The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-26
Seven years passed.

1t was Christmas day.
In the high room OF miserable, power
ty stricken old house, situated in mar
row, dirty street, not far from the water
side, a man sat by the bedside Of his
wife and child.
The woman and child were asleep, and
on their thin, pinched face the stamp
of poverty and priyation was plainly
discernible.
This haggard looking man who sat
there gazing at the two Deings upon the
bed was Doctor Deane.
Six years before he had married, and
thinking that splendid opportunity lay
before him to make money and reputa-
tion in distant city. the young doctor
with his wife had set forth full OF the
brightest hopes.
But, before the passage Of four years,
mi sfortune came thick upon them.
The money acquired by the practice of
his profession was one day swallowed up
in a speculation which had held out the
gayest promise Of success.
lie was penniess; sickness came
upon wife aud child, and the doctor
found himself ruined man.
Back came all three, husband, wife
and chill-the two latter still i'll and
suffering.
Without money, and consequently
without friends, Doctor D5ane aud his
small family took lodgings in the wretch
ed old house.
Mrs. Deane awoke and looked at her
husband.
"You have returned" she murmured,
in a whis ,,er, lest she should awake the
sleeping enid. son, have you succeed
ed, dear"
mo, Emma, darling" answered the
doctor, his eyes dim with tears, 81 have
not succeeded. The friend whom
helped with money in my prosperous
days refused to lend me single dol
lar"
The wife dropped her head upon the
pillow, and flood OF tears came to her
eyes.
Heaven help us, Wilford, this Christ
mas day, when all the world but us is
merry" she sighed. "God aid US and
our child. Oh, how want and poverty
are thrusting us dOwnV
Deane bowed his face in his hands and
sat silent and almost despairingly, while
his wife sank once more into merclful
sleep.
Hall an hour passed, at the end of that
time low knock came at the door, and
the doctor opened it.
A man entered the room, and he was
mutfled up SO closely that hardly more
than his eyes could be seen.
"YOu are Doctor Deanew he said,
slowly.
'Yes, am," replied the physician.
The man suddenly caught the hand OF
Deane and shook it warmly.
The strange mans next movement
was to draw out from under his CLOAK
small tin box and folded newspaper,
boIh Of which he handed to the wonder
ing doctor.
"Belore you open the box, sir, which
is not locked" said the stranger, "you
must read the marked piece OF news on
the first page Of that paper. And now,
Doctor Deane, goodnight and good
by"
Laying the box upon the table, Deane
hurrledly opened The paper, at the first
glance beheld the marked article, aud
with be ating heart read the following
iece OF news:
ga DYING MANS CoNFEssIoN.-Hi.
ram Wood, an aged man, passed away
last evening, and two hours before that
event he made terrible confession. In
this confession he declared himself q
murderer; said that he alone was the
man who committed the dark deed som
seven or eight years ago, and for which
crime a young man, named George
Leighton, died upon the scaffold, sen
there by what then appeared to be The
Estrongest circumstantIal evidence"
The newspaper fell from Doctor
Deans quivering hands, he pulled opeI
the tin box and saw folded sheet o
paper lying on the top of something firm
and heavy.
And this is what he read:
DEAR DOCTOR DEANE-You are now
convinced that the man who sWore t.
you that he was innocent, seven years
ago, spoke God's holy truth. l glory il
the thought that in this, your dark hour
L can be of service to you. In the til
box you will find the sum of ten thou
sand dollars, present from HIN
who owes you his llie. Blush not t,
take it, for il was all procured honestly
AS much more money is at your disposal
| When the morrow comes l shall pay
you and your family a pleasant visit.
when we can chat together and be 10y
ful.
"From your lifelong debtor,
| GEORGE LEIGHTON"
| The contents of the box were emptiet
out upon the table.
Doctor Deane instantly awoke botl
vile and child to hear the happy It'd
Iings.
The sick wife and child of the doctor
Irapldly recovered, and D4ane becam
rich and prosperous physician.
l