The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-12-07

in the room for asfew moments, and [
then Polly, controlling with an effort |
the strong emotions that swept through
her heart, crept to her father sside and |
placed her hand in his. ii
/ q. Dear father" she said In brokeaI
tones, ssthe story of your sorrow makes
you dearer to me than ever.''
!, The old man withdrew his hand from
her embrace, and, when she had kissed
the tears from his cheeks, resumed: s~-
~ ,s.There could be, no doubt. Of your
brothers guilt, and was too sensible
softhe kindness OF his employers to ala
low them to. suffer. I resolved, come
what might, that would do my best to,
repay thems For this 4 daily denied
myself; for this I narrowed your, op-
portunities of education and this, next
to your happiness, my child, isl the OBJ
ject Of my life.''
9 0.sDear father, and until now you have
always led me to believe that the amount
paid half yearly was to discharge a.
debt of your own" +aEt4 - Ial sgi
t"My darling, was it to your interest
to know the truth? When your brother
left England you were but a child aUp
to tonight, it has been my constant en-
deavor to hide the real facts of the case
from you. I had hoped to havelpaid
off the whole amount, before you. got
married. TOMS proposal tonight,
| however, has frightened the secret out
81 me, for I could not allow him to
marry you without knowing thetruth,"
| "And now do know it, Mr., Webb"
exclaimed Tom, who had been trying
/ to speak for some time, but. had been
unable to do so, owing to q strange SEN
sation as of marbles rolling up1 his
throat and a determination of water to
his eyes now / do know, it, 1 am
more than ever desirous of making Polly
my wife. Thought of having the 1banps
put up next week, and then We can be
married before another month is over
our heads. "lxn iats.9HiTg ets E7uA
But, Polly,''s inquired Abel, fsi s'not
that rather soon?"
y His daughter was at that momsntlen-
| gagged in attending to the fire, the bright
/ ness of which had during the recital Of
| Abel's revelation become somewhat
dinmed. just after he spoke, q CHEEKY
flame again shot forth and disclosed q
happy smile upon Polly's, face and o
blush upon her cheek, forming quite
sufficient answer to the question: ssG
"Well, my children, . continued the
| old man, ~ do as you will.'s ol I'll
Tom Smith, sprang from his chair,
and was wringing Abel's hands in token
| OF gratitude, when the sound Of foot
steps ascending the stairs caught Abel g
Lear. iiaG 4 stg1ie q 1''- tfA't'4HG"
"Here, Pollys quick with the candle, =
he cried /" there is some one wants US,
or has naistaken the floor. !" i.y9iis /
The room had hitherto been iAuthin
| ated solely by the fitful gleams of the
fire, and Just as Folly had got The
candle alight the door was opened. and
I in strobe Mr.. Baker Baker, junior
whom Abel had left but an hour and q
half before.
30 Abel, said Baker. with hi.
broad, ruddy face glowing with excite
,ment, /" I'm 50 glad I've found you at
home. I've good news for you-news
) that'll make your heart leap from your
. bosom.'' ss s aess,f4s} z9
What-what is it?'' ), exclaimed
! Abel, while Polly and her betrothed
looked on in silent amazement. f,xa
: ssWhy, your boy Sam-he who eight
, years, ago was xthought to be guilty b
robbing us-is proved to have been in
.llh Abel sank back in his chair, his fac,
grew pals, and his hands clutched thu
wrists of Tom Smith and his daughter
who had rushed to his side. 4 sEapall
"How-how do you know thisP" h
gasped. .laaa1 igea0ie i#4ssi't1 ~
"An hour after. you left my ofice,r;
letter from Australia was delivered
was written by magistrate id Mel
; bourne, and was to the effect that ou
ceived fatal injury through being rul
> over onthe streets, in his last moment
made deposition before the legal az
! thotities that your son was innocent
: that he himself had appropriated tn
money of the firm, and in order 10 con
ceal his own .delnquencies was seoin
! PEELED to fix the guilt upon some ON
! else. The official papers will arrive b
! next mail. Abel, believe me, mo pers0
i is more rejoiced at this intelligenc
: than myself" haa'
The old manwas ilr-tears-he coul
q not speak, but the pressure he gave'th
I extended hand ,evinced his belief j
q Baker, juniors, sincerity. : z = :
t sAnd, 4 Abel, - continued the new
b conner, "it gives. me great pleasure7
It more ipleasare than I can tell youAt
j. hand you back your So poulds-g Bot
II my father and myself resolved never t
, touch penny Of It; It you had died b.
/. fore yod swefe satisfied YOU had 'dis
e charged, the sam, weshould have AA1s