River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-12-20

Six years before he had married, and
thinking that a splendid opportunity lay
before him to make money and reputa-
ton in distant city, the young doctor
with his wife had set forth full of the
brightest hopes.
The money acquired by the practice of
his profession was one day swallowed up
in a speculation which had held out the
gsyest promise of success.
He was penniless; sickness came upon
wife and child, and the doctor found him.
self ruined man.
Back came all three, husband, wife and
child-the two latter i'll and suffering.
Without money, and consequently
without friends, Doctor Deane and 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
whisper, lest she should awake the
sleeping child. ooh, have you succeeded
dearln
"No, Emma, darling" answered the
doctor, his eyes dim with tears, II have
not succeeded. The friend whom helped
with money in my prosperous Says re-
fused to lend me a single dollar
The wife dropped her head upon the
pillow, and flood of tears came to her
eyes. "Heaven help us, MILFORD, this
Christmas day, when all the world but us
is merry," she sighed. "God aid us and
our child; how want and poverty are
thrusting us down.
Deane bowed his face in his hands
and sat silent and almost despairingly
while his wife sank once more into merci-
full sleep.
Half 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 wa,
muffied up 50 closely that hardly more
than his eyes could be seen.
"You are Doctor Deaneln he said. slow
ly.
''Yes, am, . replied the physician.
The man suddenly caught the hand o
Deane, and shook it warmly.
The strange mans next movement wa
to draw out from under his cloak a small
tin box and folded newspaper, both o.
which he hadded to the wondering doc
| tor
"Before you open the box, sir
which is not locked" said tbs
stranger, you must read the marked piec,
of news on the first page of that paper
And now, Doctor Deane, goodnight anC
good-by."
Laying the box upon the table, Dean'
hurriedly opened the paper, at the frs
| glance beheld the marked article, and witt
I ho hn fol
piece OF news:
"A DYING MANS CONFESSION Hiram
Wood, an agei man, passed away las
evening, and two hours before that even
he made a terrible confession. In thi
confession he declared himself a murder
er; said that he alone was the man wh'
committed the dark deed some seven o
eight years ago. and for which crime |
young man, named George Leighton, dice
upon the scaffold, Segt there by wha
then appeared to be the strongest circum
stantial evidence
The newspaper fell from Doctor Dtanal
quivering hands, he pulled open the til
box and folded sheet of paper lyins
on the top of something firm and heavy
And this is what he read:
convinced that the man who swore TO YOU
that he was innocent, seven years ago
spoke Gods holy truth. I glcry in thr
thought that in this, your dark hour,I cal
be Of service to you. In the tin box yol
will find the sum of zen thousand dollars
present from him who owes You his life
Blush not TO take il, for it was all pro
cured honestly. As much more none,
is at your disposal. When the morrow
comes l shall pay you and your famil,
a visit, when we can chat together and b,
joyful.
"From your lifelong debtor.
GEORGE LEIGHTON
The contents of the box were emptie,
out upon the table.
Doctor Deano instantly awoke boil
wife and child to hear the happy tidings
The sick wife and child of the docto
rapidly recovered, and Deane Became ;
rich and prosperous physician.