Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-11-04

years ago was thought TO be guilty
Of robbing us--is proved to have been
Abel sunk back in his chair, his face
grew pale, and his hands clutched the
wrists Of Tom Smith and his daughter,
who had rushed to his side.
How-how do You know this" he
gasped.
Gan hour after You left my Office q
letter writer from Australia was de-
livered-it was written by gentleman,
magistrate in Melbourne, and was to
the effect that our late cashier, Robert
Wilmot, having received fatal injury
through being run over in the streets,
in his last moments madO deposition
before the legal authorities that your
son was innocent, that himself had aps
propriated the moneys of the firm, and
in order to conceal his own delinquen-
cies was compelled to fix the guilt upon
some one else. The official papers will
arrive by next mail. Abel, believe me,
no person is more rejoiced at this intel
ligence than myself."
The old man was in tears-he could
not spenk, but the pressure he gave tie
extended hand evinccd his belief in
Baker Juniors sincerity.
"And, Abel, continued the new conner,
"it gives me great pleasure-more
than I can tell you-to hand you ba k
your ninety pounds. Both my father
and myself resolved never to touch q
penny of it if you had died before you
were satisfied you had discharged tho
sum we should have handed over tho
money to your daughter. l nm de-
lighted, however, to give it back to You
personally and if you will come to our
Office tomorrow, l will hand you over
the five per cent. interest. Goodbye,
Abel. feel myself an intruder now.
Goodbye, and Heaven bless you, my
honest fellow |"
Baker, junior, who seemed with every
word to become thicker and thicker in
his utteraLce, then placed i'll Abcls lap
a small canvas bag which gave forth
clinking sound, and once again heartily
wringing the old mans hand, bounced
from the room ere any one could bid
him farewell.
"Polly, Polly" whispered Abel,
k1NO LILO uuuU WO1hbOAs
The girl knew what he wanted, and
placed the box before him. She saw his
fingers draw from its contents of pre-
cious relics of bygone day a tiny
baby's shoe which had never belonged
to her. The old man held it within his
hand, and after gazing at it for few Sec
onds, drew it reverently to his lips and
"My boy innocent, my
boy innocentl Oh, that he had lived to
see this day !"
Tom Smith stole his arm around the
waist of his bethrothed and drew her to
the window. They raised the blind,
and, looking out, witnessed the heavens
with myriad stars and a
bright crescent shaped moon.
"Polly, dear, it's the first day of the
new moon. You ought to wish, and
what you wish is sure to come true"
els it, Tom, replied the girl, with n
wistful, trustful look in her eyes that
made him draw her still nearer to him.
''Do you know I've watched for the new
moon, and wished regularly the same
thing for many months pasts"
"And what was your wish, Polly ?"
inquired Tom, archly. Il think he
knew, although he pretended to be quite
gnorant.)
"Oh, if I were to tell you now, the
charm might fail. Ask me, dear, when
The next new moon comes, and perhaps
III tell you my wish"
Then, darling, we shall be man and
wife," His voice had sunk to u whisper,
but it reached her ears, and when the
words ceased her head sunk upon his
shoulder.
The fire in the CRATE died away, the
candle upon the table fl1ckered, and at
ength went ont; but with its last ray it
showed the old man rapt in the comtem-
olation of his precious relic, and the two
overs-one in heart and mind-still
gazing upon the peaceful splendor of the
star checkered f.mament.