The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-03
THE EGOLDEN TALISMAN,

Oah hOp lCCOIuuCuu you, pSho'ihS
JON to be thief, but will be SO merci-
tul that will let you depart. Go at
once."
The voice and face were stern and un-
yielding.
Geofrey Baird knew that all the pite-
Gus appeals he had made, the assertion
Of innocence he had frantically declared,
had fallen upon ears notindeed deaf, but
closed to him.
"You have been very kind to me, Mr..
Hoyt," he said, his voice quivering with
pain, "and | hope some day you will
knew that had rather cut off my right
hand thau let it rob you."
There was no reply, and the boy, for
he was not nineteen, walked slowly from
the room, where he had been accused of
crime, condemned and punished in a
brief half hour.
He was widows only son, and very
poor, but Abraham Hoyt had been very
kind to him, employing him n'light la
bor about his extensive grounds, trying
him well, and allowing him to read what
VvCt uC Wloiltu III ulo lpinty.
And from the library valuable watch
and chain had been stolen from table
drawer, when there was no one, as far as
could be ascertained, in the room but
Geofrey Baird.
Crushed, humiliated, almost heart bro
ken, the lad walked from the house,
across the wide garden, bright with sum-
mer bloom that seemed to mock his
misery. He had his hand upon the latch
Of the great iron gate leading into the
road, when he heard his name called, in
. clear childish voice.
"Jef, Jeff! 0, wait momentp'
And then, turning his heavy eyes, he
saw a fairy of ten summers, golden
haired darling, dressed all IN white, COM
ing down the broad walk with flying
feet.
OF all the treasures his employer pos
sessed, Godfrey knew this, his only child
was the dearest. Motherless from her
birth, she had been her fathers idol her
whole petted life.
"Jeff,," she painted, coming to his side,
"yOu must 60 away, papa says, but l
know you never, never took the watch!
Did you?"
"No, Miss Daisy, never took it."
~ know it! Pm going to find out who
did take it. And JEFF, you must take
this"
She opened her tiny white hand to
show lying upon the palm broad twen-
ty-dollar gold piece. But the boy shrank
back.
"No, no, Miss Daisy" he said, IT could
not"
"But you must. 1t is my own, my very
own. Aunt Louise gave it to me on my
birthday. In the corner scratched M.
H. for Margaret Hoyt,, with apin, but
guess it won't hurt it. Please, please,
dear Jeff, take it"
She pressed it into his reluctant hand,
and then throwing her arms around his
neck, kissed him with her child's lips,
saying:
"PlI find out who did take the watch,
jeff and then you will come back"
Before he could answer she was speed
ing back to the house, her curls flying
out on the summer air that waited to
Geofiey last
Goodbye, dear jeff"
With heavy heart he went home
ward, to tell his sorrow and disgrace. He
feared it would almost kill his mother,
but after hearing him patiently she said
"I had letter from Albany this morn
ing, Geoffrey, from my fathers lawyers.
Twenty-Five years ago my father cast me
off for marrying poor man. He died
without forgiving me, but to you he has
left his fortune, nearly half million of
money, upon condition you take his
name when you are of age. have
packed up your possessions, and we will
60 to Albany tonight"
II Il \
"MargaretT"
The voice was sharp and imperative,
and Margaret Hoyt looked up from the
task of teaching little Allie Bristow her
letters to answer. But before she spoke
the beautiful girl who entered the school.
room said:
Margaret, / want you to come and
show Elsie how to trim my dress for to-
night. Everybody said you had such
exquisite taste before your father failed
and died"
The pale, patient face flushed little
at the cruel words, but Laura Bristow
did not heed the pain she had given.
"Come, now," she said, impatiently
II want to look particularly we'll, for
Willard Wharton is coming. 1t is the
first party since he came from Europe.
He has been vegetating in Florence ever
so long, with eonsumptive mother, but
she died year ago, and after travelling
awhile he has come home. Did you
know himw
81 never heard the name."
"Come to think of it, he left here long
0efore you came"
Allies primer was put aside, and Mar
garet accompanied Laura to the room
where her fnery was being prepared fol
brilliant party few hours later
"Miss Hoyt," Mrs. Bristow said, look.
ing up from the cloud of tulle under hel
fingers, 81 wish you to come down to
x,1ou and 7 xyi,b x,n,. In x,,ao, ,.,l, ;+o l.n.