Connecticut western news., 1874-12-04
SALISBURY, CONN.,. FRIDAY DECEMBER 4, 1874.

| hended it all. These men had con cealed themselves in the bank to await the departure of it's officers, and now were prepared to break into the vaults. Grasping the high stool on which he ordinarily sat, Mark glided across the room and stationed himself on one side of the office door. Scarcely had he done so when it was opened, and the foremost burglar entered, to receive a heavy blow from the stool, which sent him reeling back into 4he passage-way.
 His astonished comrades looked eau tiously in through the open door.
 Hurrah ! only one man We'll soon finish him. Come on, down with him P
 Five men rushed into the apartment, but Mark had been too quick for them. With sudden bound he crossed the room, and placed his back against the iron door opening into the passage to the vaults below.
 Fast and furious were the blows aimed at him, but his ong-legged stool not alone repelling the attacks of his assailants, but ill laying one of them insensible on the floor.
 hduS 1G, W0 II nave bO u50 POWQ0r after all, and risk the noise, exclaimed one of the robbers and as he spoke. he presented pistol at Mark and fired.
 The stool dropped with crash from the latter's powerless hands, and he fell heavily to the floor, the blood flowing from wound in his side. The robbers pushed him aside, and he saw one of their number draw a bunch of skeleton keys from his pocket and fit one to the door. Then all grew dim be- fore him, and he knew no more until he opened his eyes to find himself in 8 darkened room.
 "Where am I ?" he asked, and the sound of bis voice startled him, so weak and low was it.
 No answer was made him, but 8 slight, graceful figure started up from his side and sped from the room. A moment later MT. Morton entered and stood at the bedside. Mark repeated his question: .
 "You are in my house, my dear boy" was the reply. "You have been very i'll for weeks, and must not attempt to talk, though you are better now. Hush, not word"
 The young man was too weak to Op- pose the mandate, so he closed his eyes and soon sank into peaceful slumber.
 A few days subsequently,, when Mark was stronger, MT. Morton told him how the watchman, entering the bank ill company with friend had been startled by pistol shot, and hastening in the direction of the sound, had discovered the robbers in the act of opening the iron door which Mark had so ably de- fended. The men had fled, all save one, who lay on the floor insensible. Him they gave into the charge of policeman whom they summoned and he had since recovered and turned States evidence, so that the whole party had been captured.
 As for Mark, they had thought him dead at first, but MT. Morton, sent for in all haste, had conveyed him to his own house, and called his wavering spirit back to life again.
 Marks eyes frightened as he heard this story.
 "Then the robbers got nothing ?" he asked.
 "Not 8 dollar, thanks to your bravery"
 "Thank Heaven for that! have atoned my sin."
 "You have, indeed, my dear boy," was the earnest reply; "and here is your reward. Take it, for now you are worthy of it."
 He drew his blushing daughter from behind the curtains which had up to this moment concealed her from Marks view, and placed her hand in the thin, emaciated one of her lover.
 ''I told her all, Mark, but she never faltered in her love. Take her you are worthy of each other. You have each passed through the furnace of afflictien, and have come forth purer and nobler."
 A sweet, happy smile played over the young mans wasted features as he clasped the hand of her he loved in his own.
 "Thank Heaven!' he murmured i; "my atonement is in truth accepted, for man has forgiven my sin, and God is yet more forgiving than he. I have found peace again once more."
 And Mark was right, as his subse- quent life of joy, prosperity and use- fitness amply testified.