Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-03-27

presence of his mother. AT last his
walk brought him near Mr.. Carman's
store, and at passing he was sur
prised at seeing II light within.
"What can this mean 7" he asked
himself, new fear creeping, with
its shuddering impulse, into his
heart.
lie listened by the doors and win
dows, but he could hear no sound
within.
"There's something wrong" he
said, "what can it BET If this is
discovered what will he the end OF
it! Ruin! ruin! My poor moth
erw
The wretched young man hasten
ed on, walked the streets for two
hours, when he returned home.
His mother met him when he en-
tered, and with concealed anxiety,
asked him if he were better. he
said yes, but in a manner that only
increased the trouble she felt, and
passed up hastily to his own room.
In the morning, the strangely al
tered face of James as he met his
mother at the breakfas st table, struck
alarm into her heart. He was 81
lent and evaded all her questions.
While they sat at the table the door
bell rung loudly. The sound star
tied James,iand he turned his ear to
listen in u nervous way.
"Who is it ?" asked Mrs Lewis.
ga gentleman who wishes see MIR.
James," replied the girl.
James rose instantly, and went
out into the hall, shutting the din
ing room door as he did so. Mrs.
Lewis sat awaiting her sons return.
She heard him coming back in few
moments; but he did not enter the
dining room. Then he turned along
the hall to the street door, and she
heard it shut. All was silent. Start
ing up she ran into the passage, but
James was not there. He had gone
away with the person who had call.
ed.
All, that was sad going away.
Mr.. Carman had spent half the
night in examining the accounts of
James, and discovered frauds of
over six thousand dollars. Blindly
indignant,he sent an officer to arrest
him in the morning; and it was
with this officer that he went away
from his mother, never to return.
"The young william shall lie in the
bed he has made for himself" ex-
claimed Mr.. Carman in his bitter in
dignation. And he made the expos.
ure completely. On the trial he
showed an eager desire to have him
and presented such an
array of evidence that the jury
could give no other verdict than
guilty.
The poor mother was in court,
and audible in the silence that fol-
lowed, came her convulsed sobs up
on the air. The presiding judge ad-
dressed the culprit, and asked if he
had anything to say why the sen.
tence of the law should not be pro-
against him. All eyes
were turned upon the pale, agitated
young man, who rose with an effort,
and leaned against the railing by
which he stood, as if needing the
"Will it please your honors," he
said, 'to direct my prosecutor to
come little nearer, so that l can
look at him and your hOnors at the
same time ?"
Mr.. Carman was directed to come
forward to where the boy stood.
James looked at him steadily for a
few moments, and turned to the
Judges.
"What I have to say to your hon
,rs is this" he spoke calmly and
listinctly-"and it may in degree
though it cannot excuse
my crime. l went into that mans
store an innocent boy, and if he had
)een an honest man l would not
nave stood before you to-day as a
"
Mr.. Carman appealed to the court
or protection against allegations of
such outrageous character but he
vas peremptOrily ordered to be si.
ent. James went Oh i'm firm voice.
"Only a few weeks after 1 went
ntO his employment l examined a
Dill by his direction, and discovered
an error Of twenty dollars"
r
ID.