The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-10-18
A NOBLE VENGEANCE.

'You don't really think L took the
money, Virginia."
Charley Melton stood wistfully gaz-
ing into the fair oval face of the young
girl who stood on the bank above him,
her pure complexion rendered purer
and more delicate still by the moving
shadows of the leaves overhead.
mo Charley, do not!'
"Yet your father has turned me out
of the house, and your mother has
called me a thiefr'
He shuddered as he pronounced the
words
"Its some mistake, Charley-Tm
sure it is" she said earnestly.
And he struck me, Virginia." The
boys face grew scarlet, and his eyes
blazed. ''Yes, he struck me, Virginia!
l shall live to be revenged some day!"
Charley, don't talk sou
He turned away, the old hard look
which she so dreaded to see creeping
over his features like a stormy veil.
you'll say goodbye to me, ,Charley?"
the farmers daughter pleaded.
"Yes, I'll say goodbye, Virginia.
"Where are you going. She
questioned.
81 don't know"
.You will starvem
''And what then? Who will care?"
Il shall care, Charley"
"Shaliyou?" He turned away with
sad smile, and the memory of that
smile haunted Virginia Fairford for
years.
Farmer Fairford was sitting by the
nj n
came iu, flushed and rosy with her
walk
"Where have you been, grip" he de-
manded austcrely.
'.To look for the cows, father"
Did YOU find emp
mo, father"
"I'll go myself
As Mr. Fairford pushed back his old
rocking-chair. the red moreen cushion,
loosened fromits strings, slipped to the
floor. Virginia sprang forward with a
low crv.
A crumpled five-pound bank-note lay
where it had Slipped down under the
cushion, probably dropped by some
careless hand.
Virginia caught it up.
Father, see there"
Il see," said the farmer, moving one
foot uneasily over the floor.
Father, Charley never took the
money"
NO; l s'pose he didn't"
'And you called him thief. You
you struck HIM"
What else could l do? What else
did | s'pose had come of the money? l
amt to blame" muttered the farmer
sulleuly.
And he was innocent all the time!
Oh, father, father! let me run after him
let me call him backn'
Il don't care what you do" said the
old man conscience-stricken, and yet
not willing to own that he had done
wrong.
SO Virginia sped forth into the twi-
light, swift and light-footed as young
deer.
If could only bring him back, :"
she gasped.
But all search was vain. The hour
of grace was past, and Virginia re-
turned weary, and pale, and heavy
eyed.
Didn't find him, eh?" questioned
the farmer.
mo. father"
"A good radiance, say. | never
fancied the boy A workhouse tramp
never wouldn't ha' come to no good. "
SO Farmer Fairford dismissed the
matter from his mind.
And so when Alfred Fairford, COM
ing home to the old farm for his holi-
day, month or so subsequently.
lameHted the absence of Charley Mel
ton, who was such a gay. cheerful
companion, no one ever mentioned his
name Virginia alone remembered
him and mourned over his absence.
NO one knew Charley as Ibid, she
said to herself. There was much good
in him. Oh. Heaven grant that some
friendly sunshine may foster the noble
impulses-poor Charleym
And perhaps Virginia Fairford' s
prayers were heard.
The slow years erept by-she grew
from fair girlhood into the full ma
turity of woman, and still she re-
membered Charley.
"It can't be possible" said Mr..
Fairford. staring with dim horror
glazed eyes into the chill autumn twi-
light. "No-I tell YOU not can't be
possible"
But, father, it is possible-it is even
so, urged Virginia. who sat beside him