Litchfield enquirer., 1876-09-28

for boys. They would be merciful, and only dismiss me without recommends. tionf All could say had no effect. R They. proved me guilty. before they &C., a cused me they said; and at last stag gered out into the office. The boys were . getting ready to go home. I saw they knew what had happened
 None of you believed this of me" saidL. 'eNone of you who know me2'
 And Merrivale said: Look here, Forester, you're very lucky to get off so."
 And Ca1berry said:
 ''Now come, we know too much to be fooled. It's always your sly boots of a good young man that does these sort of things.'
 And Grab said:
 1 say, Forester, don't talk too much; you'll give yourself away" 2 And 4Stoyer said:
 "Oh, go take a glass of brandy and water. and don't go on like girl about 1t"
 And what with shame, and rage, and grief, I could have died; when out of his dusty corner came little Old Dumps, in his little snuff-colored overcoat, and held out his hand.
 "Mr. Forester" he said, T've watched you ever since you've been here. I know what you are. You are incapable of dishonest act, and, what is more 1 will prove it before rest. The man who respects others always respects himself. The man who honors his mother will do no dishonorable thing.
 He took my hand in his arm, and lowing to the others, walked out into the street with me. heard Grab and Stover and Carberry laugh, but Merri. vale gave us furious look, and stood, white to the lips, looking after us. AeMr- Dumps" said I, q thank you for your confidence in me. deserve it in this. at least; but it saves my heart from breaking under this disgrace. How shall I tell my motherY
 Don't tell her yet" said he. "Wait. Others shall think of you as do soon."
 Then we went on in silence. He took me to his own room, where he kept bachelors hall. He made tea for me, and served me with sliced potted beef and thin bread and butter.
 The room was strange, old-fashioned place, enough like room in a story. and there was a miniature of a young lady in the costume of forty years be- fore, on the wall over the mantel; and of book-shelves, old, calf-bound volumes Felding's Amelia, Thaddsus of Warsaw, Evelina-1 can't tell you all of them; and on stand near tue fire, the prayer-book, with the book-mark hanging from it.
 And it was not until we had done tea that he said to me very apologeti- cally, after had called him MT. Dumps:
 "Mr. Forester, excuse me; but am not named Dumps. That is the name by which the young men at the store considered it witty to call me. I confess Icould not see the wit; but it rather hurt them than me. I saw by your manner i$ dKInnp had made mistake. My name
 Twas so much ashamed of having used the nickname, innocently as I did it, that could have cried.
 But my old friend comforted me. I think that but for his sympathy that night should have taken my own life. I did not believe he could help me even then.
 But he did. said I could not tell you inst what they accused me of doing un- less you knew the ins and outs of our business. And I can't tell you how he did it for the same reason. But one day he came to me, flushed with triumph, and took both my hands and shook them hard, and said:
 My dear boy, it's all right. I'd watched before and had a clue. Your character is cleared. The firm welcome you back, with regrets that they should have suspected you, and the real culprit is found. The real culprit is Merrivale, ndstover is his accomplice."
 And so it really was. They had doc- tored my books and meddled with my proofs. They made me out thief as plainly as though I had been one, and they never guessed that "Old Dumps," with his suspicious aroused, had played detective, and was able to come to my rescue in the hour of need.
 went back to my situation and I've got on well ever since; but there's more of my story. Think of my dear Old Dumps turning out to be my uncle my mothers own brother-and neither of us guessing it..
 Long ago other people had quarreled, and SO separated these two, who. were always friends. .
 Think of the little man in the shabby wig and coat proving to be quite rich, and going down into the country to live with his sister for the rest of his life.
 In vacations and holidays go to see them. They are happy together, and the little tea table is set with the old china, and there is potted beef and jelly and I'm petted like child. And in my uncle's room the old miniature of the young lady hangs on the mantel-piece as 1t did in his lodgings.
 And once he told me it's sweet, sad story, and knew why the quaint old man in the office had more true and tender gallantry to women, and was Q braver friend and more perfect gentle 1, man than the young fops who grinned at him from the high stools between his ! desk and the window, and gave him the nickname of Old Dumps.