The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-05-18

| gratefully accepted my invitation to make
| her home with me-''for a little while. y
| she said-"until baby gets little older,
and am strong enough to teach again. ''
| Such a brave little woman as she was! All
through the letter she spoke of the care
and Kindness of Mr.. Flournoy-Jack's for
mer partner. He has been so kind" she
wrote; ''he saw to everything after Jack 5
death, and took every bit of care and re-
! sponsibility, leaving me to myself until the
worst was over. Poor man that unlucky
| speculation into which Jack persuaded
| him, was the ruin OF the whole firm. but
he begs me not to worry over it. 1T can t
be helped now he says; and he has done
! everything in his power to help me-"
| went down to the depot to meet her
on her arrival, and as | saw the sweet.
ower-lke face of the little lady whom the
conductor pointed out to me as Mrs Ever
son. my heart warmed toward her at once,
and when the baby. laughing. cooing
pretty child, with Jacks own wide eyes,
looked up at me and put out her fat. white
arms for me to take her, | was melted
completely.
| was then senior clerk, and Sarah (my
sister, and | were keeping house in a
quiet way, just outside the city and we
took the poor little woman into our home
and hearts at the same time. Sarah fell in
love with her at once, and as for the baby,
no words could express her admiration for
it,
My sorrow for Jack found relief in car
ing tor his widow and child as tenderly as
] could and as the days went by, | tried
to make her forget. as much rs possible,
tho of bich cI, do, how
life. And now come at last to the strange
part of my story.
1t was on the evening of the goth of
March, 1860. remember the date, for it
was on that day that the great case of
Lindsay vs.. Harris came up for trial
There was a great deal of business on hand
that day, and | remained after hours to
look over some papers. 1t was rainy,
cloudy, dark weather, and | lighted the
gas in my little room much earlier than
usual; there was no one in the building
after six o'clock except the janitor and my
self. 1t was about Il quarter past eight
when finished my work, and was sitting
by the fire, dreading to 60 out in the storm,
when was startled by knock at the door
down stairs-a knock which echoed loudly
through the passage-way-an as | was
wondering who should come at so late all
hour, Grey, the janitor, looked in upon me.
"A gentleman to see you, sir; an old
friend, he says
''Show him up" said. wondering lit
tie what ''od friend it was, and then, as
| turned to the fire again. a cheery voice
rang out as OF old
"Hilloa George. old fellow. don't you
know mep"
Know him? could have sworn to that
voice anywhere, and springing to my feet
| saw Jack Everson. dear old Jack, with
the old mischief in his wide blue eyes. the
old merry smile on his handsome face.
standing i'll the doorway.
The surprise and the great rush of 10y
We're too much for me, and for the first
time in my life | turned deathly faint
When | came to myself again, he was
bending over me, full of tender solcitude
Il ought not to have startled you SO, he
said, self-reproachfully 1T was just like
my carelessness-dear old George"
And then we sat down before the fire,
side by side, and Jack talked on in his
laughing, whimsical way, to give me time
to collect myself, while l watched him
with my heart full of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
iDS Hilh III my lOOllSIl. W Ouldlllou way
now the bright locks falling over his fore
head, and then his hands, to assure myself
that it was in reality he, and not a dream
He ratified on in his old way for awhile,
and then, growing suddenly grave, sat
looking at the fire without speaking.
Some way, although had been wonder
ing vaguely how. the strange mistake
about his death had occurred | had not
spoken Of it. but now, looking up at his
dear face, | said
''It's the oldest thing Jack, about YOU
1t was rather embarrassing to tell him
that we had thought him dead during all
these past months, and as he looked up
with his quick, bright smile. | stopped
short
''It aoas little queer!" he said. with
one of his whimsical expressions; and
then with little shadow on his face, he
asked abruptly. ''How are Allie and the
small one?"
Very well, indeed" 1 answered. and
was launched into a glowing description
Of the body's many accomplishments, and
the place the little mother had in our
hearts when he stopped me with smile.
''Business first" he said, and then
Slo"iH9 NClS SIIN o. lC luONCd Illo SilttlL
nearer me, and said earnestly 1.-The truth
is, George, there was deal of trickery
about that Chicago business, and am de-
termined Justice shall be done to poor lit
tie Alice"
| did not understand him at first, but as
he was thoroughly III earnest, was soon
put in possession of the whole case, and
although | was experienced in such mat
ters. was deeply astonished at the story
which Jack told me.
That Fiournoy, jacks partner, was a
man lost to all sense Of honesty. was
plainly shown, and he was one of the
meanest of swindlers-one that would rob
the widow and the fatherless.
The only way to prove this, is by
means of some papers which Flournoy
thinks are destroyed" said Jack ''They
are in the breast-pocket of an old coat of
mine Allie has it in a trunk with my
other clothes. You'll know it by the color;
an ugly one kind of olive green"
1t was queer how persistently he ignor-
ed himself and left things in my hands
you will write to Chicago" You will
do this. that and the other" Everything
that was to be done l must do; it seemed
SeA'hSoS eto ShO eltAOs tsuu kduSCl QUILL ~
was, that he never once spoke Of the hap
piness of seeing Alice and the baby again
although he spoke of them most lovingly
and tenderly.
We talked until the fire grew low, and
| heard Grey walking impatiently up and
down the passage, anxious for us to de-
part that he might 60 to rest then rose
and investing myself in my great coat,
proposed starting homeward.
AS we went down the stairs we met
Grey, and 1 stopped to give him some
orders about the Goals. He listened to ME
in his usual quiet way, but his eyes were
furtively glancing at Jack, and as l was
turning away he touched my arm.
BEG pardon, sir but isn't that Mr..
Everson, that they said died in Chicago?
l remember his face.
Yes" answered, ''it is he; there was
mistake some way"
And then Jack and went out together
into the storm.
IL