The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-09-09

the possession of this money without the
evidence of a near relative who had depart
ed for Europe a week before, and whose
address was unknown and return uncertain
Edward, to avoid the horror and disgrace
of lying in the county Jail in the interme-
diate time, resolved on evading the officers
of justice, until he could surrender himself
with the proofs of his innocence in his
hands.
The moon had now risen above the hill
which bound the prospect, and warned the
lovers that it was time to separate.
"And now, dearest" said he, "I leave
you with the brand of thief upon my fair
name, to be hunted like beast of prey
from one hiding place to another. But, D
Kate, | bear with me the blest assurance
that one being, and that being the best
loved of my heart, knows me to be inno-
cent; and that thought shall comfort me-"
g A remarkably pretty speech, and well
delivered ~ exclaimed voice, which caus
ed the youthful pair to start, and turn their
eyes in the direction whence it proceeded,
when from behind a solitary tree that grew
in the Hollow, a tall figure wrapped in an
ample cloak walked towards them. The
place, as we have before said, had an evil
reputation, and although Edward and his
companion were of course free from the
superstitious fears which characterized the
country people, an undefinabls feeling stole
over them, as they gazed on the tall form
before them.
Mansell, however, soon recovered himself
and told the stranger that, whoever it was,
it i'll became him to overhear conversation,
was not intended for other ears than
their own.
"Nay," was the rejoinder, "be not angry
with me perhaps you may have reason Ii. .
rejoice in my presence, since being in the
possession of the story of your gr ief it
might be in my power to alleviate it.
have assisted men in much greater straits.' -
Edward did not like the last sentence,
nor the tone in which it was uttered but
he said:
" | see not how you can help me ; you
cannot give me clue by which can find
the box" oH4a4 aj n,
"Yes, here is clue,' replied the other,
as lie held forth about three yards of strong
cord. "Here is line; go to the river at e
point exactly opposite the hollow oak
wade out in q straight line until you find
the box; attach one end of the cord to the
box, and the other to stout cork, but re-
move it not yet"
"The devilp' said Mansell. Whether he
really believed himself to be in the presence
expressive Of surprise, we know not.
The stranger took the compliment, and
acknowledging it with bow, said, "The
tin box of which you have been accused Of
stealing, is at the bottom of the river, and
you will find that l have spoken no more
than the truth"
Mansell hesitated no longer, but accom-
panied the stranger to the spot, and in q
few minutes the box, sealed as when he
last saw it, was again in his possession. He
looked from the treasure to the stranger,
and at last said, "I owe you more than life
for in regaining this, | shall recover my
good name, which has been foully tradu-
ced." h 7f lt n
He was proceeding towards the shore,
when the other cried:
"Stop, young gentleman not quite SO
fast just fasten your cord to it and re-
place it where you found it, if you please"
Edward started, but the stranger continu-
ed : "Were you to take that box back to
your employer, think you that you would
produce any other effect on him than the
conviction, that finding your delinquency
discovered, you wished to secure impunity
by restoring property? We must not only
restore the treasure, but convict the thief.
Hush hear football p'
AS he spoke, he took the box from Ed
ward, who now saw his meaning, fastened
the cord to it, and it was again lowered to
the bottom of the river, and the cork on
the other end of the cord was swimming
down with the tide.
{" Now follow me in silence" whispe red
the stranger, and the three retired and hid
themselves behind the huge trunk Of tho
tree, whence by the light of the moon they
beheld figure approach the water looking
cautiously around him. fls f
"That is the thief" said the stranger,
in low voice, i'll Edwards ear. Z" i saw
him last night throw something into the
river, and when he was gone, took the
liberty of raising it up ; when, expecting
that he would return and remove his booty,
replaced it, and had been unsuccessfully
watching the place, just before met you
in the Hollow"
By this time the man reached the rivers
brink, and after cropping some time through
the water, he found the box, but started
back in astonishment on seeing long cord
attached to it. His back was turned to
the witnesses of the transaction, so that
Edward and the stranger had got him Sc
curely by tho collar before he could make
an escape. The surprise Of Mansell and
Kate may be more easily conceived than
painted when as the moonbeam fell on the
face of the culprit they recognized the
features of Van Buren, his fellow-clerk.
Mansel's character was now cleared,
while Van Buren,, whom Mason, for reasons
of his own, refrained from prosecuting,
quilted the town in merited disgrace The
stranger proved to be a gentleman of largo
landed property in the neighborhood, which
he had now visited for the first time in
many years, and having been interested in
the young pair whom he had delivered so
ftsit tlak h<.
quently appointed Mansell his man OF
hnsinesa. and thns laid the fnaandatios. ac