The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-03-06

SAID Jessie, TO norS0lI, Wnen Sn0 n8O
babe her friends goodnight; "but
when he does come, IN show him that
l meant nothing at all, that will. As
to the rose, I've q good mind to throw
it away" snatching it from her belt.
But perhaps he has a good excuse;
and anyhow, the rose isn't to blame.
poor thing"
II wish knew where that boy was"
said Mrs. Golden, taking q last look
out into the night, as her husband went
to bar the front door, preparatory to
going 10 bed.
II can tell you where he u.s." said
Faith, confidently; "he's staying with
Tom Penhallow. 1t isn't the first time
by good deal"
II know he and Tom are great
cronies," said Mrs. Golden. Its sim
gular, too, for they amt bit alike. "
II wish they were more alike in
some things" said MIR. Golden.
Il hope you don't mean to say that
Toms superior to our David! Why,
he can't shake stick at him!'
mean to say that l wish David
had some of Toms prudence, and his
careful, saving ways"
"They say he's dreadful mean
critter," remarked Mrs. Golden.
"He's steady and Industrious, and
knows how to stick to one thing, and
that's what you can't say of our David,
more's the pity" .
"There aim but one thing he knows"
said Faith, "and that's how to tend
that little grocery of his"
"Just so," said Mrs. Golden. "The
idea of comparing Tom Penhallow with
our David!'
This brief discussion had so diverted
the minds of the Golden family that
they went quietly to bed and slept till
morning; but when the morning was
well on its way toward noon, and still
the wanderer had not returned, their
anxiety was renewed.
IF it wasn't for the money,
shouldn't think 50 strange of it," said
Mr.. Golden.
"Law, he's forgotten all about the
money. and gone of snipe-shooting
with TOm," said the invincible Faith.
But this view of the case, however
satisfactory to Faith, was not reassur-
ing to her father. suggesting as it did
the idea of his precious package having
gone to feed the snipes.
81 guess I'll harness up Dobbin and
60 down to Oldport," said he.
His first call was at Tom Penhallow's
shop, where small boy informed hin,
that "Tom had gone off somewhere,
he didn't know WHERE
This seemed to confirm the snipe-
shooting theory, so he drove at a
leisurely pace to the Widow Penhal-
lows; but there he heard news which
plunged him into the deepest anxiety.
David had not passed the night there,
nor had he been at the house at all.
More than that, she felt quite sure her
son had not seen him, rs he said moth
ing of it when he came home from the
shop, which was at the usual time, and
he had started early in the morning for
Boston to purchase goods.
With heavy heart Mr.. Golden went
to the bank.
David had called at three o'clock on
the preceding afternoon, presented his
fathers order, and received the pack
age. That was all they knew of the
matter at the bank.
He also traced him to the watch
makers, and two or three persons re-
membered seeing him in the street
either yesterday or the day before, they
were not certain which.
And this was all that Mr.. Golden
could learn after the most careful in
quiries.
Years passed away. The disappear
ance of David Golden had become an
old story, and the excitement which ut
first attended it had long since died
out.
That he was robbed ana murdered
was the beliet of his own family; but
this belief was not shared by the COM
munity at large, for not the slightest
proof could be found in support of it,
inasmuch as his body was never recov.
cred, nor any trace of the notes in his
possession ever found.
The most plausible theory seemed to
be that the money had proved too
great a temptation, and he had fed
with it to parts unknown; and this was
the theory generally received.
What gave color to this view of the
case was the statement of Tom Penhal-
low that he had seen him at the wharf
on the afternoon of his disappearance,
but had parted with him before sun
down, and had never seen him since.
Tom, meanwhile, had prospered
steadily, and was now esteemed one OF
the solid men of Oldport. Moreover,
he was on the eve of marriage with
Jessie Wynne.
Be not too hard upon the poor girl,
for she firmly believed that David was
dead. And do not even the Scriptures
affirm that living dog is better than s
dead lionP
But the Goldens had rather gone be-
midland, for the loss of the money
was serious one to David's father
He had withdrawn it from the bank fol
the purpose of purchasing certain land!
adjoining his own called the "Cratche
Farm" which he had long desired tt
possess, and he had not Us much more
in the world.
Such was the state of things wher
Tom and Jessie came to pass the even
ings with the Goldens-the last evening
before the marriage.
$50 tomorrow is the wedding day.
said Mr.. Golden, with an attempt a
POPULARITY which ill-harmonized will
his careworn countenance.
"And tomorrow is four years sine.
David went out of that door and never
came back" said Mrs. Golden; then
regarding the bridal pair mournfully
elbow strangely things come about
I used to hope that DAVID
"Hush, mother! don't talk about tina
to-nightr' whispered Faith, and i'm.
mediately fell to rallying Tom ant
Jessie in a way which soon restored
the mirth this allusion had interrupted
By-and-by, a gathering of boots wa
heard on the porch, and Dick, tn
Golden's youngest hopeful, burst opel
the door impetuously, saying
Here's q man wants to stay al
night. He says he's awful tired, an,
can't walk to tavern"
"He's welcome.' said Golden; TO
applications of this kind were not un
common in those primitive davs.