The sun., 1889-11-10

much to extenuate the apparent offence which
have committed tonight"
Ny wife did not answer him, but turning to
me said, smiling: II he alludes to their drink
| ing your wine he need not apologize"
The man looked at her with an EXPRESSION as
r. her words had panied him.
Madam" he said, II you consent to listen
to my explanations and the story OF this affair.
am sure your feelings toward me would not
| be so harsh" 70 e-" ''| Pie
",NoW. them said HiJ Aunt Martha. " II he
has story to tell he ought to be allowed 10 tell
1t. even In case like this. Nobody should be
indged uutil he has said what he thinks he
ought to say. Let us hear his story"
/ laughed. ANY statement he may make, I
said. will probably deserve much stronger
name than stories" 80 b." s."
~ think that what you say is true" remark
cd my wiEe: but still II he has story to tell
should like to hear it." .
l think heard David give little grunL but
he was too we'll bred to say anything.
"very WE'LL" said /. ''ifyou choose to cit up
and hear him talk. 1t is your affair. shall be
Obliged TO remain here any way. and will not
object to anything that will help to pass away
the time. But these mon must not be the only
ones who are seated. David. you and Alice
can clear away that broken table and the rest
down and make ourselves comfortable"
Alice, with cloth and brush, approached very
tinidly the scene OF the disaster, but tho
younger bGrglur, who was nearest to her,
EaZed upon her with such gentle and quiet
air that she did not seem to be frightened. When
she and David had nut the room in fair order
/ placed two easy chairs for my wife and Aunt
Martha at u moderate distance from the
burglars. and took another myself O little
nearer to them, and thon told David to seat
himself near tho other end OF the bench and
Alice took chair at a little distance from the
ladies. .t
Now. them" said Aunt Martha to the
burglars u would like very much to hear
what any one of you Gun say in extenuation Of
having broken into a gentleman's house by
night"
without hesitation the tall man began his
speech. He had long and rather lean. close
shaven face, which at present bore the express,
sion OF an undertaken conducting a funeral
Although it was my aunt who had shown the
greatest desire to hear his story. he addressed
himself to my wife, think he imagined that
she was the more influential person OF the two
Madam" said he. Il am glad of the oppor-
tunity Of giving you,and your family an idea
OF the difficulties and miseries which beset a
large class OF your fellowbengs Of whom you
at all. but Of whom you hear all sorts OF the
most misleading accounts. Now, am a poor
man. have suffered the greatest miseries
that poverty can inflict am here, suspected
OF having committed crime. 1t Is possible
that may be put to considerable difficulty and
expense In proving my Innocence"
remark he paid no attention.
Considering all this" he continued. you
may not suppose. madam, that as a boy was
rpS
father was boat builder. l was sent to
school. and my mother has often told mo that
was about l6. and am sure had this not hap
pened should meyer have been even sus-
pected Of breaking the laws of my country Not
long alter her death my father appeared TO
lose interest in his business and took to row.
ing about the river instead OF building boats
at an to ey To0dsr @ Rby vi Tsns b
should care to be on the water in the dnrkness.
and sometimes in the rain. One evening at
know how to row in the dark as well as in the
daytime | am going up the river tonight.
and you can come with me-
1t was about my ordinary bedtime when we
took boat W ith two pair OF oars, and we pulled
up the river about three miles above the city,
The city where was born. sir" he said,
and the name Of which I must be excused
from mentioning for reasons connected with
on the river bank but they were not very r near
each other. Some ofthem had lights in them
been after ii O'clock. Before one Of them my
fsf sGpDs ff 20 'Ra
NJ PATH aheP 81 sa safd noGing but we kept on
9 down s s Te de
You might as we'll resS Thomas said he. Tor
you have worked prettyihard.'
p tTo be Chntinuedl