The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-09-14
AT FEARFUL COST.

and" 81 |Il
"And love is stuff and nonsensel"
exclaimed Miser Meredith, as many call
ed him. "You are only q clerk, and
you don't expect to support wife and
the family that would probably come
after taking one, on affection, do you ?
My niece, provided, also, the man
whom she chooses for a husband is
worth at least five thousand pounds,
will be my sole heiress. 1 have been
father and mother to her since her
parents died, so think she would only
be doing right by remaining single
for / need attention and care-while /
live." e.o
Selfish old brute ~ mentally ejacu-
lated Frank Waldron. Then he said
aloud "you will never consent to our
marriage ever taking place Y'
Certainly not. My niece shall never
be poor mans drudge, IL can help it.
Good morning, sir ~ and old Meredith
abruptly left the room. cu
Hattie Meredith, fine, handsome
girl of twenty years, was standing at the
garden gate, waiting for her lover, but
the gloomy look on his face, as he left
the house and came toward her, told
plainly enough that her uncle had
refused to allow her to become Franks
wife.
:" Hattie," he said bitterly, T" I am too
poor to be the nephew of Miser Mere
dith; and he says he will never consent
to our marrying"
Hattie soothed him by telling him
that she would try to change her uncle's
decision, and try she did, but it was in
vain. He told her what he had told
Frank-that he would never consent to
her becoming poor mans wife, nor
any mans while he lived.
The following week much to the dis
gust and anger of old Meredith, Frank
and Hattie were welded, and they left
Millville. of.a
John Meredith told her never again
to darken his doors with her presence,
and that he would at once make a new
will bequeathing his whole fortune to
charitable institutions.
The commercial panic in 1857 told
heavily on Frank and his wife, who
were reduced by it from comparative
ease to dire distress. In this extremity
they resolved to seek John Meredith,
though for years they had not commu-
nicated with him. r41
1t was twenty mics, from Millville
TO Middleton, and when Frank got back
his wife and Mrs. Jameson were await
ing his return. He looked CHASTITY and
Mrs. Jameson retired to rest but as she
did SO she heard him say that they were
saved but at fearful cost. Before day
Mrs. Waldron was delirious. ga wu p
Between s and O'Clock there was
knock at the door, and Frank on open
ing it, was confronted by constable.
'' Frank Waldron," he said, ''you are
nay prisoner. l arrest you for the mur-
der and robbery of John Meredith
He seemed paralyzed by the fearful
charge, and neither spoke or moved
but with dazed look upon his face,
and deadly pale, he gazed at the con-
stable. ga
A moment passed before he awoke
from the stupor into which the dreadful
accusation had thrown him, and he then
said, !" am innocent"
81 hope So" responded the constable,
who had known Frank for many years;
but, nevertheless, you must accom-
pany me Immediately" l go et
Frank, without uttering another
word, went to the room where his un-
conscious suffering wife and her sick
child were lying, kissed them tenderly,
and then told Mrs. Jameson the .un-
founded charge upon, which he was
arrested; but that he was guiltless of
both crimes, as he surely would be able
to prove.
Mrs. Jameson" he said tearfully,
my wife and children will need a
friend now more than they ever did
before, and will you be the friend to
them 1t may be weeks before I shall
have been tried and prove my inno-
cence, and if it should be SO will YOU
care for them till shall have gained
my liberty ?" leilscn2a 2 % sIaaiiH
I" Though you were the greatest
wretch on the face of the earth, Mr..
Waldron, 1 would be but poor unchar.
liable Christian if refused to aid and
care for them now, when they need aid
and care most. Whether you are guilty