The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-10-27


before | give my consent TO your mar
riage must tell you of something that
may perhaps cause you TO draw back"
Tom was about to speak, when Abel,
in trembling accents, resumed
"f you'd both been content To wait
a few years, what | am about 10 tell
might never have been known TO either
of you. was still young man when
| entered Baker 4 Bakers warehouse;
you, Polly, were three years old, but
your brother Sam was III or more. He
used sometimes 10 bring me my meals
at the drug warehouse, and once or
twice Mr.. Baker-the old man, I'm
speaking of now-took notice of him.
A. was bit OF a favorite, he used To
say 10 me: (" Now, Abel, when that
boys old enough, III take him into the
cOunting-house, if you like" IL |
would hkel l treasured those words,
and your mother and myself did all we
could in the way of sending him to
school and such like, so as he should
be hit when Mr.. Baker wanted him.
Oh, how we loved that boyl how
proudly we watched him grow up, and
what hopes we formed of himl Sam
seemed steady, industrious lad
enough, and for time ne cert ainly
gave great satisfaction in the counting
house. He was then II, and as hand
some fellow as you might wish to see,
though I'm his father as says it. He
was a general favorite in office, and at
last got trusted to collect some of the
debts due to the firm. About this time
there came sudden change in
his habits and appearance which alarm
Ell me and his mother very much. He
got 10 Keeping late hours, made some
bad acquaintasces, and began 70 dress
eXtrayagantly. Ii was no use our eau
tioning him, for he seemed determined
To 20 on his own course. But all the
sorrow and disappointment we felt was
As nothing 10 the fearful blow that al
most stunned US vixen, on "A chance ex-
animation of the books, it was found
Sam had embezzled his employers
money TO a hundred and fifty pounds.
From the moment of that terrible dis
covery your mother dropped and droop-
ed until she died. What he had done
with the money he would never tell
but the head cashier (Mr. Robert Viii
mot, ne who went soon after TO Austria
lia) declared that more than once he
heard the boy talk about horse-racing;
and it was in this way we always con-
sidered the money had gone As for
sam himself, he stuck to il hard and
fast that he was not guilty of any dis
honesty. He swore that the money
he'd collected had always been paid
over TO the cashier; but the evidence
the other way was too strong, and our
boy was branded as a thief Mr.. VIII
mot, who was angry at Sans insinua-
tons, wanted him sent TO prison; but
Mr.. Baker was a merciful man, and did
not bring upon US further disgrace.
After this | felt could
no longer remain in Mr..
Bakers employ; and thus | went TO
Loostring & Tools. SO that Sam
might have a chance of getting back
his character. Mr.. Baker gave him a
letter of introduction To a merchant at
Bombay, somewhere in India, who
might be able to find him employment
such as wouldn't have temptations.
Sam eagerly jumped AT the offer, but
up 10 the moment Of his departure de-
clared himself innocent Of stealing Mr..
Bakers money. Poor fellow, it was the
last We saw Of him. Before the vessel
reached India she met fearful hurri-
cane, and every soul on board her per-
ished."
Overcome by these painful recollec-
tiOns, Abel buried his face in his hands
aud wept. Complete silence reigned
in the room for few moments, and
fhaa Dgflr- ..nnsr11ltrar
the strong emotions that swept through
her heart, crept 10 her father sside and
placed her hand in his.
"Dear father" she said in broken
tones, ''the 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:
"There could be no doubt Of your
brothers guilt, and | was too sensible
Of the kindness of his employers To al
low them 10 suffer. | resolved, come
what might, that would do my best to
repay them. For this | daily denied
myself; for this narrowed your OPP
portunities of education; and this, next
TO your happiness, my child, is the OBJ
ject Of my life"
"Dear father, and until now you have
always led me 20 believe that the amount
paid half yearly was to discharge a
debt of your own"
"My darling, was it TO your interest
TO know the truth? When your brother
left England you were but child. Up
TO tonight, it has been my constant en-
deavor TO hide the real facts of the case
from you. had hoped to have paid
of the whole amount, before you got
married. Toms proposal tonight,
hnXeNer has frirhfnnah the sncrei ont