The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-04-28
The TURN OF AN ACCIDENT.


It was six o'clock of a crisp October
morning, and John Boyd, farmer, rous-
ing from his sound nights sleep. sprang
out of b, d with the alert readiness of a
man who knows the value of the first
hours of the day 1t was a tavern bed
from which he jumped; home and its
cares were many miles away; buta long
ride lay before him, and he washed and
dressed briskly, as one in haste, hum
mins n cheerful air meanwhile, as be
came u man who felt himself in good
epirisi, and had ample reason for doing
80. For. he it known, this year had
Jroved the best for farmers since John
ad been his own master. llarvests
lad been large. prices high, and John.
ON lis way back from the annual mar
ket. carried sense OF freedom and lib
GRAFTON at his heart from the final ex-
tinguishment Of 2 mortgage on his farm
mortgage which lad pressed a
heavily on his conscience as did the
burden of Christian on his shoulders
The burden was lifted now; and, fur
ther than th..t, John carried in his fat
red wallet two hundred dollars, over
and above, toward the expenses of the
next year. He had never been so fore
handed BEFORE and the sensation was
a joyful ope. My neck is out of the
collar now he muttered to himself as
be brushed his thick brown hair.
sh uld be fool indeed il / put it in
ag lin. No more mortgages for mel
linen, his toilet completed, he ran
downstairs, two steps at time
Farmer like, his first visit was to his
horses, They were munching their
corn satisfactorily; and after q look OF
two, and pat, John returned TO the
inn, where jangling bell announced
breakfast. 1t was smoking on the table
Ia substantial meal Of the kind univer.
sal in taverns thirty years ago; and
John Boyd, whose appetite was of the
kind proverbially said to accompany 9
good conscience, was doing it ample
Justice, when sudden instinct led hin
to thrust his hand into the inner pocke
which held the two hundred dollars
The wallet was gone!
In the suddenness of the shock, Johl
felt himself pale, and then husn pain
fully, as he confusedly tried to remem
ber if he had taken out the wallet, ant
when. Under his pillow-that was II
He recollected distinct or so itseemed
when he went to bed the night before
With a muttered excuse, he left tn
table and hurried upstairs. The doc
of his room stood open, and maid
servant was putting fresh sheets on th
bed, the soiled linen lying in heap o
the floor.
Toward this heap John hurried an
began turning it over.
Have you lost something, sirp aske
the maid.
John Strengthened himself up to al
swer He had not noticed the maid b.
fore, though she had waited upon tab
at supper. Now he observed that ST
was young and rather pretty-fair, wit
a trim, slender figure, beautiful gloss
hair, neatly dressed and braided. and
pair of sweet, apprehensive blue eye
Hec voice was SOFT too; and she had
shy, modest manner which suggeste
an idea of refinement. All these fac
Farmer Boyd absorbed in flash, al
instinctiveiy noting. weighing, estima
ing, BY that wonderfully rapid proce
of which the human mind is capabl
while yet his thoughts were full OF
money and his loss.
Yes. / am looking for my wall'
which left under MY pillow. Did y
fad itp'
The girls face blanched 10 dead
whiteness. and her eyes dilated as wi
sudden terror.
No, SIR she said, her voice trel
bling and sinking away as she spoh
/ didn't see any wallet.
John looked at ber distrustfully;
there was something in the pale IA
which disarmed suspicion.
I'd like to search the bed he we
on. It may have slipped under
mattress ,
Together they turned the mattre
but no wallet was visible.
That off horse of yourn has got
shoe loose somehow announced \
Nash, the landlord, at the door.
thought I'd better tell you, SOS y
could stop to the blacksmith's as y
pass, and get him to put in a couple
nails. Why, what's the matterP'
John explained
The landlord looked very grave.