Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-02-28

| w 1uu6.
Be not too hard upon the poor girl
for she firmly believed that David wa
dead. And do not even the scripture
affirm that living dog is better than
dead lion?
But the Goldens had rather gone be
hindhand, for the loss of the money wa
a serious one to David's father. 81,
had withdrawn it from the bank for th,
purpose of purchasing certain land
adjoining his own called the " "Cratche
Farm, which he had long desired Il
possess, and he had not as much more
Ia the world.
Such was the state of things wher
Tom and Jessie came to pass the even
ing with the Goldens-the last evening
before their marriage.
so tomorrow is the wedding-day,
said Mr.. Golden, with an attempt al
iocularity which ill-harmonized with hit
careworn countenance.
"And to morrow is four years since
David went out that door and never
came back" said Mrs. Golden then,
regarding the bridal pair mournfully,
How strangely things come about
/ used to hope that David -
"Hush, mother don't talk about
that tonight I" whispered Faith, and
Immediately fell to rallying Tom and
Jessie in way which soon restored the
mirth this allusion had interrupted.
By-and-by, Gathering of boots was
heard on the porch, and Dick, the
Goldens' youngest hopeful, burst open
the door impetuously, saying:
"Here's man wants to stay all night.
He says he's awful tired, and can't walk
to the tavern"
"He's welcome" said Mr.. Golden
for applications of this kind were not
uncommon in those primitive days.
How do you know but what he's a
thief, father ?" said Faith.
The amused glance the traveller, who
now appeared in the doorway, cast on
Faith, showed that he had heard her
remark, but, nothing daunted, she con.
tinued
"Well, you never can tell by mans
appearance what he is"
Very true, but you can keep an eye
on me, said he, laughing.
"Don't mind what our Faith says.
She has lawless tongue" said Mr..
Golden. "Be seated, sir"
The traveller was young man, with
beard which had never known the touch
of razor, between which and the brown
curls on his forehead little could be
seen save pair of hazel eyes and a
straight, handsome nose. He did not
seem averse to conversation; but Faith,
not relishing her fathers introduction,
devoted her "lawless tongue to Tom
and Jessie, turning her back on the
stranger, and quite shutting him out of
the group.
He discussed the usual theme of
weather and politics with Mr.. Golden;
then, noticing that Dick was busily en-
gagged with his iack-knife, he asked:
What are you doing, bub }"
I'm fixing my top. made it my
self. It's good top, too, only it won't
CO." said Dick.
"That's bad fault. Let me see
what I can do" said the traveller and
taking his knife from his pocket, he
Whitfield little here and Little there.
"Now guess it will keep its center
of gravity" said he, and pulling the
string, he sent it whirling across the
floor in manner that brought forth
yells OF delight from Dick.
Why, it's nothing but a streak
There she goes under the table
under the chairs Take care O. your
toes, girls |" As the gyrations grew
slower, and finally, when it seemed
about to topple over, he picked it up,
drew a long breath, and calculated,
" "That beats all !"
eyes, she's all right now," said the
young man. "It's a nice thing to
know how to make your own tops. I
suppose you made that little craft over
the mantelpiece, too"
"Oh, no, I can't make ships. David
made that"
"And who is David
"He was my brother, that got
killed -
Here Dicks reply was brought to
sudden close by thrust from Faiths
elbow, accompanied by "Hold your
tongue "
81 amt a-goin' to hold my tongue,
snapped Dick, rubbing the wounded
place GIVE as good a right to talk as
you"
There, there, be quiet" said Mr..
Golden, soothingly. ats sad story,
sir, and we don't often allude to il.
David was our son, who was murdered
three years ago."
Murdered How, pray |"
"Well, that we don't know, for his
body was never found"
"But what motive could any one have
for so foul deed ?"
"The usual motive, sir; money. He
had quite large amount just taken
from the bank"
"And of this money you never found
any tracep"
"None at all; the cunning villain
looked out for that"
"And your son was-excuse me-
quite trHstworthy-not wild or rowing
at all; in short, he was entirely above
suspicion ?"
"He was, to everybody that knew
him." said Mr.. Golden, with dignity,
"but an angel could not escape the
tongue of slander."
"Then there were those who charged
him falsely ?"
There were. They charged him
with running off with the money"
Horrible |" exclaimed the young
man.
"We always hoped We might trace
the villain by curious old watch David
had with him and sometimes I think
it will be the means of bringing him to
light yet"
"What kind of watch p"
Mrs. Golden, who had all this time
hardly taken her eyes off the stranger,
now came forward, and said, eagerly