Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-05-13
THE TURN OF AN ACCIDENT.

It was six o'clock of q crisp October
morning, and John Boyd, farmer. rous
ing from his sound nights sleep, spranl
out of bed with the alert readiness of {
man who knows the value of the frs
hours of the day. 1t was tavern bee
from which he jumped; home and its
cares were many miles away; buta Ions
ride lay before him, and he washed and
dressed briskly, as one in haste, hum.
ming q cheerful air meanwhile, as be.
came man who felt himself in good
spirits, and had ample reason for doing
80. For, be it known, this year had
proved the best for farmers since John
had been his own master. Harvests
had been large, prices high, and John,
on his way back from the annual mar
ket, carried sense of freedom and lib
Grafton at his heart from the final ex-
tinguishment of mortgage on his farm
his mortgage which had pressed as
heavily on his conscience as did the
burden of Christian on his shoulders.
The burden was lifted now; and, fur
ther than that, John carried in his fat
req 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 one. My neck is out of the
collar now.' he muttered to himself as
he brushed his thick brown hair. L
should be iool indeed il put it in
again. No more mortgages for met
Then, 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 look or
two, and q pat, John returned to the
inn, where a jangling bell announced
breakfast. 1t was smoking on the table
"a substantial meal of the kind univer-
sal i'm taverns thirty years ago; and
John Boyd, whose appetite was of the
kind proverbially said to accompany n
good conscience, was doing it ample
justice, when a sudden instinct led him
to thrust his hand into the inner pocket
which held the two hundred dollars.
The wallet was gonei
In the suddenness OF the shock, John
felt himself pale, and then husn pain.
fully, as he confusedly tried to remem-
Der IL he had taken out the wallet, and
when. Under his pillow-that was it..
He recollected distinctly, or so itseemed,
putting il there, for security's sake,
With n muttered excuse, he left the
of his room stood open, and a maid
servant was putting fresh sheets on the
bed, the soiled linen lying in a heap on
the floor.
Toward this heap John hurried and
began turning it over.
Have you lost something, sirp asked
the maid.
John Strengthened himself up 10 an
swer. He had not noticed the maid be-
fore, though she had waited upon table
at supper. Now he observed that she
was young and rather pretty-fair, with
a trim, slender figure, beautiful glossy
hair, neatly dressed and braided. and O
pair of sweet, apprehensive blue eyes.
He voice was soft, too; and she had a
shy. modest manner which suggested
IN idea of refinement. All these facts
Farmer Boyd absorbed in n flash, and
insiinctively noting, weighing. estimat-
ing. by that wonderfully rapid process
of which the human mind is capable,
whie yet his thoughts were full of his
money and his loss.
Yes. I am looking for my wallet,
which left under my pillow. Did you
find itp'
The girls face blanched 10 deadly
whiteness, and her eyes dilated as with
sudden terror.
No, SIR she said. her voice trem.
bling and sinking away as she spoke.
! didn't see any wallet
John looked at her distrustfully; but
there was something in the pale face
which disarmed suspicion.
he 20 N
On. 1t may have slipped under the
mattress
Together they turned the mattress
but no wallet was visible.
That off horse of yourn has got his
shoe loose somehow announced Mr..
NASH, the landlord, at the door. j
thought I'd better tell you, SOS you
could stop to the blacksmith's as you
pass, and get him TO put In q couple ol
nails. Why. what's the matterY
John explained.
The landlord looked very grave. Ht
whistled softly TO himself for minute
with his eyes fixed on the tuinbled bed
di e; then be went to the stair head
and callfd his wife. Presently theJ
came In together. the lndlady's face
very red and troubled.
Such thing never happened in mJ
house before.' she protested. Blu
there's only one person been In you
room since You came besides yourself
and she's tie person you must reckon
with pointing 10 the maid, who, will
white cheeks and dowrcast eyes, leaned
against the wall as II awaiting ser
enCe.
"0h, indeed, indeed ] didn't take Il
] never saw any wallet. = she said bu
her voice was drowned in Mfs. Nash
louder tones.
And pray who else took 1t, do yo'