Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-05-04

dark waters below
Il may find peace there" he said,
gloomily.
He leaned over the railing and lis
tened to the swift-rolling current.
MY Godr' he cried. The box! the
boxm
1t had slipped through his fingers,
and already the rushing waters were
carrying it to the sea!
Tom ran in the direction of his
brothers hotel, and then wheeled
about and ran back TO the bridge.
His first impulse was TO throw himself
into the river
Il am a fool!' he said. Suicide
will not restore the money. l must be
a man now if there is any manhoodin
me-
Across the river and over the hill,
the guilty fugitive fed. Mile after
mile he walked like a madman.
The lights of the citv disappeared
from view. and Tom found himself
wandering in an unfamiliar locality.
Again the river came in sight, and
the wretched man decided 10 follow its
course. 1t was not far to the sea. He
would go on to the nearest port and
ship as sailor.
Anything to get beyond his broth
er's reach and the eyes of those who
knew him!
Thus the light of day found him,
but it was not likely any one along
the riverside would recognize him.
There were few dwellings, and the
people he met were farmers, who were
not disposed to be unpleasantly in
quisitive.
So the half-crazed man rushed on
through the day, till at nightfull he
limped wearily into n small seaport
town.
Henry Dyson made every effort TO
find his missing brother.
When he thought of the panied look
in Toms eyes the night the poor fel-
low eft he reproached himself for al
lowing him to go away without a kind
word of encouragement.
The detectives took the matter up,
and the newspapers published an ac-
count of Toms mysterious disappear
ance.
But it was of no avail. There was
no trace, no clew, and after a year or
two the merchant came To the cOnclu-
sion that his brother was dead man.
Henry Dyson continued to prosper.
He married happily, and in the course
of time little children came 10 make
his home still brighter
Twenty years had rolled away, when
one night the merchant found himself
alone in his Office writing letter.
As he leaned back in his chair to
take a moments rest he thought of
the night score Of years before when
Tom had visited him there to make a
last appeal.
Tears came into the rich mans eyes.
He was my only brother, he sob
bed, and | acted like brute. How
easy would it have been for me to pay
his little debts Then | could have
watched over him, and III time my love
would have touched his heart, and he
would have turned out all right. But
it is too late now to think Of these
things
The door opened with hardly a
creak, and the merchant would not
have known it but for the rush of cool
air.
He rose from his chair just in time
to greet visitor who walked into the
Office without even a knock on the
door to herald his approach.
Henry Dyson looked upon him in
speechless astonishment. If he could
trust his eyes, this was Tom Dyson,
but not the Tom Of twenty years ago.
He was an old man with wrinkled face
and white hair.
Brother" said the visitor holding
out his hand. are you glad to see
me?'
With joyous exclamation the 9th
er caught him in his embrace, and
then seated him in q chair.
This is a glad hour for me, Tom,
he said, Il had given you up for dead,
and ! have all these years been re-
preaching myself for my harshness to
you that night, you know"
Hold on cried the other, excited
ly. You must not overwhelm me
such kindness until have made resti-
tuition. Here in this package you will
find the money to replace the sum /
took from your safe in the little tin
box. 1t has taken these twenty years
to make it but here it is at last.
But | do not understand" inter
rupted Henry.
''Oh, but you must" replied his
brother. When you turned away to
get your coat that night ! slipped the
box out of the safe ana concealed it.
Then you closed the safe unconscious
of your loss. and left you"
But the box was empty" shouted
Henry.
Impossible, replied Tom. for you
told me it contained twenty thousand
dollars Well, rushed of with the
box but repented, and was on my way
to return it when carelessly let It
slip into the water when | crossed the
river. Now you know why / ran away
and concealed myself / had but one
object-to make enough money TO pay
YOU back, and then | would ask your