The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-20

1t would be useless 10 try to analyze, |
even ever so family, his feelings on this |
uever.to-be-forgotten occasion suffice it |
TO say, that to boy possessed of proud |
and naughty spirit disgrace must neces-
sarily have been keenly felt.
n
"The report is current in business cir
cles that Wood, the great wholesale
dealer, is in financial difficulties"
The above item, appearing in the l.
Tines created no small amount Of ex-
citement among business men, and many
Aocked to Guy Woods private office
some from personal pocket interest, some
from curiosity, few to offer their condo
lences. Among the latter class came a
fne-looking man of perhaps forty, who
gazed with no common interest upon the
excited crowd who came and went. At
last the way seemed clear, and going for
ward he opened the door with "private"
marked on it, and, stepping in, laid his
hand on the bowed head of the ruined
proprietor.
"Guy," he said, "l'm not wealthy
man, but as far as can l will help you"
With start, Guy Wood sprang to his
feet
"You help the man who has done his
best to ruin you 2 Don't you know that
| took that five.pound note2 Speak, for
heavens sake
eyes, Wood, know that you took it;
but don't let US talk about it, please"
"Talk about it Come with me-" and
before Staunton could speak he was walk
ing by his old schoolmate's side-toward
where No other place than Histon
House, which still owned for its head the
now venerable DR.. Hea. Their feelings,
as they walked through the old familiar
halls, past the lobby where the "goat
scheme had been concocted, up the COL
legiate staircase, and, worse than all,
through the school-room where, twenty
five years before, an unspoken word had
nearly ruined two lives, it is not for us to
dwell upon.
DIR. Hea received them kindly, and
though both could see that time had
lightly touched him, there was the shadow
of some great sorrow shining forth in his
deep, penetrating gray eyes-a sorrow
which the next hour would greatly soften,
if it did not entirely blot out As soon
as the first words of greeting were over,
Guy Wood said, in a voice husky with
emotion:
"Dr. Hea, have something to say
please do not interrupt me. Twenty-Five
years ago | came to this school deter.
mined to stand first in my classes, partly
because had always been accustomed TO
do 80 at home, but more, | think, to sat
isfy my fathers inordinate ambition. For
awhile all went well; gradually, how
ever, became Jealous. | found that in
Harry Stanton | had serious rival-a
rival who would rob me of the university
prize if / did not do something. 1t was
then that the opportunity of getting him
into trouble presented itself to me. At
first shrank from dishonorable act, but
the tempter was ever present, telling me
that it was my chance to please my father
by winning the scholarship, and that l
need never be discovered. That morning,
when you told me that you wished to
have talk with me concerning my
studies, l made up my mind, planned
things carefully, took the first step towards
an act of the meanest and most dishonor-
able kind. You will remember that
you were called away for a few mo-
ments, and it was then that l opened
your private drawer with the full inten.
ton of taking something which might in
volve my innocent school-fellow. The
first thing l noticed was the five-pound
note, and almost before l could think
what l was about, heard your step, and
the note was in my pocket. Before left
your study / purposely dropped scrap of
paper, on which l had easily persuaded
Harry to write few words, before the
secretary. 1 also left my Euclid behind
your writing desk. As was preparing
my Latin for the next day Ooh, how every
.. thing is impressed on my memory, l
asked Harry (for remember we were, to
all intents and purposes, good friends)
if he would run for book which had
left on your table. He was always SO
good.natured that, without second
thought, he crossed the hall, knocked,
and not hearing any response, opened the
|, door and reached the book from the table
! 1t has seemed to me since that fortune
: favored me all along my deceitful path,
! for Just as Harry closed the study door
,, behind him, Hitchcock, the janitor, passed
; along the hall, and felt that my plan had
perfectly succeeded. When you addressed
+, those memorable words to the boys
though they cut me to the very quick, !
: knew that was safe with Harry Staun
y ton, and Satan said, It's too late now, il
, would kill your father So l kept 81
lence, and though tried to quiet my con
q science by giving the money to the poor
: it was no use, and when l say that the
thoughts of that hour, when / stepped
!. over the precipice of dishonor, have never
:. left me, waking or sleeping, you can form
q but a faint idea of the misery which
q have all these years endured. And ye
: my deserts have been all too small for thu
: unhappiness which l have caused.
; have been until the present successful
a in business, my schoolfellow has had t.
" struggle all these years against adverse
: circumstances, all which have indirectl,
y sprung from my sin. am now reapinl
n the fruit of my wrong doing, and, Coz
helping me, intend to make what repara
4 tion may lie in my power. Harry, cal
you ever forgive me?" and turning, Gu,
} grasped his friends outstretched hand
accompanied by the hearty words
"Not another word, old fellow; it's al
II right"
During all this time DR.. Hea had sa
N with his head buried in his hands. No,
A. he rose, and crossing to where Harry sat
a he said Gas though he had forgotten tina
he was speaking to one who had long ag
# reached mans estate)
"My boy, |, too, must crave forgiveness