The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-12-20

lief I have in you, and never abuse tie
mercy thus shown YOU" '@,t>;uu
The man, descending from the table,
tell upon his bare knees before the young
doctor. :,,''
} The clock struck the hour Of two in the
morning as man, wrapped up almost to
the very eyes, passed out from the warmth
and shelter into the fierce coldness ofthe
silent street. ... :.>,:
And Doctor Deane, sitting before tho
fire, asked himself, again and again.
whether he had done right or wrong in
allowing that man to 60 forth free. :"
Seven years passed. =.
It was Christmas day.
erty stricken old house, situated in mar
row, dirty street, not far from the water
side, man sat by the bedside of his wife
and child.
The woman and child were asleep, and
on their thin, pinched faces tn. stamp of
poverty and privation was plainly discern
ible.
This haggard looking man who sat
there gazing at the two beings 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.
The money acquired by the practice of
his profession was one day swallowed up
in speculation which had held out the
gayest 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 ill and suffering.
Without money, and consequently
without friends, Doctor Deane and bis
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. "oh,have you succeeded
dear?"
"No, Emma, darling," answered tho
doctor, his eyes dim with tears, ~ have
not succeeded. The friend whom helped
with money in my prosperous days re-
fused to lend me single dollar"
The wife dropped her head upon the
pillow, and a flood Of tears came to her
eyes. "Heaven help us, Wilford, this
Christmas day, when all the world but Us
is merry" she sighed. "God aid US and
child. h1v, md -
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 was
muffled up so closely that hardly more
than his eyes could be seen.
"You are Doctor Deane?' he said SLOW
ly.
eyes, 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, both of
which he hadded to the wondering doc
tor.
"Beforc you open the box, sir,
which is not locked" said tho
stranger, you must read the marked piece
of news on the first page of that paper
And now, Doctor Daanc, goodnight and
good-by.''
Laying the box upon the table, Deane
hurriedly opened the paper, at the first
glance beheId the marked article, and with
beating heart he read tho following
piece OF news:
"a DYING MANS CoNFEss1oN.-Hiram
Wood, an age1 man, passed away last
evening, and two hours before that event
he made terrible confession. In this
confession he declared himself murder
er; said that he alone was the man who
committed the dark deed some seven or
eight years ago, and for which crime a
young man, named George Leighton, died
upon the scaffold, sent there by what
then appeared to be the strongest circum-
stantial evidence"
The newspaper fell from Doctor Deana's
quivering hands, he pulled open the tin
box and folded sheet of 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 to you
that he was innocent, seven years ago,
spoke Gods holy truth. I glory in the
thought that in this, your dark hour,I can
be of service to you. In the tin box you
will find the sum of ten thousand dollars,
apresent from him who owes you his life.
Blush not to take it, for it was all pro-
cured honestly. As much more money
is at your disposal. When the morrow
comes I shall pay you and your family
visit, when VIC can chat together and he
joyful.
-"From your life long debtor.
"GEORGE LEIGHTON"
The contents of the box were emptied
out upon the table.
Doctor Deane instantly awoke both
wife and child to hear the happy tidings.
The sick wife and child of the doctor
rapidly recovered, and Deane became
rich and prosperous physician.
Near the garden of the English resi-
dence at Lucknow, India, Is the tomb Of
Sir Henry Lawrence. He was one of the
four thousand brave defenders who for