St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-01-20

penniless, and rse-diShOneSt. He
had paid betting debt out of IA f2(
note which had been entrusted to him
Discovery had ensued, and though the
luckless man had explained that it was
only through failure of another mem
Der of the virtuOus fraternity he could
not replace the money at once, he had
been discharged, and had reason to
suppose he would be prosecuted.
"Many, many thanks" replied the
poor fellow to my offer. "lOu can see
the firm i'll the morning but | doubt
whether they will take the money.
believe they are bent on my ruin"
Early the next morning | was at the
office of Baydon, BlendOn & Co., and,
having stated my errand | proffered
my go
Mr.. Baydon was a sleek old gentle
man. There was an air of wealth and
ease all over him. He bowed compla-
Gently, and said:
II can appreciate your kindness Ia
this poor man, and | myself would pass
the matter over at once, but my part
ner takes IA different view, and | can
not interfere"
"Can | see Mr.. Blendon ~
"Yes, if you will call again in two
hours"
In the cab kept muttering to my
self "Blendon, and Robert Blendon,
too ? | am sure of it. Still, if it he
so, it he very strange. | think | should
know that face again. We shall see
who will be master.
Back to Messrs. Blendon, BaydOn &
Co.'S office, and then in the presence
of Mr.. Blendon. All my anxiety for
my poor friend faded away. | was
master of the situation. | stated my
desire to pay the amount of Staining's
defalcation, and my hope that under
the eXtenuating circumstances no pub
licity would be given to the miserable
wrong doing.
Mr.. Blendon heard me with some
impatience, and before replying drew "A
check to ''self or bearer for EIO0.
Having given this to the clerk, he said
to me
"You will excuse my answering
somewhat shortly. 1t cannot he. 1t
is not the money we care about, but
we must vindicate the law"
| declare | was pleased at the gran
diOse style of his speech. How beau
tifully he was walking into my net !!
| suggested that in Il case like this
there was no imperative call to such Il
course, and that fOrbearance might he
shown.
II do not see it," answered Mr.. Blen-
don. ''YOu do not appear, sir, to OBJ
serve the immense Importance of pun
ishing Il delinquency of this kind. |
cannot take your money. If ! We're to
let this man off, | would be ashamed of
myself. | have just overcome some
foolish hesitation of my partner, am
always firm myself" (NOt always, Mr..
Blandon when | last saw you.
But wait a bit. A little further into
my net, please.) "And, therefore,
however sorry may he, sir, | must
say no. If | were myself to commit an
act of this kind, and
Why did he stop? / bowed quietly,
and rising said:
"YOu are quite right, Mr.. BlendOn,
for dishonesty is terrible thing, and
while not for moment pressing my
request, | know you will forgive my
calling to remembrance Il curious case
known to myself. Some twenty years
ago poor young couple, not long
married, had fallen into poverty. The
wife and infant were ill: the husband
was distracted he must get money.
When his young wife and infant child
were almost starving, what was to be
done The money was obtained Mr..
BlendOn, You know how. But i'll what
way was it repaid before mischief
came, and how was the husband saved
from misery and degradation saved Ia
become a rich and respected merchant
Whose money saved him That you
do not know, but | will tell you. The
go note which rescued the husband
rested only ten minutes before in the
pocket of this very Staining whom you
are about to prosecute. Then Staining
was as rich as You are now; but he
was kind, Christian man. Mr.. Blen-
don, have Il right to ask you to what
character do you lay claim ~
have often thought since what ad-
mirable advantages are clear head
and calm temper. I'd worked myself
up to white heat. 1t was only when
he first saw my drift that my listener
manifested any strong emotion. Then
he rose from his chair with flushed face
but he resumed his seat, and by the
time had finished he was almost as
calm as when | entered. There was a
slight pause, and then he said
"YOu have acquired some knowledge
of an incident in my life which | am
not called upon to discuss. Is this
knowledge confined to yourself?'
II believe it to be confined 10 myself
and my informant, and | have no de
sire it should be otherwise"
Mr.. BlendOn bowed.
81 will not conceal that | shall Ibt
glad if this goes no further, and OF
that footing | will say that your friend
shall be freely absolved, and | viii
even aid him if can. You must ex-
cuse my taking your f20. am oblig.
ed to you for coming. GoOd-morn
ing"
| felt as | left him that the enemy
had well covered his retreat, and haC
not left me a mOrsel of triumph NOR,
than he could help. But my objec
was accomplished, and | FASTENED t,
meet Staining. He was not at the ap
pointed place, so went to his lOdg
ings. The landlady told me he haC
come in early and gone to his room
not well, she thought. She and wen
up together and knocked more thai
once. Then | went in. Poor Staining
lay upon the bed-dead. His enfee
bled frame had not been able to en-
dure the recent wear and tear, and h,
was now beyond the reach of his fol
lies and his troubles.