Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-12-12
Wrongfully Accused.

WIonSluAy Accuseo.
Il has been many long day since
then, yet I reinember it all, just as
though it occurred but yesterday.
was q carpenter, the foreman. Of q
large establishment, aAd as such pos
sessed the entire confidence of my en,-
ployer. who, by the way. had been a
schoolmate of mine. MI e.
One day he called me into his office
to look at some rare coins he had just
Dssshased.
"Here," said he, placing in my hand
. heavy gold piece, ~ is one that is worth
more than all the rest put together. II
10 great curiosity. I paid two hund-
red dollars for It, and considered it
cheap at that. I could easily double
my money in selling it, and 20 you see,
Harvey, it is really good investment. "
mo doubt it is" said !, though 1t
seems large sum to have idle"
breathed an involuntary sigh as I
laid the coin down on the desk, for two
hundred dollars would have seemed q
fortune to me Just then.
The severe illness of my wife and one
Of my children, and the death of another.
had made sad inroads on my purse, and
it required the exercise OF the utmost
economy to keep myself free from
debt; nay, I had been obliged to with
draw from the brink the small sum
which, besides my salary was all I pos
sessed of worldly treasures. Thinking
of this, I laid down the coin with q
sigh, and turned away to attend to my
duties. .t. .. 81
The next morning was again sum-
moned into the Office, but this time
met no such friendly greeting as usual.
Harvey" said my employer. abrupt
ly, " that coin we were looking at has
disappeared. I have made q thorough
search, but it is not to be found. It has
been carried away by some one. You
alone saw or knew of it, and"
He paused and looked significantly
into my face. I finished the sentence
for him, the hot blood dyeing my cheeks
and brow as spoke:
You mean, therefore, that I took it
~" ...1 : -,
"What else could I think? The coin
was here. and you alone saw it. I can
not recall having seen it since it was in
your hands. You are in need of money,
you told me that yourself. It was
great temptation, and I forgive you be-
cause Of our old friendship, but can
not retain you in my employ. Here is
the salary due you."
every we'll, said I, with forced calm
ness, " so be it. Since you have SO
poor an opinion Of me, after years of
faithful service. I shall not stop to de-
fsnd myself"
Then I took the money he had laid
upon the desk, and went from his pres
ence we'll nigh broken-hearted man.
But for the tender love of my wife, I
doubt not but that + would have buried
my sorrows in the grave Of . suicide.
Supported by that love, however. and
the consciousness OF my own innocence,
I took fresh courage, and set resolutely
to work to find o new employer. 49,
Powerful is breath of slander; turn
which way I might, I ever found that
the story Of my dismissal for the theft
bad preceded me, and my application
tor employment uniformly met with Q
refusal. ~. o..- 49,
Time went on; piece by piece of fur
nitnre and every spare article of cloth
ing found it's way to the pawn brokers'
until at length even this poor resource
failed US. and my children cried in vain
for food. "
Yet did not sit down in idle despair;
! could not afford to do 30; tho life or
the death Of all loved on earth de-
pended on my exertion, and 80 turning
away with q heavy heart, I once more
Get out on my way to search for work.
% All in vain! refusal after refusal met
my entreaties for employment, and I
was returning homeward with listless
step. when passing an immense church,
! was attracted by group Of men ct
its base. 4 : yti,I,- ,, ,s
Impelled by some strange impulse. /
approached and mingled with them. .
A workman was standing near by,
looking up at the great steeple, which
lowered aloft some two hundred and
fifty {eet above them, whilea gentleman,
evidently an architect, was. addressing
them in earnest language, ct the same
time pointing toward the golden cross
ct the summit Of the spire. .nra.e-
"I tell you." he exclaimed, as drew
near, 1t can and must be done, or the
tirst heavy gale will send il down into
the street; and ives will be lost. Cow
ard! h this the way you back out Of a
JOB alter you are engaged to do it P.''!, Pn,!,,
didn't know the spirs was 10 high
up there. Do 1t yourself, il you want II
{ ~ would III were able" said tie
srcGtsst. "But 60 il you will; let It
b. 4 Ny honor il pledged to have it
done et any price, and I can find Drawer
mon than you to Do it, la- y. ~ p 80. 90 Q
The. carpenter vailed on with 1
dogged, slouching step, and the gentle
man was about 10 move awayalso, when
! stepped forward. pl2d 81 t.s', = 'l'l'
"Whst isit you want done r I asked.
-! Am acaxpsntsr; perhaps Lean do it,"