Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-14
NO. 244.
Misrellaneous.
OLD ABEES NIILST0NE.
lcoNTINUED FROM YEsTERDAr.1
BY MARIAN NoRTHCOTT.

CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.1
As was Il bit ot IL iavurite he used to
say to me, Now, Abel, when that boys
Old enough. III take him into The counting
house, if you like II | would hkel /
treasured those words, and your mother
aud myself did all We could in the way Of
sending him to school and suca like. so as
he should he fit when Mr.. Baker wanted
him. Oh how we loved that boy! How,
proudly we watched him grow up, and
what hopes We formed OF him Sam
seemed "A steady, industrious lad enough,
aud Tor time he certainly gave great
satisfaction in the counling-house. He
was then seventeen. and as handsome q
fellow as YOU might wish 10 see, though
I'm his father as says it. He was gen.
eral tavorite in the 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 appear
ance which alarmed me and his mother
very much. He got to Keeping late hours,
made some bad acquaintances, and began
10 dress extravagantly. 1t was no use
our cautioDing him, for he seemed deter
mined 10 go on his own course. But all
The sorrow and disappointment we ielt
was as nothing to the fearful blow that al
most stunned Us when, on chance ex-
animation ot the books, it was toun Sam
had embt zzled his employers money 10 a
hundred and fifty pounds. From the mo-
ment of that terrible discovery your moth
er dropped aud dropped until she died.
What he had done with the money he
would never tell but the head cashier
(Alr. Robert WIlmont, he who went soon
after to Austrulia) declared that more than
once he had heard the boy talk about
horse-racing; aud IL was in this way he
had always considered the money had
gone. AS for Sam himself, he stuck to it
hard and fast that be was not guilty of
any dishonesty. He swore that the mon
ey he'd collected had always been paid
over to the cashier hut the evidence The
other way was too strong, and our boy
was branded as Il thief. Mr.. Wilmont,
who WAS angry at Sans inslmuations,
wanted him sent to prison; but MIR. Baker
was merciiul man, and did not bring
upon us further disgrace. After this
ielt | could no longer remain In Mr..
Bakers employ; and thus it was l went
to Loostring Il Tools. So thai Sam might
have chance of getting back his charsc
ter, Mr.. Baker gave him letter of intro
ducllon to a merchant at Bombay. some
where in India, whu nigh. be able to find
him employment such rs wouldnt have
temptations. Sam eagerly jumped at the
9tfrr but up to the moment uf his depart
ure declared himself innocent of stealing
Mr.. Bakers money. Poor fellow it was
The last we saw ol him. Before the ves-
sci reached India she met fearful hurri.
cane, and every soul on board her per-
lsh-d."
Overcome 10y these painful recollec,ions
Abel buried his face in his hands and
wtpt. Complete silence reigned in the
room Tor few moments, aud tb, n Polly
controlling with AN t fort the strong emo
lions that swept through her heari, crept
TO her fathers side aud 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. aud when she had kissed the
tears from his cheeks. resumed:
There could be no doubt of your
broIh,rs guiit, and was too sensible of
the kindness oi his employers To allow
them To suffer. | resolved. come what
might, that would do my best To repay
them. For this | daily denied myself; for
tins ! narrowed your opportunities of edu-
cation; and this. n"xt TO your happiness,
my child. is the object of my life."
Dear iather, aud until now you have
always led me TO believe that the amount
paid half yearly was to discharge debt Of
your own"
MY darling, was it to your interest to
know the truth? When your brother lett
England you we're but child. Up to to-
night ii has been my constant endeavor to
hide the real facts of the case from you.
| had hoped to have paid off the whole
amount before You got married. TOMS
proposal tonight. however. has frightened
the secret out of me, for could not al
low him to marry you without knowing
the truth"
And now | do know it, Mr.. Webb,"
exclaimed Tom. who had bet n trying to
speak for some time, but had been unable
10 do so. owing to a strange sensation as
OF MAJ bles rolling up his throat, and de-
termination OF water to his eyes--''now |
do krow it, am more than ever desirous
of making Polly my wife. | thought of
having the baDus put up next week, and
then We can be married before another
mouth is over our heads
but, Polly" inquired Abel, "is not that
rather soonp'
His daughter was at that moment en-.
gagged in attending to the fire, the bright
ness OF which had during the recital of
AbeFs revelation become some Nv hat
dlmmed. just as he spoke a CHEEKY flame
again shot forth and disclosed happy
smile upon Polly's face aud blush upon
her cheek, forming quite sufficient answer
To the question.
"WelI, my children" continued the old
man, "do as you will.
Tom Smuh sprang from his chair. and
was wlinging Abel's hand in token of
gratitude. when the sound Vi iootsteps as
cending the stairs caught Abers ear.
"I-re. Polly, quick with The candle.
he cried There is some one wants us, or
has mistaken the floor 3
The room had hitherto been Illuminated
solely bv The fillul CLEAN of the fire. and
just as Polly had got the candle aliyht the
door was opened. and in strobe MIR. Baker
Baker, junior-whom Abel had lsft hat
an hour and IA halt belore. ss
20. Abel" said Baker, with his broad,
~ al - f...... IL. Il -