Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-11-01
up to the table, and began to ply his knife

C
visit. Polly, who was busy clearing the
supper-table, wanted TO leave the room,
but her bctrothed wouldn't near of such u
thing, and by.and-by that gallant swain
exercised his influence with such marked
success that, all ag,ow with bushes, she
was induced to take a seat upon the foot
stool between the two men, of whom it
would be hard to say which loved her
best.
You know, Mr.. Webb, Polly and |
have been counting a long time, nigh up
on eighteen months, and we're beginning
to think-that is. l am beginning to
think. CHS alienation in a response to a
protest from Polly,) 9 it's about time we
got married. l don't like to see her wear
ING her young life out in onr hot work
rooms. My salary, as you know, is at
present ESQ Il year. and | live on the
premises. Now think if | was to tell
Loostring the facts of the case, and that |
wanted to live way. he would give me
fl30. Now amt that enough to get mar
ried on. and have you any objection to
Polly and being married at once:?'
Here Tom Smith paused. not because
he had exhausted his subject, but for the
reason that he was out of breath.
Then Polly took up the parable. Slid
inc her stool to her fathers side. resting
her head upon his knees, she said tremb-
lin.ly:
Don't think. daddy, dear, that my be-
ing l. arried will make any difference to
you and me, for you are to come and live
with us. Ell Tomy'
MIR. Smith thus appealed to, vowed that
his fathcr-in-law residence with them
was considered quite 4 settled matter, rs
in truth it was.
\ tear stood in old Abel's eye, and his
voice quivered with emotion rs, LAYING
aside his pipe and taking his daughters
hand lovingly with his own, he said:
Tom Smith | know you to be Il true
and honest fellow. There is no man upon
the face of the earth | would more desire
TO call my s~on-in-law; but before | civ,
my consent to your marriage must tell
you of something that may perhaps cause
YOU to draw back.''
OF was about to speak when Abel, in
trembling accents resumed:
z" If you'd both been contenttl to wait a
few Years, what | am about to tell Won
might never have been known to either Of
YOU. | was still a young man when | first
entered Baker Il Bakers warehouse; Won,
Polly. Were three years old. but vour
brother Sam was eleven or more. He
used sometimes to bring me my meals at
the drug warehouse. and once or twice
Mr.. Bakcr-the old man I'm speaking of
now-took notice ofhim. AS | WAS II bit
of Il t~avorile, he used &c say to me. Now.
Abel, when that boys old enough I'll take
him into the counting-housc. if YOU like.
If | would like, treasured those words,
and your mother and myself did AL We
could in the way of sending him to school
and such like, 50 AS he should be 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, and for time he certainly
cave great sati-ftction in the countin.
house. He was then seventeen, and As
handsome 4 fellow AS Won might wish to
see, though I'm his father rs saws il. He
was II general favorite in the office. and ii
last GOT trusted 10 collect some OF the debts
due to the firm. About this time there
r,me sudden change in his habits and
appearance which alarmed me and hI~
mother very much. He got to keeping
late hours, made some bad acquaintancc>.
and began to dress eNtrlvlTlMllv. II Wa
no use our cantioniny him. for he seemed
determined To 90 On in his own course.
Bat all the sorrow and disappointment
We felt was noting to the fearful blow
that almost lunnc Us when on a chnncr
examination of the books, il WAS found
sam had cmbezzlcd his employers money
10 a hundred and fifty pounds. From the
moment OF that terrible discovery vour
mother druopcl and dropped until She
died. What lie had ,onr with the money
he would never tell: but the head cashier
(AIl. Robert Wilmot. he who went soon
after to .Au-trtlit) declared that more than
once he bad heard die boy talk about
horse racing: and il WAS in This way he
always considered the money had cove,
As for sam himself. he stuck TO il hard
and fast that lr was not guilty OF ANY dis
honesty. He sworc that tie money hctd
collected had always been plid over t.
the cashier; hut the evidence tho ulhrl
way WIS too >lronv. and our iuv Va
branded :i> 4 thiet. Mr.. Wilmot. wi" wa>
rngrv at ms insInuAtion>. wanted him
sent To prison: but Mr.. Baker WAS Il NOR
citul man. and did not bring upon Us ANY
further disgrace. After this | let Icou.ll
no longer remain in Mr.. Bakers EMPLOY.
lni thus it was | went to Lo">trinr x
Fools. 50 that sam might have a chance
of getting back his character. Mr.. Baker
CAV him a letter of Introduction to a mrr-
oh mt 1t Bombay, somewhere III India.
VII , might be able to ilnd linn employ
ment such rs WOulHnt have temptations.
sam eagerly jumped at the offer. but up
to he moment of his departure declared
himself innocent of stealing Mr.. Bakers
MONEY Poor fellow, 1t was the last we
saw of him. Before the vessel reached
India She met with Il fearful hurricane.
and every soul IN board her peri~hcd."
Overcome by these painful rccolIcction~
Abel buried his face in bis hand and wept.I
Complete silence reIyned in the room for
few moments, and then Polly, controlling
with an effort the strong emotions that
swept through her heart, crcpt to her f.
Tiers side and placed her hand in his.
dear father" She said in broken tones.
The story Of your SORROW makes YOU
dcarer TO me than ever"
The old man withdrew his hand from
her embrace. and, when she kiSSe! the
tears from his checks, resumed:
"Thcir could be no doubt Of your broth
er's guilt. and | was too sensible of the
kindness of his employers to allow them
to suffer. | resolved, come what mi.,t.
that | would do my best to repay them.
For this | daily denied myself; for Til, |
narrowed your opportunities of education;
and this. next to your happiness, MY child.
is the object of my life
Dear 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
My darling, WIS it for your interest to
know the Truth? When your brother left
England you were but a child. Up to to
night it has been my constant cndeavor to
hi,ie the real facts of the ease from Won.
had hoped to have paid off die whole
amount before YOU got married. Toms
proposal tonight, however. has frivhtcncd
the secret out of me. for | could not allow
him to marry You without knowing the
truth"
"And now ! know it. Mr.. Webb,' cy-
claimed Tom, who had been trying to
speak for some time, but had been unable
to do 50. owing to n strange sensation rs
OF marbles rolling up his throat, and Il de-
termination of water to his eyes"