Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-28

They could hardly believe that so much
fraud, compromise with evil, and corrupting
sclfishness, could have been concealed under
the fair exterior Of good reputation
The history Of Harry Ames' fall we must
reserve for another chapter
CHATTER XVII
It pains me to say what | am about to
saw" said Simon. "but the time has come
to say it. Harry Ames is very wicked and
dishonorable man
An his listeners, except Mrs. Byites, ut
tered ordinations of surprise. Squire
stephen dropped his nephew, and Aunt
Ellen led the little one out of the room.
! There was an oppressive silence until She re-
! turned. when Mr. Byttes resumed
1--WE have all had somewhat close rela-
! tiuns 10 Mr.. Amcs since childhood | have
| been, until recently his lawyer Stephen has
! been more or less involved in his business
and we have all welcomed him 10 our family
circles as a friend. But he has gone from
bad 10 worse, aud is now unworthy of our
confidence and friendship" Noticing
Stephens Impotence, Simon went on to
say: " | purpose TO lay before you, confiden-
italy, the evidence which proves the sad fact,
and | hope the lesson OF his wrecked life
will teach us humility, at least God
knows" he added, "that, five and twenty
years ago anybody would nave predicted
worse fate for me than for Harry Ames"
They that trust in the Lord shall never
be co founded said the aged Mrs. barley
and the eyes OF her daughter tail OF grateful
tears. rested Tor moment ON the slightly
flushed face Of the narrator
Yes, mother, human strength Is a broken
reed, and never was there palmer lllustra-
ton Of it than in lIarrys case. When he
Etapt Iaerou ~, La, "a clark nt RaNfnpuIfq he
leaned on good resolutions, and broke
down accordingly. You know that he is
naturally timid and sensitive, though he mas
learned to carry bold iront OF late years
lie used to fear the ridicule OF ms fellow
clerks, aud, therefore, conlorned more ana
more to their reckless ways stephen mas
helped him out OF many Scrape ana SO
have IT, Miss Elien's hali-ieproaehlul' hali-
perpleXed look, led Inn To adu " though
we would not be parties to ms rascality'
squire stephen WINGED ana ilulueIeu III
James ear: " don't believe Harry meant
wrong
Weakness is sometimes as 'hucn l"u'v
as the abuse of power SAID the Judge.
From running needlesSly INTO deo.' pro
ceeded Simon. he tel to FOSTERING MS lot
tunes by gambling. lie used 10 pay IN the
attic of Raymond's store with Old Jones,
! whom You all remember
Mrs. Mara ih"aruiy 'hahh%u YOU ''"' lo
mad delivered her husnahu' "Ille ye' NY
from the power OF that bad man Inc
/ Captain had spent the years since ms
| liquor traffic succumbed to public sentiment
in a more private KIND oil Viilalhy; ne nau
/ watched the young men OF expensive i'aoi'S'
won their favor 10y slnail loans OIL money;
and drawn them INTO the rulhouS VIM ooi
OF luck lie knew wen now 10 ieiu mem
secretly on IN the nope Oh recovering Vilelr
losses, and when the crisis came, ne khe"
| how to wilng money rom 'helr irlehus lor
the saving OF their reputation just Delore
his death, hye years ago he had oeeh sei1eu
/ toy an overwhelming remorse' allke ineNPIe-
able both to his boon companions ana 10 ms
respectable nelghnors' ne was uaNTi' SIZE
and yet the physician could helther uescrl .I
his disease nor cure 1t. ms NINA evidently
suffered, but he would not endure the pres
ence of the minister, nor allow word OF
| Christian counsel TO he 81 oxen III ms pres
ence. But in the last hour oil ms lie ne sent
| for Simon Byites.
These facts were familiar to the company
except that no one but simon knew or sus-
peeted that Mr.. Ames was one Oh the gam
bler.s victims,
When that wretch called me 10 ms dyihg
bed, continued he, " he confessed ms crimes
| very fully. Iheresho hunnus ABOUT you,
he said, nor about me either though l We
served the devil, and you the deVll Master
Yes he groaned, the devil plays losing,
game, that's certain. But I'VE not called
you IN, MIR. Byttes, Just to tell now wicked e, a
I've been. The Lord knows That ana Ia
rather settle with INN than WIN any man
living. shall never get up from TINS bed
and never have a chance to show II I'm eter-
nally sorry for what We done But De
lieve you are an honest man. and want TO
leave you with the settling up oil certain
matter. mean to be square with tne
world before leave 1t, and I've run III DEBT
some Then he made me write down the
names of several ialnlles winch haa peen
ruined by the drink sold at ms bar ana ne
named the various sums he wished paid 70
each after his death.
That accounts, then, Tor that curious
will which was the talk OF the town lor q
twelyemonth, said Squire stephen
But what blinded the public was ms leega
cies left to persons who had never patrohiz,ed
his establishment aud we're not known to be
personally acquainted with him. Those per