Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-03-07


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 respectfully,
receiving a surly nod in return.
Anything new in town, Mr.. Will
liamsf" remarked Alden pleasantly, aS
he passed the old farmer.
Mr.. Williams hung his head down
and seemed to conceal his face as he
answered, almost chokingly:
mo, nothing
Alden hardly noticed the farmers
peculiar manner, and went on his way.
When he arrived at his desk he soon
found that there was something new
and startling. too. The 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 a 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.
The trial showed that Erastus Will
liams had sinned to satisfy the extrava-
gance of a silly wife, He did not
make any defence, but through the In
tercessIon of friends was let of with a
light penalty. To satisfy the banks
claim, however. his fathers little for
tune was swept away.
Niles Williams was different man
after the shattering of his idol. And
he was a 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 gratifca-
tion or gloating over the misfortunes OF
tie 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 the
throbbing head of her venerable
| parent
"Does 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
moments, as if reluctant to express
what was struggling in his mind
"Do you think he likes you yet?" at
length he uttered hesitatingly-
~ do, father" was the prompt and
deliberate reply.
ssEmua - said tha mora
moved than she had seen him since
the day that he came In with the news
| of his sons arrest, IL am sorry for
the way treated that boy"
"I don't think he has any hard feel
inss on account of it, father" was the
I daughters soothing answer.
''If you don't. Emma, then you may
consider that what L said to you two
years ago Is unsaid, - were the fathers
closing 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
I 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 he
l hlllcO IdrsOuB unl0I6nIlOually IN a OiS-
/ pute 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 1t, but that he-Appleby-per-
suaded Ellington that another man
1 Ellington saw on the road that night
must have been Parsons. Appleby Is
at the last gasp, If not dead already.
| Pm glad tie truth is out for Mrs. Par
/ 5, ms sake"
Emma and Alden met that evening
at the same big corner as two years and
a half before. Emma explained TO her
lover her fathers change of mind. She
added:
alden, you will not have to continue
| living down calumny any longer, now
/ that the truth is out. There remains
/ for our family, now. the more difil cult
task OF living down, not falsehood, but
/ the TRUTH
Emma, darling" answered Alden,
as he took her hands, and the old love
shone undlminished 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
il 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.