The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-09-20

ten years, still he had two OF the pretti
est girls in Tollkirk-Minna and Mary
Duff (besides Jenny, the married daugh-
ter, who lived in Edinburgh), whose
delight it was to make his life sunny
and happy. He was naturally-being
known to possess private means, and on
account of his official capacity as the
dispenser of discounts and custodian of
the wealth of the neighborhood-a man
of some Importance in Tollkirk, and
formed part of, as well as moved in,
Tollkirk's best society. He was magis-
trate and farmer as we'll as banker; and
ON Sundays, for many a long year, he
had stood beaming behind "the plate,
at the entrance to the 'auld kirk. "
Everybody knew him, and he knew
everybody; and perhaps nobody re-
spected him the less because he pretty
we'll knew to within pound or two
what every ratepayer on his side of the
county was worth, financially.
He took life very easy, as l have said
making no undue fuss when an accom-
mediation bill was presented to him, If
he knew-as he was certain to know
the pedigree and progress through life of
the drawer and indOrser. He was re-
spected, too, by his Edinburgh employ
ers as man of prudence and sagacity,
who never made bad debts, never
troubled them with applications for
rise of salary or transfer of agency
whose books always stood the minutest
inspection, and who, speaking general
ly, wanted no favors from them. Rath-
er, granted favors, by occasional invita-
tions to visit him at Tollkirk, where
there is unsurpassed trout and salmon
fishing, besides magnificent links" for
golf, and where the local distillery yields
liquid of more than local reputation.
The city-hirds were not slow to accept
such invitations, Mr.. Duff being over
tumbler of toddy the best of company,
and generous in the matter of horses
and fishing rods. The chief inspector
of the bank came often enough to woo
the fair Jenny, the eldest of the family,
and took her away with him one sum-
mer day, to the general bereavement of
all Tollkirk.
The banker did not hurry over dinner
on the particular afternoon of which
write, When he went up stairs he did
not give second thought to James
Hamilton's pale face, but quickly set
tied himself in his arm-chair, after do
gjustice to his simple repast, to read
for the second time the report of his
own speech at the parochial board given
at length in the Tollkirk Herald, the
fine roll of his own-somewhat improv-
ed-spoken sentences seen in black and
white, communicating pleasing sense
of complacence and Importance as in
fluencing public opinion. 1t was near
ly seven o'clock before Mr.. Duff remem-
bered that he had not yet locked up his
safe, and his clerks were probably wait
ing below for him. He was surprised
when he opened the office door-leading
to the hall of his house-to find Hamil-
ton still bending over his cash-bo
with an expression of deep anxiety on
his face, and bundles of bank notes ly-
ing on the desk before him,
"What, James, still in fog? 2" he
asked, cheerfully, as he came in. " Not
found your difference, eh ?"
L am hundred pounds short, sir,
without doubt"
Hamilton had toiled through every
entry over and over again, had counted
nd rta taA &c h.,r %
now had very sharply defined fear in
heart, and vision in the background of
his imagination of a dearly loved old
mother waiting for him at HON and
who was i'll able to bear the responsibli-
ty of such loss-if loss it should prove
to be.
A mare's-nest, I'll be bound" Mr..
Duff said, good naturedly, taking Ham
ilton's place before the cash. book. Very
carefully and with keen eye he went
over each entry very carefully, too, he
counted the cash, and recounted it; but
only TO find that Hamilton's words
were too true. The cash was undoubted-
ly one hundred pounds short.
81 think we had better sleep over it,"
Mr.. Duff said at last, looking at his
watch. "The difference will turn up
in the morning, you may depend upon
it," Then the cash and books were
carried into the safe, and the office clos
ed for the night
Poor Hamilton lay awake nearly all