The Dawson journal., 1883-02-22
THE STORY OF 4 GOLD EAG q.

4 4 -
No one had been to the dfawer ii
was proved, except a joung clerk
whose pame was Western. The
merchant had sent him there TO make
change for a customer, and the next
time the drawer was opened the gold
eagle had disappeared.
Naturally Weston was suspected
OF having stolen it;and more especial
ly as he appeared a few day after ths
occuftence in a new suit Of clothes.
Being asked where he had bought
the clothesj he gave the name Of the
tailor without hesitation, and the
merchant going privately to make in.
quiriess discovered that Weston haid
paid for the stiit With i twenty dol
lar gold piece: -
That afternoon the young clerk
was called into the merchants private
room. aud charged with having Com
mitted the theft. sas
SIT is useless to deny it, the
merchant said, 'you have betrayed
yourself with these new clothes. and
now the only thing that you can do
is to make full confession of your
fault Weston listened with amaze
ment; hecould.hardly believe Ut first
that such an accusation could be
brought against him, but when Ne
saw that bis employer was in earnest,
he denied it indignantly, and declaF
ed that the money he had spent fof
the clothes was his own, given him
as a Christmas gift year ago. 4
The merchant sneered at such an
explanation, and asked for the proof.
'HVho was the person that gave ii 70
youf Produce him, he demanded.
cit was lady," answered Weston;
and l cannot produce her, for SIC
died last spring. can tell You her
name.'
''Can YOU bring me anybody tk&s
saw her give you the money or knew
of ycttf having it?" asked the meg
chstnt.
mo, No, can't do that" Yves.
ton had to answer, 81 never told any
one about the gift, for she did not
wish me TO. But T have a letter
from her somewhere, if I haven't lost
it, that she sent me with the money,
and in which she speaks Of It." '''
Il dare say you have lost it !" the
merchant sneered.. When you have
found it, sir, you can bring it to me
and then / will believe your story.
Weston went home with d heavy
heart He had no idea where ths
letter was; he could not be sure
that he had not destroyed it; AMI sit
was the only means of proving his
innocence. Unless he could produce
it, his character was ruined, for he
saw that the merchant was fully con-
WINGED of his guilt, and appearances,
indeed, were sadly against him. He
went to work. however, in the right.
way. He knelt down and prayed to
God for help to prove that he was
Innocent sna then he began 10 Ever:
haul the contents 81 his desk ana
trunk and closet.
He kept his papers neatly. and il
dit not take him long TO see that Che
letter was not among them. Ne SAT-
down with sense Of despair When
he was convinced of this. What
elese could he dot Nothing But pray,
again for help and guidance, and
strength 20 endure whatever trouble
God might send upon him.
Skeptics may sneer 81 such prayers
as this, but Weston (who is o middle
aged man now, prosperous, respect
ed by all men, and deserving res
pect) would smile and say: 'TIss
them sneer." n8
when ] rose from my knees" he
said, telling me the story years after
ward, Il happened 10 catch my FOOT
in an old rug that / had nailed down
to the carpet because " was always
curling up 1t the edges. A nail az
the corner had come out, and stoop
ing down to straighten ire rAgs I
saw a bic Of paper sticking out. I
pulled it from its hiding place, and ID
was the letter.
Chow it got there l do not know !;
the fact that I had found il was'
enoughIfor me, snt II I had nOt gOhe
on my knees again TO give thanks for
such q deliverance, I should bs
ashamed to tell you the stoFy now"
4 81 brought the letier to my EN-
ployer. 1t proved my innocence,
| and he anoiosyszad A. D,o,,kh a@oy