, 1883-11-03

] broke iOrth Robin.
"Much obliged for the compliment,
my good fellow. To return 10 bust
ness, will relieve you Of this money
any presence tOgether-yOu under
stand We shall never meet again
on This side Jordan at least ~
Robin stood speechless. BrOckle-
worth went on in an easy tone:
"NOur mistress puts such faith in
| your word you can easily cheat her
into the belief that you've been
| robbed! Don't stand there like a
log, you stupid frightened fool I"
some irritation coming into his voice,
"such things happen in the city ev-
cry week !'
81 won't do !" in IA low deter
mined voice.
"YOu won't ch :? Then shall con-
slider it my painful duty to inform
your mistress and friends generally
what kind Of a man honest Robin
really is. Oh it's no empty threat
l have papers in my pocket that'TI
/ prove it"
"Will We drive me mad ?'' broke
forth Robin wildly. "Wha was it
led me astray, a puir, thOughtless
lad OF fifteen, who never harmed
saul till you came to tempt me ?
! What wi the drink you gied me
! (and never drap had tasted till
that night, and your fause, fatter-
| ing tongue, | scarce kenned what |
was about! The hail things like a
dream to me, moo ~
unfortunately for you, the Court
| didn't take that view Of the matter!"
| said BrOCklewOrth, with a sneer.
at can't be quite like dream to you
that you worked for your board sew
eral months in States Prison to pay
for those few sOvcrigns you extract
ed from your employers drawer"
"Nes, and wha pit me up to it, and
| then turned evidence against me
when he feared he'd get into trouble
himself ?' asked Robin, with bitter
emphasis. cane wha Ca'ed himself
a gentleman, too? Gang ava, We
black, poisonous snake Ye're not
fit to haud company WI me, for a.
my ain wrong doing! But what's
the use of talking" said the poor fell
low grief overcoming his momentary
anger. at was my own faut-to let
sic young deeVil get the lead o. me
and be tempted into sin by him!
oh my puir mither! l broke your
heart, and moo"
"COme, Robin, this sniveling won't
pass! | mean business Just think
what you wife would say, that pious
amiable creature who would die
rather than take a hair-pin that was
MT her own"
'Pll stop your tongue, scOundrel!''
said Robin, raising his club, and
springing forward.
"RObin Robin % Shrieked a voice
behind him, and Robin staggered
back against tree, while the club
dropped on the ground. BrOckle-
worth, who had sprung nimbly to
one side, paused, astounded, his
hand in his breast pocket Helen
vent up to Robin, and put herhands
"Robin," she said, in a voice Of
tender reproach, "why cOuldna you
trust me-yOur am wife, who foes
you better than Onything else in the
world ?"
Robins breast heaved-he put
both hands to his face, and the pas
siOnate sObs broke forth. Helen
put her arm gently around his neck.
"COme hame VII me, dear, and
l'dN Z Allit bsll lllull 10 llllllStll luTn-
ing her eyes a moment on BrOckle-
worth.
"NOt so fast, my dear ~ said that
worthy, his batfied rage and spite
bctraying themselves even in the
smOOthness Of his voice. "Others
may not be so ready to extend their
confidence to a jail-bird as you are,
and"
Helen faced him like a liOness.
"Out of my sight, you monster!
If We daur to open your lips against
my puir lad-if ye dinna leave this
place tonight, Pll hae the law of
you! Didna l hear you VII my ain
ears tempting him to rob my mis-
tress BE off wi you, this moment!'
With muttered oath, BrOckle-
worth turned and strobe away.
"Robin," said Helen, laying her
hand again on her husbands arm,
''ar'na you coming hame The
BARNS may be wauking, and"
Robin uncovered his face There
was an air of manliness about him
that had been wanting of late.
"FOrgie me, Helen ~ he said, as
he took her in his arms, and that
was all he could say. Helen burst
into tears.
80 Robin, forgie mel Pve been
sac cauld and hard to you, and YOU
WI this load onyour mind r'
Darling, dinna break my heart!
You've saved me-saved me frae be-
ing murderer as weel as a thief.
God bless you! By His help I'll be
an honest man frae this day.
BrOckleworth did not succeed in
escaping-the detectives were al
ready on his track, and by their
prompt action he met with Just
punishment for his life of crime.
Although Robins past history soon
became public in the little village,
and for time he met with averted
looks from his old friends, the firm
stand taken in his favor by his mis-
tress, to whom he had made a full
confession of his bOyish misdeeds,
soon re-established him in their re-
CARDS. Honest and noble at heart,
he was fortunate enough to meet
with that kindness which might save
many youthful criminal, were it
accorded in time, and the remainder
Of his life was spent in honest work
at the side of his faithful wife, while
no cloud ever rose between again.
cara By'OughtOR, IN Neio York En-
dBliRer.