Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-01-11
SYLVlA'S FAITH.
| am 10 take that for your final NJ

II aim to take that for your final AN
swer, then ?"
And Philip Marston watched eagerly
for some sign for relenting in the stern,
unbending face of the old man whom
he addressed, to whom he had gone
with prayer for his daughters hand,
but none came.
"My final answer, yes" Mr.. Graham
replied. "My daughter shall never
marry any man who cannot insure to
her continuance Of the comforts she
has thus far enjoyed.
81 started without tarthing in the
world, and see what / am nova
wealthy man-every sovereign honest
ly earned and safely invested, and not
debt in any shape, except the two
thousand pounds on this place, which,
by the way, will be cleared off this
very day. Here is the money, in this
envelope, notes on the Bank of England
for five hundred pounds each, which
will be called for tonight. When you
can show me a few pieces of paper like
this, Philip, | may then consider your
suit so if you really love my daughter,
let Inc see you prove it"
"You are memorable, Mr. Graham
but | must, suppose, receive my SEN
tencc like a man." and, with respect
full bow, he withdrew from the room
while Mr. Graham leaned back in his
chair and sank into doze, is arm rest
ing on the window-sill, and the envelope
containing that precious bit Of paper
held lightly in his fingers.
Several hours later, while Philip
Marston was busy in his room in the
little house where he lived with his
widowed mother, ring was heard at
the bell and, hurrying to the door, he
was confronted by couple of police
men.
SIS Philip Marston at home ?" asked
the foremost man.
81 am Philip Marston. What is
your business with me ?"
81 have a warrant for your arrest,
for stealing four bank notes Of the
value Of five hundred pounds each
from George Graham. You will come
peaceably, suppose ?"
"Of course" replied Philip, although
he grew deathly pale. "But | must
leave a note for my mother. She is
not in at present"
And pencilling hasty note, he left
it OH a table in the hall, and accompan-
led the officer to the magistrate.
The testimony against the accused
was brief, but significant. Mr.. Graham
testified that he had shown him the
notes 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 it missing.
Before proceeding against the young
man however, he had made some en-
quiries as to his whereabouts after that
visit, which resulted in the discovery
that he had been to London and pur-
chased bill Of exchange on Melbourne,
ostensibly for one Frank Alden, for
which he had paid with bank notes of
the same value rs those stolen. The
broker, however, from whom the pur-
chase was made, had not noticed the
number of the notes, having been UNI
usually busy nor did the complainant
remember the number of those. he had
lost.
The young mans answer to the
charge was clear and straightforward.
He admitted the visit to Mr.. Graham
and added that while on his way home
he had unexpectedly met cousin,
Frank Alden, who had lately returned
from Canada, and was about sailing for
Australia. He wished to get bill OF
exchange on Melbourne, but feared he
would not have time, so Philip had at
tended to the purchase, for which his
cousin had given him Bank of Eng
land notes, the most of his money being
in that form. His cousin, moreover
urged him to go to Australia with him;
and he had finally agreed to follow
him in the next vessel that sailed
The magistrate decided that the tes-
timony was not sufficient to Justify him
in holding 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 under
the weight of this calamity. The first
was his mother, whose hand trembled
as she laid it upon his head, and as
sured him that the word of her boy
would stand against any amount of cir
cumstantial evidence while on the day
after his trial, boy delivered little
note at his house, blottcd and tear
stained, which he read and re-read with
a throbbing heart and misty eyes
IL IL