Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-06-26

marriage that ne resigned that unsta-
bic Office, and, accepted an, appoint
'msnt which wasinotl dependent upon
one set of men going out of Office
and another coming in. 1t was
position of trust, and large sums Of
money passed through his hands.
Well, there was wrongdoing, embez-
Element; downright theft, in the de-
partment. Our father. could not clear
himself; his name appeared to fraud
ulent documents which could not
have been used without his signature
in short he was condemned-sent
across the sea-lost ). for from that
time our mother could hear no, more
Of him. Il am innocent" he said.
when they parted; "bnt what does
that matter?-the disgrace is tn.
same. hope to die soon; but if
that blessing is denied. mel desire
|'to Be forgotten, as Trough FAadTsally
escaped from this den of thieves.
I will not drag you and my children
down any lower. Do not speakiof
me to them-never seek for -tidings
of me-. Our mother prayed, remon-
s:rated, wept in vaif-he- was firm,
saying that he knew it was for the
best. That was eighteen years ago,
Susan, when you were quite a baby,
and l so young that have only the
vaguest remembrance of calamity
and change WE'LL our ~father0hHas
no more to do with that crime than
we infants had; a man in the same
department forged his name, and
embezzled the money he is dying
struck down with a painful disease,
which leaves him in:ful possession Of
his faculties, -andin kstterror he has
confessed, and he appeals to the
family of the man he has worse than
murdered-to us-for forgiveness
Here 1T is-seel Can you forgive
him, Susan? I can't Forgive him
wish him well and strong, that |
might have my fingers round his
throat and my knee op bis chest, AID
watch ;his black soul stifening in Ri
black heart Soul l hope"
Harry, Harry"
"Well, well, I forgot myself; don't
look frightened, Susan. 1t is we'll
that the wretch has spoken at last, At
all events; our fathers memorywill
be.cleared from <reproachy land you
can stay sometimes with these good.
Poynter people and see little socie-
ty."
Susan was protesting that she was
quite scontented and.I happy under
lpfesenI circumstances when she was
interrupted by knock at the door,
and the fellow-lodger entered the
room. He, too, held newspaper in
his hand; he, too, was evidently un-
der the influence of strong emotion.
for he stood glancing from one to the
other with a strange, yearnfng es-
preston in his eyes twich he essayed
to speak, and twice his voice failed
him.. .aa,. n ~
g You have seen this account in. the
evening papers. and have concluded
that we belong to the. family Of Mr.
Mapleson, whose cruel story is.told
there ?" asked Harry. -:
The cid man nodded.
You are right; we are his chill
dren., This sympathy is indeed kind"
perhaps you yourself are con-
nection.g" said Susan, with a-womapss
penetration.
The fellow lodger at last forced
words to his lips; seeY.es;""-h he said,
IT,
Look 10 him, HarryIi cried Su-
san; and if they had not run forward
to support him., the old man would
have fallen = >. ..-,s
They got .him info a char bathe !
his forehead, g;tvebim sherrySEsad5he
soon came eut.-of the faint The
e.mption WAS too much for me, y he
said presently. 81 am myself ag.in
now. Mono do not 60 Tor II doctor
l am not fbs rs nothing but AN over
dose OF ilarllness-; medicine," lie
ailled.. with = sal smile, that l hays.
n2t been much accustomed to- - /
. You were a. great friend of bis,
perhaps? asked Harry, who looked
puzzled; but Susan glanced rapidly
from the youthful features of her
brother to the care-worn face fTthe
other, and a light flashed upon. her.
Father! !" she cried.
My girl! My children =
In the: course of the. evening be
t I'D them al1. How that, when
fewyears of his sentence had expired,
he was allowed to live as free man
within the boundaries of the colony
how his book-oraft had gained hinli
the situation of librarian to a veal
thy settler. who had touch of,biblic:
mania, whieh it.was difficult to graft
'iv out there how he nearly died Of the
gnawing desire to communicate with
his wife, but fought the battle cut with
what he felt.to be self. and conquered;
how at length, when free to return to
Europe, he had engaged in certain
literary pursuits, which there is'aso
occasion 10 specify, butsin which he
eventually was aosuecsssful as to be in
receipt of an income far beyond his
wants; how that, hearing Of his,wife's s
death, a id certain that his children
could not Recognize him, heAad come
to England, and had contrived to OBJ
taia lodgings in the same house. and
make their acquaintance. 49, :.
I. "And if it had not been for this.
happy confession, would you never
have told us who you were, papa?"
asked Susuan. Il.
After the trial I have come
through" replied her father, 1 think
/ may boast, neverl"
1t is felt in certain influential cir
cles that something should be done"
for "poor Mapleson;" something also
is to be done for his son Hamy. This
vague announcement sounds, [ grant,
wofully like "chops for two p but ]
am in position to state that Mr..
.,fapleson will have q pension and
that Harry will get a nomination
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