Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-03-27

"Oh, Wallace, we are ruined We
shall be turned into the street, beggars
"'Trust in the Lord and be not afraid.
Whatsoever he doeth he doeth wisely
and WE'LL We shall not | ave our old
home, Mary"
And this was all the reply that Wal
lace made to his disheartened wife.
CHAPTER II.
Donald McGregor was buying large
quantities of produce and sending to
market. To do this he was obliged to
handle large sums of money. He had
at that time fifteen thousand dollars de-
posted in the bank at D., the county
seat ten miles distant. This he designed
Withdrawing to pay for produce he was
then buying. He determined to do it
the next day, after he had heard the SER
mon on the oppression of the poor.
Some of his brother merchants knew
he was going to the bank. Having abun-
uhuI CoHuucuCO III hiui ehoJ oohe AZ.
their own deposits. So on his return he
would have nearly thirty thousand dol
lars, a much larger sum than he had ever
had about his person before.
Early on Monday morning he started
for the bank. Arriving there he found
the cashier temporarily absent. He was
obliged to await his return. 1t was not
till nearly night that he got his business
completed and started home.
By the time he had accomplished half
the distance the autumn night shut in
dark and dreary with squall of rain.
| When about half the distance was passed
he had half mile of new road to drive
over. This new road was very rough
and somewhat dangerous in so dark
night. But Donald pushed on. He had
almost reached the old road again when
the wheel went into rut, and the wagon
tipped over, throwing him upon the
ground.
Fortunately the horse stopped. Do
nald was not much hurt. 1t was too dark
to see, but feeling over the wagon he
thought it was not broken. In few
minutes he had it righted and was on his
way again. As he came out on the old
road the clouds passed off. The moon
shone out almost as bright as day and he
drove leisurely home.
During the whole day Donald's con-
science had been i'll at ease. He had
tried in vain to shake off the conviction
that he was doing his uncle a great
wrong. He found it impossible to keep
the subject from his mind. He was con-
tinual thinking about it and it troubled
him all the way home. Having put hi:
horse in the barn Donald entered the
house. Thinking he would deliver the
money to the other merchants before eat
ing his supper, he put his hand in his
pocket for his pocket-book. 1t was gone
The discovery completely unnamed
him. He sank helplessly into chair
The next moment Wallace McGregor's
parting words came back to him with
startling distinctness. The Lord avenge
rue of thee! Mark my words, Donald,
l shall yet live to see it with my own
eyesl''
The conviction flashed upon him in an
instant that retribution had already over.
taken him, and that this was the punish.
ment of OF his sin.
Donald soon rallied from his momen-
tary weakness. He hastened to the 9TH
er parties and told his loss. They all
sailed out, each with lantern. They
followed back, examining every part OF
the road to the place where the wagon
was overturned. The ground showed
distinctly that wagon had been upset
there, but the most careful search failed
to discover the lost pocket book. Hall
the night was spent in searching for it
But it was of no avail, and they all re
turned home to wait for daylight.
1t was night of misery ior Donald
McGregor. He could not conjecture
what had become of the pocket book
He was very careful man. How 1t wai
possible for the loss to have occurred, ht
could not conceive. All his human pru
dence and care had gone for nothing
He reccllected distinctly that he had pu
the pocket book into his pocket before
leaving the bank. From there he haC
come directly home, only to discover tha
the book was missing. To him the whole
affair was shrouded in mystery. How
ever innocent he might be, he knew th,
circumstances looked very bad. HI
knew that suspscion might and woulc
fasten on him as having kept and secret
ed the money. 1t is no wonder, then
that he passed sleepless night.
Morning dawned at last. BY tina
, time it was known all through the littl
III .ka. nnnali Me- razor had loo