The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-05-10

asked for few minutes interview which
was smilingly accorded.
With many tears my darling told her
tale from beginning to end, and before
she was halfway through, the two girls
sat with locked hands, and | could easily
tel that the fair stranger was won COM
pletely over to her side.
at is his grandson, she said. eve
are cousins. My grandfather's great
hope is that We shall marry, but that
could never be. His life is bad one,
am afraid, but it is wrong for us on such
a trivial coincidence as this to assume
that he is guilty in the.present case"
She had hardly finished speaking,
when the door opened, and Mr.. Gosweil
and his grandson entered.
A frown darkened the old mans face
as he saw me.
"You here? What means this?"
"This lady" said, pointing to Ethel,
sis William Harlands sister"
"Indeed!'
william Harland did not purloin
Albert Grosvenors bill.
You say So"
81 know it,"
"Then. perhaps, you know who did?'
Il do" 1 said, looking full at his
grandson. 81 saw the thief in the very
act. There he stands"
1t was a bold coup, but it told. The
young man seemed paralyzed. His lips
moved as though he would speak, But
he failed to give utterance to word.
eyes, there he stands, Mr.. Goswell.
He took the bill when William Harland,
worn ont with hard work in your SER
vice, fell asleep for moment over his
desk. Let him deny it if lie dare"
II will not deny it," said the young
man, passionately; "this accursed act
has been the bane of nv life. I cannot
sleep for thinking of it. 1t is killing
me-"
ooh, Walter, this from yon" sighed
the old man; "but go on. Even now. if
there is an excuse for your wickedness, 1
will thank God for it,"
"There is none," was the stern reply.
II owed money to Grosvenor which l
could not pay. He told me of this bill,
and promised to secure it for him. On
that fatal night l went to the Office.
meaning to appeal to Mr.. Harland and
enlist his aid in procuring time for its
payment, when hoped should be able
to meet it. As 1 opened the door l
I found him asleep and the bill lying be-
side him. The temptation was too great;
l took it,"
1T is too bad, too bad" moaned the
old man.
"It is, indeed" said Ethel, spiritedly,
"but you are not thinking of my Will at
all. Your sympathy is ali misplaced.
Think of his hours of misery and dis
grace, his broken-up home, his wife's
distress, his"
"Oh, child, you do not know" inter-
rupted Mr.. Goswell. "how much or what
we are thinking. What will you have?
We are nov at your mercy"
Restitution of my brothers good
name, and written apology for the base
falsehood tina. has clouded his life with
misery"
"And no punishment for the guilty
one?"
Ethel looked for a moment at the face
of the young man beside her then gently
murmured:
mo, Mr.. Goswell, none. God has
taken his punishment into higher hands
than ours. NY brother, if he were here,
would say with me, Let him go in peace,
and sin no MORE"
Mechanically the man of business
called for paper aad wrote full retrac-
ton of every charge against his late
clerk, and an humble acknowledgment
of the wrong done him, offering to sup
plement it with any monetary considera-
ton William Harland might choose to
demand.
With this we took our leave. Bright
and early the next morning we were at
Ford street, Brooklyn, and sure enough
found the wanderers. What they had
suffered I need not tell, suffice it TO say
Ethel came in for her share of thanks
and blessings, and your humble servant
was by no means forgotten In the gen.
eral rejoicing.
Will Harland, my brother-in has
now good business of his own. Rose
is roster than ever, and the boy is old
enough now to be connoisseur of glass
agates and peg tops; and my wife Ethel
looks over my paper and says am ga
dear, stupid goose to rake up the Incl
dents of that horrid old nightmare. any
how, Eye or no Eye"
Odd NNtiroa