Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-09
and had broken the table. They should GER

and had broken the table. They should GER
tainly be punished
At this she made a motion as il she would
leave the room, and an anxious expression inn
mediately came on the face Of the tall man,
who had evidently been revolving something
in his mind
Madam" he said, 1--WE are very sorry that
We have broken your table and that we have
I assure you, however, that nothing Of the kind
would have happened but for that drugged
wine. which doubtless was intended for a medi-
cine and not beverage; but weary and chilled
as We were when we arrived, madam, we were
glad to partake of it, supposing it ordinary
wine."
could not help showing little pride at the
| success of my scheme.
1.-THE refreshment was intended for fellows
OF your class, and am very glad you accepted
The tall man did not answer me, but he again
addressed my wife:
Madam" he said, 'if you ladies would re-
main and listen to me few moments, l am
sure would make you aware that there is
much to extenuate the apparent offense which
have committed tonight"
My wife did not answer him but turning to
me said, smiling: eff he alludes to their drink
ing, your wine." she said, "he need not
apologize"
The man looked at her with an expression as
If her words had panied him.
MADAM, he said, IF you consent tQ1isten
to my explanations and the story of this affair,
am sure your feelings toward me would not
be so harsh"
"Now. them" said my Aunt Martha, IF he
has story to tell he ought to be allowed to tell
1T, even in a case like this. Nobody should be
judged until he has said what he thinks he
ought to say. Let us hear his story" -,
laughed. ANY statement he may make"
l said, will probably deserve much stronger
name than Stories"
Il think that what you say is true" remarked
my wife. but still, if he has a story to tell
should like to hear it."
think heard David give a little grunt, but
he was too we'll bred to say anything.
Very well, said /, ''if you choose to sit up
and near him talk 1t is your affair. l shall be
Obliged to remain here anyway and will not
object to anything that will help to pass away
the time. But these men must not be the only
ones who are seated. David, you and Alice can
clear away that broken table and the rest of
the stun and then we might as well sit down
and make ourselves comfortable"
Alce. with cloth and brush, approached very
tlmidly the scene ofthe disaster, but the younger
burglar who was neal est to her, gazed upon
her with such gentle and quiet air that she
| did not seem to be frightened. When she and
David had put the room in fair order l placed
! two easy chairs for my wife and Aunt Martha
| at a moderate distance from the burglars, and
took another myself little nearer to them, and
then told David to seat himself near the other
end OF the bench. aid Al ee took a chair at O
little distance from the ladies.
Now, then" said Aunt Martha to the bur-
! glars, Il would like very much to hear what
any one of you can say in extenuation of hav-
| ing broken into gentleman's house by night"
without hesitation the tall man began his
speech. He had long and rather lean, close
shNen face. which at present bore the express
sion of an undertaken conducting funeral.
Although 1t 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 large
class OF your fellow beings of whom you seldom
have any chance Of knowing anything at all,
but of whom you hear all sorts of the most mis-
leading accounts. Now am a poor man.
have suffered the greatest miseries that poverty
can lntict l am here, suspected of having
committed a crime. 1t is possible that may
be put to considerable difficulty and expense in
proving my innocence"
Il shouldn't wonder" interrupted. To this
remark he paid no attention.
considering all this" he continued, ''you
may not suppose madam that as a boy was
brought up most respectfully and properly.
| My mother was religious woman and my
father was a boat builder. Twas sent to school,
and my mother has often told me that was a
| good scholar. But she died when was about
| sixteen, and am sure had this not happened
| should never have been even suspected of
breaking the laws Of my country. Not long
after her death my father appeared to lose in
| terest in his business and took to rowing about
the river instead of building boats for other
people to row. Very often he went out at
night, and I used to wonder why he should
care to be on the water in the darkness and
sometimes in the rain. One evening at supper
he said to me: Thomas, you ought to know
how to row in the dark we'll as in the day
time. 1 am going up the river tonight and you
can come with me-
at was about my ordinary bedtime when we
took a boat with two pair of oars and We pulled
up the river about three miles above the city,"
what city?" asked.
'The city where was born, SIR" he said,
land the name Of which l must be excused
from mentioning for reasons connected with
my only surviving parent. There were houses
on the river bank, but they were not very near
| each other. Some of them had lights in them
| but most Of them were dark as it must have
been after II o'clock. Before one of them my
father stopped rowing for a moment and
looked at it pretty hard. 1t seemed to be all
| dark, but as we pulled on little saw light
| in the back of the house.
my father said nothing, but we kept on
| though pulling very easy, for mile or two
| and then we turned and foated down with the
| tide. You might as we'll rest Thomas said
he, for you have worked pretty hard
TO De continued neat geek