The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-03

been destroyed, il had been through no
fault OF hers, and, moreover, the loss
conld not possibly be helped.
Upon reflection, when Sarah saw how
much trouble was upon her mother, she
was sorry she had not confessed the
whole truth at once. But 1t was too
late now. She had taken the first false
step, and she could not retract without
q dissgreeable exposure.
"Who could have knocked 1t OFF,"
she said, in answer TO her mothers last
question; "and where could ii have
got blown 10? / certainly saw nothing
Of q bank.note. 4.,d.gs.s Ill So.
Mrs. Powers searched in vain, and ut
noon she told her husband Of the loss (;
and then they both searched, and Mr..
Powers questioned his daughter-not
with thought that she had deceived, but
in hopes that some forgotten incident
might occur to her. But Sarah dared
not confess now, She lacked the cour;
age; and she lacked the courage be.
cause she was yet TO realize how very
small evils can grow TO enormous con-
sequences. -.' i"
Mr.. Powers returned TO his store in
a thoughtful mood. He knew that his
wife must have left the bank-note I'M
der the lamp upon the shelf, and that
It had been there on tho previous eyen-
ing. She was not woman liable to
mistake in memory OF such matter.
The only other person who had been in
the sitting. room from that time besides
his daughter was Robert Veazie. Per-
haps Robert might have seen the note.
On arriving at the store he called his
clerk into the counting.room. .,..
Robert, did you see anything OF q
twenty.dollar bill on the mantel in my
sitting-room, last EVENING""
"No, SIR" .aI.
"You saw nothing that looked like
one2" .
The young man hesitated, and color
ed. Then, with forced smile,-.-
"Perhaps Sarah may have seen it."
"No, l have asked her, and she
knows nothing about II. She saw moth
ing OF the kind"
f-T-certainly saw nothing, SIR"
Mr. Powers was notat all satisfied with
his answer; but he would not press the
matter; then. Ho dismissed his clerk,
and sat down and reflected. And his
reflections were not pleasant.
That very evening Mr.. Powers called
upon Mr.. Selvidge, the tailor, to collect
a bill for cloth. The tailor was, fortu-
nately, in funds, and he paid tho bill.
With the money which he. handed out
was a twcnty.dollar bill, Of the Black
stone National Bank, new and crisp.
It was exactly such q bill as Mr.. Pow
ers had given to his wife.
He asked Selvidge where he got it.
"Robert veazie paid it to me this
forenoon"
"For what?"
"For new coat"
Mr.. Powers went home, and showed
the bill TO his wife. She declared, in n
moment, that IL was the bill she had
lost. Where had he found il?
The merchant asked her could she be
silent and discreet for time. And
when she had assured him that she
could, he told her how the bill had come
into his possession.
They were, both greatly shocked.
They had not believed such o thing pos
sible. II Robert veazie could be q
thief, whom could they trust?
On the following day Mr.. Powers
called Robert into the counting-room
again, and babe him close the door be-
hind him. There was that in his en-
ployer's look aud tone that made the
youth tremble.
Mr.. Powers showed him the bank
note, and asked him where he got 1t.
ais that the bill I gave to Mr.. Sell
yidge?" n
at tis." Ill.
Robert did not answer readily. He
stopped to think. And when he did an
swer his employers searching, suspic-
ious gaze oppressed him.
"Nfr. Powers, I saw that bank.note
in the drawer with another Just like 1t.
I happened to have twenty dollars OF
my own in small bills in my pocket, and
I made the exchange, taking the crisp,
new bill, and putting in It's place my
worn ones. Before the money was de.
posted I think you took the other one"
Robert" said the merchant, stern
ly, az did take a bank-uote exactly like
this-the only one I saw with our money
that day,-and gave IL to my wife.
She placed il beneath the large glass
lamp upon the mantel.shelf in our sit
ting.room. She did this Just before sit.
ting down to tea, and forgot all about
it until the followingmorning, and then
it was gone. On that evening only you
and Sarah we're in the sitting.room.
Sarah saw nothing oft. Now what am
Ito think?"
care you sure that Sarah knows
nothingp' asked Robert, eagerly and
excitedly.
knows nothing at all about it ! trust
you would not have me believe that my
daughter could" .,
"Nol no mol" broke in Robert,
quickly. Then he gasped and trein'
bled. N
"what more have you to say, Rob.
ert p b.
Nothing, SIR" fnng I'LL a
"NothingY" ig .tbrI .S Jill
Nothing u rrv iaW.
"You can leave me-" ~
And the young man went out, pale,
bowed, and stricken. The merchant
saw, and was sorry. It was a grief to
him deep and heartfelt. Inter in the
day he went out and told Robert he
II viii send for you when I want
YOU 81