Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-03


Erastus, the eldest and favorite son
of Farmer Miles Williams, was the
cashier of the national bank of the
same town. His father was never
tired of pointing to his son as an ex-
ample for other young men, and as
the pride and honor of the family.
Miles Williams, although comfort
ably situated as to pecuniary matters,
continued to pursue, in his mature
years, his early habits of industry, and,
like many farmer worth double his
money, he got up at four o'clock of
summer mornings to drive to the
town wit early vegetables.
When, therefore, Alden Parsons, on
his usual walk from the farm to his
place of business, one morning IN
jane met Mr. Williams, with his horse
and light wagon, in the suburbs, he
was not surprised. He had frequently
met him before, and accosted HIM re-
spectfully, receiving a surly nod in
return.
"Anything new in town, Mr..
Williams" remarked Alden pleasant
ly, as he passed the old farmer.
Mr.. Williams hung his head down,
and seemed to conceal his face as he
answered, almost chokingly:
No. nothing-nothing.
Alden hardly noticed the farmers
peculiar manner, and went on his
way.
When he arrived at his desk, ne
soon found that there was something
new, and startling, too. Tie morning
paper contained full account of it.
Erastus Williams had been arrested
the previous night on the charge of
stealing the funds of the bank. He
had quietly submitted to the officers,
and made clean breast of his guilt.
The amount of his defalcation was
about four thousand pounds, and his
father and another well-known citizen
were his bondsmen to the bank, which,
the paper added, was very likely,
owing to the responsibility of the
sureties, to suffer little loss.
1t is needless to recount the story of
the trial. Erastus Williams was
good deal of a man at heart. A wife's
extravaganza had much to do with his
crime; but she atoned somewhat for
her folly by standing with him nobly
in his downfall. He opposed no OBJ
struction to the course of justice, and
this fact, coupled with the interces-
sion of friends, secured a comparative
ly light penalty. But his fathers little
fortune was swept away in order to
satisfy the claim of the bank. A
mortgage was even put on the home
stead.
Miles Williams was a different man
after the SCATTERING of his idol. And
he was better man. Now that his
own heart bled for his guilty son, he
was inclined to be more lenient in
Judging of others, and especially of
others the cloud upon whom was not
guilt, but merely the shadow of sus-
picion.
He could not but notice that young
Alden Parsons was as respectful as
ever when they met; that there was no
trace in Alden's manner of gratifira-
ton, or gloating over the misfortunes
of the man who had treated him so
harshly.
Emma, too, was even more devoted
and obedient than ever. Her tender
affection was pillow of down for tie
throbbing head of her venerable
parent.
docs Alden ever speak to you
now?" asked the father one day of
Emma.
mo, father" she answered, except
to salute me when we happen to pass. .
The old man was silent for some mo-
ments, as if reluctant to express what
was struggling in his mind.
do you think he likes you yet?" at
/,
Il do, father" was the prompt and
deliberate reply.
Emma" said The parent, more
moved than she had seen him since
the day that he had came in with the
news of his sons arrest, ''I-I am sorry
for the way l treated that boy"
81 don't think lie has any hard feel
ings on account of it, father" was the
daughters soothing answer.
''lf you don't, Emma, then YOU may
consider that what l said two years
ago is unsaid," were the fathers clos
ing words, and with this he dropped
the subject
A moment later the door opened. A
neighbOr burst in eXcitedly.
Mr.. Williams, have you heard the
news?" he cried. ''Of course YOU
have not! You remember how the
body of Mr.. Parsons was found in the
pond, and now Benjamin Appleby has
just confessed on his dying bed that lie
killed Parsons unintentionally in a
dispute over some hay at Appleby's
house that same night, and put the
body in the pond. As to Ellington,
Appleby says that Ellington had
nothing to do with it, but that heap
pleby-persuaded Ellington that an
other man Ellington saw on the road
that night must have been Parsons.
Appleby is at the last gasp, if not
dead already. I'm glad the truth is
out for Mrs. Parsons sake"
Emma and Alden met that evening
at the same big corner as two years
and half before. Emma explained
to her lover her fathers change of
mind. She added:
alden, you will not have to con-
tinue living down calumny any longer,
now that the truth is out There re-
mains for our family, now, the more
difficult task to live down, not false
hood, but truth.
Emma, darling" answered Alden,
as he took her hands, and the old love
shone undiminished in his frank blue
eyes, ''your brothers fault is not
yours. and if there is to be any living
down, l only ask the happy privilege
of living it with you"
In the tenderness and devotion of
his son-in-law, old Mr.. Williams finds
some relief and compensation for the
terrible blow which he received
through the guilt of his favorite son. He
has grandchildren now about his aCed