The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-08-16

'Oh, you wouldn't, and then Gilman
said he saw it after you"
''Wel, that does not prove he took
it."
"Then he ought to prove that he did
not take it.
"a person may be innocent and vet
not able to prove it. l think you ought
to take Gilman word and something
may turn up to show his innocence.
A good deal of harm is sometimes done
by.Suspecting people and treating them
as guilty while there is really no suifi-
Gent proof for it,
81 know" asserted Billy, shaking
his bull dog head.
That winter, the weather was bitterly
cold. The winds were like saws and
how they cut into folksl And didn't
they cut into the poor Bentleys2 Oh
that trail home was so penetrated by
the sharp winds putting their teeth.
deep into Gilman and his mother!
81 guess" said Gilman, after a.heavy
storm, "Mr. Ventress could give me q
Job shoveling, and | can buy you q
warmer hat. | can pay Miss Stubs,
the shop keeper, little money down,
and know she will trust me for the
rest"
'Oh don't you think of me''
81 must. will go to Mr.. Ventress
now"
Fifteen minutes later Mr.. Ventress
was aecosted by Gilman: Couldn't
you give me a job at shoveling9"
'Well, yes, | guess So"
Billy Ventress heard this, and COM
ing up to his father whispered:
"Dont!''
''Why not? Speak Quit"
81 think Gilman took my knife.''
81 didn't" said Gilman.
Then said Mr.. Ventress, Il guess
l will look into this, and Gilman, if L
conclude to do anything, will Jet you
know"
Gilman went off sorrowfully, and had
no occasion afterwards to be in a hap
pier mood through Mr.. Ventress' kind
ness.
a few days after this, DR.. Clough
met Mr.. Ventres5.
"Many sick people, doctor?'
"Yes Mr.. Nentress; and | have just
come from the Bentleys'."
''Who is sick THEREOF
"Mrs. Bentley. She took cold lately,
and has fever The fact is, Mr.. Ven
tress, she has not had clothing enough.
| believe her boy, Gilman, tried to earn
her warmer hat, somebody said, but
couldn't do it, somehow.
''Ahemr'
When he went home he said to his
Nifn 81 bnI haitian. TO
Mrs. Bentley's to see heE. l believe she
is sick"
Too late, Mr.. Ventress, too latel
Your wife's kind words and wife's kind
deeds could not turn back the burning,
ravaging fever, any more than few
pailsful of water will stop u fire when
fully under way. The fever wasted the
body to a skeleton, and a long time it
took the forces Of life to make Mrs.
Bentleya stout, well woman again.
Spring came, spring with buds and
leaves, spring with birds and sunny
skies, spring that suggested to Mr..
Peck: '+Pl2to had better take the hay
stack down. We need the hay"
Gilman BENTLEY CHANGED to come into,
the yard
Ally pldHdn, S3Iu L ldGSS Il WIS
going to- take the haystack down that
we put up, and do you know we packed
it so solid really think l must take q
saw to it's top and saw it open2 1t
would seem as if something was inside
that did not want to get ont and was
just botheri.Rg me-"
Gilman laughed. ''And saw out q
dragon?' he asked.
Ill try it,"
Plato hadl mounted the haystack when
Billy Eentress entered the yard.
'-Oh, BillF," shouted Plato, 1--WE are.
saving out the dragon Shall come
to his teeth soon"
'-Let me. know when" replied Billy.
Halo! | have struck something.
hard-thosG teeth, guess WHAT'S
what's this?"
Plato now held up, not the.teeth of a
dragon, bUh something that could cut
as, ei1ectually-a four bladed knife!
"Billy's, knife!" cried. Gilman.
@Lookn'
And BILLY looked.
But wha8 Il look!
Billy had some very interesting
thoughts that morning, and you can
imagine tl1em.-ReU. EdUard Il. RG1ad,
Ia Interior.