The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-09

should have liked To join company with
Dumps, and walk home with him from
church sometimes bur was afraid of meet.
ing one of the boys, and never did. But
would bow to him, and we took our hats off
to each other always.
Sometimes when lived at Haredale with
mother I've seen the sky beautiful and brigh,
and blue one hour, and the next black with
thunderstorm. Just that way my trouble
came 10 mean awful trouble-such as |
conld not dream Of
| had written to my mother that was DO
Ing wei! and liked my business and would be
down to see her on Sunday, when was sent
for 10 go INTO the inner office; and there
cant go through with i'll car t even remem-
Der details; but | was charged with being
thief.
You have to understand our particular
business as well as bookkeeping 70 know how
was supposed to have done it; but they be-
lieved had robbed them of 800.
They urged me to confess. Twas innocent.
and l SAID so. Then they told me they did
not wish to be hard on me; was young; the
city was a bad place for boys. They would
be merciful, and only dismiss me without
recommendation All that could say had
no effect. They proved me guilty before
they accused me- and at last | staggered out
into the office The boys were getting ready
to go home. | saw they knew what hap.
pened.
None of you believe this of me, said |.
None of you who know me-"
And MerIjvale SAID:
Look here, Forester, you're very lucky 10
get of 500
And Carberrv said:
Now come, we know too much to be
fooled It's always your sly boots of good
young men that does these sort of things"
And Garb said:
II say, Forester, don't talk 100 much, you'll
give yourself away"
And Slower said:
90, go take glass of brandy and water,
and don't 90 on like a girl about it."
And what with shame and rage, and grief
could have died; when out Of his dusty cor
ner came little Old Dumps, in his snuff color
ed over-coat and held ont his hand.
"Mr Forester" he said, 1--WE watched YOU
ever since you've been here. | know what
you are. You are incapable OF dishonest
act, and what is more will prove it before |
rest The man who respects others always
respects himself. The man who honors his
mother will do no dishonOrable thing"
He took my hand in his arm, and bowling
to the others walked out into the street with
me. | heard Grab and Carbe ry laugh, but
white to the lips locking after us.
"Mr. Dumps said |, II thank you for your
confidence in me. | deserve tin this, at
least; but it saves my heart from breaking
under This disgrace. How shall tell my
moher?"
"Don't tell her vet' SAID be- wait. 9th.
ers shall think of YOU as do soon"
Then we went on IN silence. He took me
to his own room, where he kept bGchelor's
hall He made tea for me, and served me
with sliced poied beef 6rd thin bread and
butter.
The room was a strange, old-fashoned !
place, enough like a room IN a siorv-and |
there was miniature Of young lady in tie
costume of forty year before, on The wall over
the mantel; and on hOOk-shelves, old calf |
bound Misunderstanding Amelia, Thaddeus
of Warsaw, Evcllna,-I can't tell you all of
them; and on stand, near the fire, the pray.
cr-book, with the book mark hanging from It.
And 1t was not until we had done tea that
he said to me, very apologetically, after had
called him Mr.. Dumps:
"Mr Forester, excuse me; but | am not
named Dumps That is the name by which
the young men Ut the store considered il wit
ty to call me. | confess | could not see the
wit; hut 1t rather hurt them than me. saw
by your manner thatyou had made mistake.
Ny name is Adams
was so much ashare ed of having used
that nickname innoCeutly as | did It, that I
could have cried.
But my old friend comtortcd me. I think
that but for his sympathy that night I should
have taken my own life, but did not believe
he could help me even then.
But he did. I SAID I could not tell You
Just what they accused me Of doing unless
you know the inns and outs of our business.
And I can't tell YOU how he did it for the
same reason But one day he came to me,
iusLed with triumph, and took both my
hands and shook thcm hard aud said
MY dear bow, it's all right. I'd watched
before and had clue. Your character is
cleared. The firm welcome you hack, with
'crrcts tha they should have susneC'cd you,
md the real cuiprit is Merrivac, and Slower
S his accomplish
And 50 it really was. They had doctored
ny books ana meddlcd with nv proofs. They
made me out thief as plainly as though
lad been one, and they never guessed "Old
Dumps" with his suspicious aroused, had
played detective, and was able to come To my
'escue in my hour OF need.
| went back to my situation, and I've rot
m wei! ever since; but there's more Of my
story. Think of my dear old Dumps turning
,ut To be my unCle-my mothers own brother
and neither Of us guessing il
Long ago other people had quCrreied, ana
20 separated these two, who were always
riends.
Think of the little man in the shabby Wig
md coat proving to be quite rich, and going
Town in the country to live with his sister the
est of his life.
In vacation and holidays 90 and see them
They are happy together, and the little tea
able is set with the old china, and there is
,ottrd beet and jelly, and I'm pttied like
hid. And ia my unceS room The old min
AZURE of the young lady hangs over the man
lc-piece as It did IN his lodgings.
Once he told me lis sweet, sad story, and |
now why the quaint old man in the Office
lad . more true and tender gallan,ry 10 Wo-'
men. and was drawer friend and q more per
rct gentleman than the young fops who
.rlnncd at him from the high stools between
lis desk and the window, and gave him tac.
9. II nr,f,