Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-07-15

light.
$ What made you imply the other aa
that Fred was not guilty?'
Because, Sir, | feel sure he was not.
am as sure of it As though heaven ba
shown 1t 10 me-
lie was with the gang of poacher.
Gisby saw him Shoot said the old ma,
with refuting emphasis.
Gisoy may have been mistaken. An
ffeds having been with the poachers /
the moment was, think, accidental
Then why, if not guilty, did he q
away =
Pear sent him. What would his wor
nave been against Gisby's dying declara
ton! You remember what hubbub ther
was. Sir-enoush to brighten any ma
away. however innocent he might be-"
Allowing, for arguments sake, tina
your theory is correct, and that he wa
frightened into going into hiding. VIII
does ne not come out of itI Gisby is aliv
and well again.
Il think Fred must be dead. Sir said
"and that's the truth Ii he were nor som,
OF rs would surely have heard of him"
Il see, said the old gentleman. Iookin,
straight up at the stars. 1--WE are both %
The same mind, Johnny-thlt he is dead
say he might have died that night. you
thihk he went away first and died af;er.
ward. Not much difference between Us.
is there:"
thought there was great deal; but
could not tell him why.
On our way home, Tod with the bag of
game slung over his shoulder, we came
! upon Mr.. Holland near the parsonage.
with Edna Blake aud the children. they
lad been TO Farmer Pages haryest-home.
"hiie the parson talked to Tod, Edna
snatched moment with me.
liave you head any news, Johnuy?r
VI nun: never. We can't make it out. ''
ferhapS We never shall hear" She
si2hed. Even II he reached the coast in
saieiy' ne may not have got over 10 the
other side. a great many wrecks took
place about that time; our weekly pancr
was iuil of them. 1t was the time OF the
eqplnoctial gales, and"
Come along. johnny" called ont TOD
at this Juncture. We must get on. Good
hiaht' Edna; good night, you youngsters. =
lie next day. Saturday. we went 10
worcester. the Squire driving US. and
lhere saw Gisby as large as life The man
hau naturally great assumption of man
ner, and latterly he had taken to dress in
the fashion. lie was looming mn Uioh
street, booted and spurrcd. his silyer-head.
ed whip in his hand. Taking of hi, hat
with an air, he wished the Squire loud
sood morning, a, II the town belonged to
MN and We were but subjects in it.
Il should think We,tcrbrook has never
oeen iool enough To make his will in GiS-
oy favor. remarked the Squire, starting
after him. "Egad, though. il looks like
it,"
1T is to be hoped, Sir. that he would
make it in Fred's" was Tod's rcioinder.
and the suggestion put the Pater out.
Make 1t IN Fred's. :" he retorted, going
INTO one OF his heats. and turning sharply
round on the crowded pavement near the
baskets. What do you mean by that,
Sir: Fred Westerbrook is beyond the pale
OF wills and all else. It. not respectable
10 name his name. He-blc>s the women,
What on earth are these baskets at:'
They seemed 10 be playing at bumps
with the Squire-thick and threefold. Tod
went 10 the rescue and got him out.
IL was a strange thing. Ii really was
Considering that for the past day or two
something or other had arisen 10 bring up
thoughts of Fred Westerbrook. il was
strange that the strangest of all things in
connection with him was yet TO come.
Sitting round the fire after supper. upon
getting home from Worcester-it i Il long
drive. you know-and Tod had gone up 10
bed dead tired, who should walk in but
Dufiham. He would not sit down; had no
time; but told his business hastily. Dick
Standish was dying. and had something on
his conscience
Il would have heard his confession"
said Durham, "as ! have heard that OF
many another dying man; but he seems to
wish To make it to magistrate. Either TO
a magistrate or to old Mr.. WesterbroOk.
he urged. But there's no time TO go up
there. so | came for you, Squire
Bless me. cried the Squire. starting
up in commotion-tor he thought a great
deal OF his magisterial duties. and this wa,
Il very unusual call. Dick Standlsh dy-
ing. What can he have to say: He has
been nothing but poacher all his life,
poor fellow. And what has Westerbrook
to do with him."
Well said Duiiham, in his cquable
way, lit strikes me that what he wants to
say may affect Fred. Perhaps Standi,h
can clear him
Clear Fred WesterbrOok' clear an in
iqutous young man who could turn poach-
er and murderer. What next will you
say, Dutfham? Here, Johnny, get my hat
and coat. Dear me. Take down con-
fession. | wonder whether there'll be any
Ink theIe?'
Let me 90 with you. Sir,' | said eag
erly. Il will take my little pocket lnkstand
and some paper-and-aDd everything
likely to be wanted. Please let me go?'
We'll. yes. you can. Johnny. Don't
forget Bible. Ten TO one il he has 0pe."
There were three brothers of these SIAN
dishes-Tom, jim. aud Dick-none of them
particularly well doing. Tom was no bet
ter than a Kind of tramp. reappearing in
the village only by fits and starts: Jim.
who had married Mary Picker. was like
wise given TO rowing abroad, until found
and brought back by the parish; Dick, as
the Squire phrased it. was nothing but a
poacher, and made his home mostly with
Jim and Mary. The cottage was at our
end of the parish. hall mile away. and
we put our best feet foremost.
Dick lay upon the low bed in the loft.
His illness had been very short and sharp;
it was scarcely week yet since he was
taken with it. Duffham had done his best :;
but the man was dying. Jim Standish was
Oft on one of his rowing expeditions. neith-
er the parish nor the public knowing
whittier.
The Squire sat by the bed. taking down
the mans confession at a small table. by
the light of small candle. and Duffham
stood to hear it; Mary Standish was sent
down to the kitchen. What he said clear
ed Fred Observation-Disclosures had no
doubt gathered so much before he came
for the Squire. just what Fred had told
us of the events OF the night, Dick Stan
dish confirmed now. The Squire took
all down; and Dick signed it.
was screwing the little inkstand up to
return it to my pocket, when Mr.. Holland
entered. Mary Standish having sent for
him. Leaving him with the sick L, an, we
| came away.
Johnny, do you know. we might almost
have made sure Fred Westerbrook was
not guilty" said the Squire, quite humbly,
as we were crossing the turnip-field. "But
why on earth did he run away? Where is
heT'
Il think he must be dead, Sir. What
news this will be for Mr.. WesterbrOOk! ~
"Dear me. yes! l shall go to him with
it in the morning.
When the morning came-which was
Sunday-be was SO impatient to be of
that he could hardly finish his breakfast
The master of the N. d. Farm, who nc
longer had energy or health to keep the