Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-22
The Lost Certificate.


"There's no use talking Roger. My
-dauehte shall never marry any save
an honest and worthy man, but he must
be also able to insure TO her con-
tinuance of the comforts she has thu
far enjoyed.
81 started life without cent in the
world. sni see what I am nova
wealthy man-svery dollar honestly
earned and safely invested, and not
debt, in any. shape, except the five
thousand dollars on this place, which,
by the way, will be cleared off this
very day. Here is the money, in this
yeilow certificate, representing five
thousand dollars in gold. which will be
called for to night. When You can
show me few pieces of paper like this.
Roger, ! may then consider Your quit;
60 if You really love my daughter. let
me see you prove it,"
Roger Woodwork stood for q mo-
ment looking at the tempting bit of pa
per, which Mr.. Melton was now re-
placing in its envelope. then said:
g You are memorable, Mr.. Melton,
but J. must, I suppose, receive my SEN
tence like man 1t is the one hope of
my heart to make your daughter my
wife; and I have suffi ,ient confidence
in the sincerity and strength of her
affection for me to feel sure that, when
I return, in o position to comply with
your conditions, shall fnd her faith
fuiness unshnkcn," aud, win q feEpect-
full bow, he withdrew from the room;
while Mr.. Melton leaned back in his
chair and sank into dozs, his arm
resting ON the window-siii, and the en-
velop containing that precious bit OF
paper held lightly in his fingers.
Several hours lat~-, white Roger was
hnav in his room in the little cottage
wnsre he lived with his widowed
mother, q ring was heard at the bell !;
and hurrying to the door, he found
himself confronted by q couple of
strangers.
Is Roger Woodwork at home p
asked the foremost man.
am Roger Wordsworth. What is
your business with me ?"
- have warrant for your arrest,
for stealing gold certificate of the
value OF five thousand dollars from
Henry Melton. You will come peace
ably, I suppose
Ofcourse." replied Roger. although
he grew deathly pale. Bat 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 accompanied
the officers to the magistrate.
The testimony against the accused
was brief, but significant. Mr.. Melton
testified that he had shown him the
certificate 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 certifi
cate missing. Before proceeding
against the young man, however, he
had made some inquiries as to his
whereabouts after that visit, which re-
suited in the discovery that he had
been down ia the city and had pur-
chased bill of exchange on London,
ostensible for one Frank Alden, for
which he had paid gold certificate of
Eve thousand dollars. The broker,
However, from whom the purchase was
made had not noticed the number OF
the certificate, having been unusually
busy; nor did the complainant remem-
Der the number Of the one he had
lost.
The young mans answer to the charge
was clear and straightforward.
He admitted tho visit to Mr.. Melton,
and added, that while on his way home
he had unexpectedly met q cousin.
Frank Alden. who had lately returned
from California, and was about sailing
for Australia. He wished to get bill
of exchange on London, bat feared he
would not have time. 80 r ,ger had at
tended to the purchase, for which his
cousin had given him gold certificate.
the most of his money being III that
form. His cousin had, moreover,
. urged him to 60 to Australia with him;
and he had finally agreed to follow him
on the next vessel that sailed.
The magistrate decided that the tes-
timony was not sufficient to justify him
in h ,lding the defendant. and the case
was dismissed, although many believed
him guilty, and regarded his story as a
cleverly contrived fabrication.
There were two faithful friends, how
ever, whose trust and affection did
much to sustain the young man uHder
the weight of this calamity. The first
was his mother, whose hand trembled
as che laid it upon his head. and assured
him that the word of her boy would
stand against any amount of circum
stantiai evidence; while on the day af Ter