Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-07-04
The Lost Certificate.


"There's no use talking, Roger. My
daughter shall never marry any save an
honest and worthy man, but he must
be also able to insure to her a continu-
anee of the comforts she has thus far
enjoyed"
81 started life without cent in the
world, and see what | am now "a
wealthy man-every dollar honestly
earned and safely invested, and not a
debt in any shape, except the five thou
sand dollars on this place, which, by
the way, will be cleared off this very
day. Here is the money, in this yellow
certificate, representing five thousand
dollars in gold, which will be called for
tonight. When you can show me few
pieces of paper like this, Roger. I may
consider your suit: SO if you really
love my daughter, let me see you prove
it."
Roger Woodworth stood for moment
looking at the tempting piece of paper,
which Mr.. Melton was now replacing in
its envelope, then said:
"You are inexorable, Mr.. Melton
but must, l suppose, receive my SEN
tence like man. 1t is the one hope of
my heart to make your daughter my
wife; and have sufficient confidence
in the sincerity and strength of her af-
fection for me to feel sure that, when
return, in position to comply with
your conditions, shall find her faith
fulness unshaken;" )" and with a respect
| full bow, he withdrew from the room;
while Mr.. Melton leaned back in his
chair and sank into a dose, his arm
resting on the window-sill, and the en-
velope containing that precious bit of
paper held tightly in his fingers.
Several hours later, while Roger was
busy in his room In the little cottage
where he lived with his widowed moth
er, ring was heard at the bell; and
hurrying to the door, he found himself
confronted by couple of strangers.
sis Roger Woodworth at home ?'' ask
ed the foremost man.
81 am Roger Woodworth. What is
your business with me ?'
81 have warrant for your arrest, for
stealing gold certificate of the value
of FIVE thousand dollars from Henry
Melton. You will come peaceably I
suppose ?"
"Of course" replied Roger, although
he grew deadly pale. "But l must
leave line for my mother. She is not
in at present.
And penciling hasty note, he left
it on table in the hall, then accom-
panied the officers to the magistrate.
The testimony against the accused
was brief, but significant. Mr.. Melton
testified that he had shown him the GER
tifcate while he was at his house the
previous afternoon. and, Immediately
after his supposed departure. had fallen
asleep with the envelope in his hand,
and on awaking. had found the certif-
cate missing. Before proceeding against
the young man, however, he had made
some inquiries as to his whereabouts af-
ter that visit, which resulted in the
discovery that he had been down in the
city and had purchased a bill of ex.
, change on London, ostensibly for one
, Frank Alden, for which he had paid a
gold certificate of five thousand dollars
| The broker, however, from whom the
? purchase was made had not noticed the
number of the certificate, having beer
!, unusually busy nor did the complain
ant remember the number of the one hs
, had lost.
a The young mans answer to the charge
was clear and straightforward.
He admitted the visit to Mr.. Melton
and added that on the way home he haG
Unexpectedly met cousin, Frank AL
den, who had lately returned from Cal
! ifornia, and was about to sail for Aus
e tralia. He wished to get bill of ex
S change on London, but feared he woult
not have time, SO Roger attended to tn,
d purchase, for which his cousin had Civ
: en- him gold certificate. the most of hi
money being in that form. His cousin
+ had moreover jagged him to 60 to Aus
S tralia with him; and he had finall,
: agreed to follow him on the next vesse
It that sailed.
The magistrate decided that the tes
timony was not sufficient to justify hin
= in holding the defendant, and the cas-
!" was dismissed, although many believed
1t him guilty, and regarded his story as
l. cleverly contrived fabrication.
IS There were two faithful friends, how
Z ever, whose trust and affection did mnc
;, to sustain the young man under tn
- weight of this calamity. The FIRST wa
= his mother, whose hand tIembled as sh
5, laid it upon his head, and assured hir
'e that the word of her boy would stan
against any amount of circumstantia
>. evidence; while on the day after tn