The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-07


"He was so worked up about it,
had to partly promise l wouldn't
come. before he would let me leave
the house. He said / would make
fool of myself; and I said, Well
well, George, l won't He thought
meant | wouldn't consult yon
But what | really meant was"
"That you wouldn't make fool o
Yourself" the signor interrupted
"And here your doing it, I'm afraid
after all"
"No, non cried the planter conf
IDENTIFY. "You just come around to
the house with me, examine the
premises, and talk to the folks, and
Pm positive you can guess the rid
die if you haven't guessed italready
Ah," he laughed gleefully, Il see
by your eyes You have guessed it.
Indeed. the suspicion which had
entered the signor's mind had be
come almost certainty F.; and it was
not without hone of being able tc
solve the mystery to his own salts
faction. if not to the planters, tina,
he finally consented to visit the
house.
He was introduced to the plan ter's
wife and daughter, the servants
simple old negro and his wife; I; and
was shown the room from which the
vaiuables had been purloined.
While he was thus engaged, q fine
looking young fellow, but with a
rather careworn face for one hardly
vet out of his teens, came and stood
in the doorway.
"Ah, Signor, here is my son." said
Mr.. Oatman, slightly embarrassed
"You see, George, I-I-thought 1t
best to-you won't mind, my boy.
for asking him in; can't do any
hurt, if it don't do any good"
"All right" said George, careless
ly. But the signor who exchanged
glances with him, saw that his l5y
twitched nervously, and that there
was an anxious look in his eye.
"Your father has an extravaganza
notion of my poor Abilities" the sig
nor remarked in friendly tone
You havn't witnessed my perform
ances ?"
II havn't had that pleasure" the
youth replied, dryly.
"No doubt you have been more
pleasantly employed. The city offers.
a good many attractions to spirited
young man, and ] see by your looks
that you are not one of those dull
ards who go to bed at dusk"
George smiled in a CLASSY sort of
way, and seemed trying to bring out
some careless reply, when his moth
er remarked, complainingly:
George keeps very late hours this
winter. Pm so sorry, for one can
see it isn't good for him."
"He used to make calls with me
in the evenings" said his sister
But he never does nowadays. /
can't think what he finds to amuse
him so late every night"
Il can think" said the signor. II
know the city, and / know young
men. I'm sorry, George" He looked
the young man keenly IN the eye, as
he continued:
'If you had been in the habit OF
remaining at home at night, this
theft never would have taken place.
BY the look, and the words, and
still more by the tone in which the
words were spoken, poor George
knew that the signor
must have possession of his secret,
but he perceived that his
trusting parents and affection
ate sister remained free from the
slightest suspicion of his guilt
Il reckon that's true, signor," said
the father. George is known to be
a capital shot, and no burglars
would venture in the house when he
was at home. Do you discover any
thing more? ?"
being stranger here" the sig
aor replied, Il can't NJ axe up my
mind at once. If your son should
set about it, I've no dolabt he could
clear up the mystery very quickly ;
but | shall have to study over it
awhile"
Declining to say anything more
definite, but promising that the fam
lily should hear from him if he sue
ceeded in finding the lest treasures,
he pleasantly took leave, giving
George very significant look at
parting.
He had not been long at the hall
pondering over the painful problem
he had been set to solve-hunted
by the pale face Of the guilty son,
when the face itself appeared before
him.
"Ah, Georgel" said the signor,
kindly, Il am glad to see yo'i."
The youth came forward slowly
too much agitated to speak. Then
apparently touched by the signor's
sympathetic manner, he broke forth
imploringly:
For mercy's sake, sir, don't expose
me-"
MY dear Georgei" replied thu
signor, taking his outstretched hand
II shall not expose You if l can helI
it. But let's understand each other
Tell me all about it"
"You know it all" exclaimed thu
wretched youth, beginning to trem
Bile and sob violently.
Il know something. You hav,
fallen in with bad company. Bu
how could you-how could you de
ceive and wrong your parents ?".
Because / am an idiot! Because
I am the most miserable. ungrateful
wicked son that ever had good par
ents to wrongI' said George, in
convulsion of remorse and despair
"But l didn't mean to rob them, sig
nor"
II know" said the signor. "YOr