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


sufficient answer 10 the question.
"Well, my children" continued the
old man, "do as you will"
Tom Smith sprsng from his chair,
and was wringing Abel's hands in token
of gratitude, when the sound of foot
steps ascending the stairs caught Abel's
ear.
"Here, Polly! quick with the CANDLE"
he cried "there is some one wants us,
or has mistaken the floor"
The room had hitherto been illumin-
ated solely by the fitful CLEAN Of the
fire, and just as Folly had got the
candle alight the door was opened, and
in strobe Mr.. Baker--Baker, junior
whom Abel had left but an hour and a
half before.
40 Abel" said Baker, with his
broad, ruddy face glowing with excite
ment, "I'm so glad I've found you at
home. I've good news for you-news
that'll make your heart leap from your
BOSOM
What-what is ftp" exclaimed
Abel, while Polly and her betrothed
looked on in silent amazement.
"Why, your boy Sam-he who eight
years ago was thought To be guilty of
robbing us-is proved TO have been in
nocent.n
Abel sank back in his chair, his face
grew pale, and his hands clutched the
wrists Of Tom Smith and his daughter,
who had rushed TO his side.
"How-how do You know thisP" he
gasped.
IAN hour after you left my office, a
letter from Australia was deliYered-it
was written by a magistrate in Mel
bourne, and was to the effect that our
late cashier, Robert Wilmot, having re-
ceived fatal injury through being run
over on the streets, in his last moments
made q deposition before the legal au-
thorities that your son was innocent,
that he himself had appropriated the
money Of the firm, and in order 10 con-
ceal his own delinquencies was com
PEELED to fix the guilt upon some one
else. The official papers will arrive by
next mail. Abel, believe me, no person
Is more rejoiced at this intelligence
than myself
The old man was in tears-he could
not speak, but the pressure he gave the
Baker, juniors, sincerity.
Sand, Abel continued the new
conner, ait gives me great pleasure
more pleasure than | can tell you-to
hand you back your 80 pounds. Both
my father and myself resolved never to
touch a penny Of it; if you had died be-
fore yOu were satisfied you had dis
charged the sum, we should have hand
ed over the money 10 your daughter.
am delighted, however, TO give IL back
to you personally; and j. you will come
To our office, tomorrow, | will hand
you over the per cent. interest which
has accrued since the first payment.
Good-by, Abel. / feel myself an in
truder now. Good-by, and heaven bless
you, my honest fellowl"
Baker, junior, who seemed with every
word to become thicker and thicker in
his utterance, then placed in Abe's lap
a small canvas bag, which gave forth
chinking sound, and once again hearth
" wringing the old mans hand,
bounced from the room, ere any one
could bid him farewell.
"Polly, Polly" whispered Abel,
"give me that work-boX."
The girl knew what he wanted, and
placed the box before him. She saw
his fingers draw from its contents of
precious relics Of bygone day a tiny
baby's shoe which had never belonged
To her. The old man held il within his
hands, and, after gazing at il for few
seconds, drew il reverently TO bis lips,
and mnrmured: "My boy innocent,
my boy Innocent Oh, that he had lived
TO see this day"
Tom Smith stole his arm around the
waist of his betrothed and drew her TO
the window. They raised the blind,
and looking out witnessed the heavens
Respondent with myriad stars and a
bright crescent-shaped moon.
"Polly, dear" said Tom, " it's the
first day of the new moon. You ought
to wish, and what you wish is sure TO
come true"
"Is it, Tom?" replied the girl, with
wistful, trusting look in her eyes that
made him draw her still nearer to him.
/" DO you know I have watched for
the new moon and wished regularly
the same thing for many months
past?n
"And what was your wish, PollyP"
inquired Tom, archly. q think he
knew, although he pretended TO be
quite ignorant)
"Oh, il | were to tell you now the
charm might fail. Ask me, dear, when
the next new moon comes, and perhaps
III tell you my wish.
"Then, darling, we shall be man and
wife" His voice had sunk TO a whisper,
but il reached her ears, and, when the
words ceased, her head sank upon his
ahnnldnr Tho fro In tho nrrnfn linh