The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-08-27

glass Tor that purpose. "A quahtiIy vi
goods had been stolen, mostly rough
clothing, boots and shoes but, as he
alleged, of the value of over 5000.
No trace of the burglars was found.
Time passed on until the month of June,
when some men who were removing the
hay from an old hay-barn that stood in
a meadow near by, found concealed
under it the stolen goods, tied up III
large, coarse wooden shawl. On open
ing the bundle, among the goods was
found the handkerchief OF Henry d.,
that had been wrapped around the bleed
ing hand. 1t was spotted with blood,
and still remained i'll coil, just as the
hand had been withdrawn, leaving the
very impress of the fingers inside the
coil.
Every one was astonished at the de-
velopment. Henry ID. had always sus-
tanned good character He was never
known to drink before or since the night
of the ball was we'll off, his father hav
ing left him by will large, well stocked
farm. He was an only son, the idol of
an aged mother, and withal he was
about TO be married to the young girl
he had taken to the ball. He was uni
versally popular among the people, and
the discovery fell upon the quiet village
like flash of lightning from clear
sky. William W., the owner OF the
store, made complaint, charging Henry
with the crime of larceny and burglary.
Henry was arrested and committed to
Jail to await hearing, as he either
would not or could not give any salts
factory explanation about the handker
chief.
Thus the case stood, when one even
ing, as | was sitting in my Office cont
muning with myself and my meer-
schaum, l heard light knock at my
door; l opened It, and n very pretty
young girl entered and inquired If l
was the lawyer who cleared persons
accused of crime. / told her that / was
Il lawyer, and that / sometimes defended
persons on criminal charges-that is,
when L was perfectly satisfied that they
were innocent GU but he is innocent,
she replied with emotion she never
committed crime in his life; he is an
honest, good young man, and would not
do mean thing"
Poor child L thought-what pity it
is that your idol is made of clay.
| gave her seat, and inquired who
the person was who was so fortunate as
to enlist the services of SO effective an
advocate in his behalf.
"Was he brother?"
Z" No" she answered che is no re-
lation to me -" and her beautiful lips
quivered, while blush, red as the hue
of the morning, stole over her cheek.
"Why do you feel so much interested
in one accused of crime, and who is no
relation to you?" l inquired with
malicious satisfaction, when L remem-
bered that was getting old and had lost
all those charms for which l was SO emf
nent III my youth CD
"Who is he 2" L again inquired, as
she hesitated to answer my former ques-
ton.
+" Henry d., of the town of s.,
and he is accused of robbing store, 4"
she replied at length 1" but he is not
guilty, / know he is not. 1t cannot be
possible he would do such thing"
" Is he the son of David D., my old
friend and schoolmate, who died few
years ago?" 1 asked.
Yes" she said, and then, in voice
broken with sobs of anguish, she related
the occurrence / have narrated. She
further informed me that his mother was
living, but in very feeble health, and
that she did not know of the accusation
against her son; that the neighbors had
taken care not to let the terrible secret
enter Tier sick-room, for fear that it
would kill her and, "Oh ~ said the
young girl, Henry was always such n
good young man he never drank before
the night of the ball in his life. O, can
you clear him ?" she asked, looking at
me with such pleading expression of
countenance that, although / am not
very susceptible to female influence and
charms (?), it went directly to my heart,
and then, by circuitous route, reached
my brain some minutes after and, when
she again asked me If / could clear him,
L was ready to say yes, most emphatic
ally, although L could not see how it was
to be done.
l went with her to the Jail, and had
an interview with Henry, fine-looking
young man, whose open, Ingenious
countenance gave the lie to the charge
against him, no matter what the circum-
stances might Indicate
He told me he had never taken half-a-
dozen drinks of liquor III his life, had
no taste or desire for it, and only drank
on the night of the ball because it was
free; every one was drinking, and he
was urged to drink by the proprietor
and number of his friends. He said
that after he became intoxicated he did
not remember what happened, but had
an indistinct recollection of cutting his
hand, and said it seemed to him that he
and another young man, who was also
drunk, went to Williams store and took
the goods. The young man he thought
was with him denied it, and Henry
would not tell his name, for, said he,
"neither of us could have intended to
steal the goods. would not take Will
Jams whole stock as gift. l could
not use them; they are coarse and
cheap, and only intended for canal-boat
trade. But am afraid took them, for
the more L think of it the more / seem
to recollect it +: yet L never thought of it
until the goods were found, and my
handkerchief among them then it
seemed to come to me like the recollec-
tons of half-forgotten dream.
The young girl and myself left the
II n IL ~ \