National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31

destroyed, as she now saw il must hav
been destroyed, il had been through n
fault OF hers, and, moreover, the los
could not possibly be helped. L.
Upon reflection, when Sarah saw ho'
much trouble was upon her mother, sh
was sorry she had not confessed th
whole truth at once. But II was to
late now. She had taken the first falls
step. and she could not retract withou
a disagreeable exposure.
"Who could have knocked it of |?
she said, in answer TO her mothers las
question "and where could II hav,
got blown to? I certainly saw nothing
OF bank note" .'
Mre. Powers searched in vain, and q
noon shs told her husband Of the loss
and then they both searched, and Mr.
Powers questioned his daughter-no
with thought that she had deceived, bu
in hopes that some forgotten inciden
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.
1lr. Powers returned 10 his store in
a thoughtful mood. He knew that his
wife must have left the bank-note nm
der the lamp upon the shelf, and that
it had been there on the previous even
ing. She was not woman liaDle to
mis- axe in memory of such matter.
The only other person who had been in
the sitting room ftom 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 a
twenty-dollar bill on the rnantel in my
sitting-room, last evening""
"No, sir"
"You saw nothing that looked like
one ?"
The young man hesitated, and color
ed Then, with forced smile,---
Perhaps Sarah may have seen it.
No, | have asked her, and she
knows nothing about it. She saw moth.
ing of the kind"
1-I-certainly saw nothing, SIR"
Mr. Powers was not at all satisfied with
his answer; but he would not press the
matter then. He 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 the bill.
With the money which he handed out
was twcnty-dollar bill, Of the Binck-
stone National B0nk, new and crisp.
1t was exactly such 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"
MIR. Powers went home, and showed
he bill to his wife. She declared, in a
that it was the bill she had
ost. Where had he found it?
The merchant asked her could she be |
ilent and discreet for time. And |
ghen she had assured him that she [
ould, he told her how the bill had come /
nto his possession.
They were both greatly shocked. !
hey had not believed such a thing pos
ible. If Robert Veazie could be a
hief, whom could they trust?
On the following day Mr. Powers
allied Robert into the counting room
gain, AMI bade him close the door be-
ind him. There was that in his en-
loyer's lock and tone that made the
outh tremble.
Mr.. Powers showed him the bank
ote, and asked him where he got it.
" Is that the bill / gave to Mr.. Sell
dge p
at is."
Robert did not answer readily. He
opped to think. And when he did an
yer his employers searching, suspic-
us gaze oppressed him.
Mr.. Powers, l saw that bank. note
the drawer with another Just like it,
happened to have twenty dollars of
y own in small bills in my pocket, and
made the exchange, taking the crisp,
w bill, and putting in its place my
,rn ones. Before the money was de-
'sited think you took the other one"
" Robert" said the merchant. stern :
did take bank -uote exactly like
only one L saw with our money
at day. L gave it to my wife.
e placed it beneath the large glass
mp upon the mantel-shelf in our sit !
lg- room. She did this Just before sit ,
g down to tea, and forgot all about /,
until the following morning, and then
was gone. On that evening only you c
1 Sarah were in the sitting room. i
rah saw nothing Oft. Now what am
o think ?'' y
Are You sure that Sarah knows .
thing ?" asked Robert, eagerly and 4
,itedly. -
: She declares positively that she
Dws nothing at all about it l trust
1 would not have me believe that m,
lighter could"
No, no! no - broke Ia Robert. :,
ckly. Then he gasped and trenl- r
d. =
What more have you to say, Rob- - -
." =
Nothing, sir =
Nothing p =,
N0thingf' ~,
You can leave me-. IL
md the ysung man went ont, pale, a,
'tu' "h' "o iii'i oh"ho M
:, and was sorry. II was a grief to 4.
i deep and heartfelt. Later in the n,
he went out and told Robert he as
hit go home" tu
I will send for you when l want hi
~ A.
Mr.. Powers =" w,
What would you say, Robert?" In
Nothing - OO
Then you nay go. / will send for a
when l am able to rec you again. en-
nd Robert Veazie went out from the
e; bnt he dared not go home then
is widowed mother. The fear that fir
q crusbinoly upon him was of Sarah. co