Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-12-27

throw him will leave him no waste ma
terial in the shape of either temper OF
time to be used in killing or harming
any one"
The boy was promptly on hand the
next evening, his personal appearance
still further improved by judicious
expenditure of the dollar Mr.. Vreeland
had presented him and to which had
been added also about as much more
from his own little earnings.
Il am now your guardian and pro-
tector, my little fellow" said Mr.. Vree-
land "that is if you would like to go
with me-" at the same, time explaining
to the boy that he had called on the
proper officer during the day and OBJ
tanned the authority required for taking
him under his charge.
"Will anybody out there know who |
am ?" asked the boy, with look bound
ed on one side by fear, and on the other
by hope.
"Not unless you tell them." replied
his friend. 'and you are old enough now
to know that it is not best
"But haven't they read about my
poor father, in the papers, and when
they hear my name won't they ask me
if am related to him % queried the
boy anxiously.
"They will never hear the name by
which yeu have been hitherto known, T"
said Mr.. Vreeland. Il shall give you
a new home Immediately, which will be
approved and recorded by the men who
make the laws in the State where 1 live.
1t will in that way become your own
true name, to be kept to the end of your
life. You will never do anything to
dishonor it. | hope"
81 will try not to 7" said the boy, his
eyes filling with tears, and his counte-
nance glowing with an expression of
hope stronger and more earnest than he
had ever experienced before. Then, af-
ter few minutes. he added "Oh, my
poor father | hate to have his pame
taken from me, but know it is best.
can do him no good, now, neither my
poor mother, who went crazy and died.
don't know where they have buried
her. My father was not buried at all
the doctors took him away, SO a mar
told me"
Mr.. Vreeland had already, for some
reason, selected the name" Robert
Steadley"-as the one he would give
the young orphan; and the little fellow
grasped it and repeated it with delight
the moment it fell on his ear.
Some suitable clothes, and such 9th
er articles as his young ward was likely
to need for the present, were next pro
cured; and after donning his new sui
in obedience to Mr.. Vreeland's direc
tions. the boy carefully examined tn,
pockets of the clothes he had previously
been wearing. Among the things b,
took out was small gold locket, which
he evidently regarded with more inter
est than anything else. for he suddenl,
opened it and glanced for an instant a
the miniature photograph it contained
and then pressing it to his lips. PLACED
it in his pocket.
"Your mothers picture ?" asked MI
Vreeland.
mo sir;" replied the boy. al hav
no picture of my poor mother"
Fifteen years had passed. the histor
of which, so far as related to Rober
Steadley, will be more easily told b
bringing him again to the notice of th
reader.
Mr.. Steadley had been spending abou
ten days in the city, a guest at the sam
hotel where the name he now had wa
first given him by the gentleman who's
acquaintance he had made two days bt
fore, while engaged in the humble en-
ployment of blacking boots.
Now. he was the recognized and re
sponsible agent of that gentlemen, wh
was among the foremost and best know
of those large cattle-dealers who wer
supplying with the beef it was consuu
ing and exporting.
The business for which Robert Steat
ley had made this his first visit to til
city after his long absence, had bee
closed up in satisfactory way. I'll
large shipment of cattle entrusted
him had arrived in good order, and bee
disposed of at fair prices. Some bus
ness at the bank would detain him da
or two longer; and he would then |
ready to return and report to Mr.. Vre
land, in whose immense business he ha
now large interest.
/ The business of the bank, howeve
would require but little of his tim
the remainder of which, or part of i
at least, the young man was preparir
to use in way that most prudent ar
sensible people would be likely to r
: gard as clear proof that there was
least one weak place in his mind. B