOn
nun that he conld not speak without
compromising his brother. and bis silence
vas construed as a confession of guilt
he was at once arrested and committed
for trial.
Sllas Grimcrin was a post-ofiice clerk.
moral beyond his wears. and with con-
,clence tenderly alive to the sins Of others.
we have already seen how little lenity
poor Ernest received st his hands
s1ts Grimgrin bad just returned from
MISS Thugge's party. and, in his bachelor
'p'rtment, was RECALLING himself with q
',ear and divers reflections on the vanity
" human wishes, when a knock announced
visitor.
Il, Come iu," said Silss, glansirg over
bis shoulder. II
s'ooplpg to clear the doorway. yospel
~so sntsrsd, . lblleW 0f AllaA & |