Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-03-05


Success was now assured The young
woman never for a moment asked where
the money came from and after the ifu
gal supper was over the good wife toos
her husband aside and asked him where
he got the money He evaded her for
long time and finally, suspecting that
he had not come by IL honestly. she
charged him directly with Obtaining IL
by false means or foul Hour after
hour she pleaded with her husband 70
tell her tho truth. lle steadfastlg re-
fused. At last at midnight be could
stand 1t no longer. and IN an agony OF
despair he broke down and told her
that be had broken into the establish
ment where he worked. taken some
valuable jewelry and pawned It, Tho
poor wife was half crazed- But she was
a brave woman and told him that
although she valued her daughters cd.
ucation and happiness and life above all
else. vet she would not let her husband
do himself so great an injustice. and she
took him by the hand and In the silent
watches OF that night those two unhap-
py people walked along the streets
unLll IueY IGdCut0 AhC hc1%S ~ Wv
senior member of the firm where tho
man was employed and whose store be
had robbed.
The woman nervously rang the bell
and although the inmates Of the house
we're asleep. sho remained there until
at last the door was opened. Then she
took her husband in the parlor and the
head OF that great iewelry house sat
down and listened amid her signs and
sobs to what she had to say She babe
her husband to tell all and he explained
tho robbery fully, told where be had
pawned the stolen goods and the woman
handed tho money he had obtained TO
his employer, asked him TO redeem his
property and forgive her husband You
would have thought that any man would
have been touched by the poor womans
sturdy honesty and tears in that mid
night hour. but this employer was not
He locked the door OF bis house. dressed
himself carefully, went out called
policeman and had the poor fellow taken
to jail. He recovered his goods and the
law was about TO tako its course when |.
sitting on tho bench there. saw that
there was some story behind 1t all and
decided to investigate IL How elo-
quently that poor woman pleaded Tor
her husband that day in my presence !
shall never forget and how stubborn
the employer who sat opposite her.and
Shylock-like demanded tho pound OF
flesh will always be bitter remem.
brance TO me. ! told the man that the
case was peculiar one and il seemed 10
me an opportunity for mercy as well as
justice.
"You had better decide | told him.
mot to prosecute this poor fellow lie
has never before been accused OF any
crime. He has worked faithfully for
you for many years. He Is deserving
OF some consideration from your hands
and this woman. his wife, who was
strong enough not to ~.low him TO com
nit this great crime Is deserving OF ms
presence and support in her declining
years
THE woman thanked me very crate
fully, and had hardly done So when her
husbands employer arose and IN an
angry tone said that h0 would not for
ono moment stop the prosecution. lie
was determined to make an example OF
this man Nothing could change his
mind He insisted that prisons we're
for just such persons as ne and that the
sooner he was placed there the better"
81 allowed him TO talk in this way
for perhaps ten minutes Then J told
him that had carefully listened TO all
be had said and that DO bad not changed
my opinion one bit
IL don't believe" ! said TO him en-
phaucally, that this man Intended 10
commit crime. As a Judge | am en-
powered to suspend sentence. shall
shall toll him ! have investigated the
matter thoroughly and shall suspend
sentence in his case. Meantime. sir, |
bid you remember that some day the
tables may be turned ana you may be
anxious TO have some one plead In your
defense as eloquently as this poor wom-
an has for her husband
Now this Is the strangest part OF the
story. The man was brought before me
the next morning and withdrew his
plea OF guilty" suspended sentence
in his case. Some good people that /
knew obtained enough money TO allow
his daughter to secure her musical
education and she is now we'll known
in New Yorss best musical circles / /
obtained a position Tor her father as
purser on one OF the outgoing steam
ships, and be is as honest as the day is
long and'a faithful as a man can be for |
the service | rendered him. while his |
employer who was so bitter g. ainst him |
has been brought up in another court in /
this city for fraudulent practices. and |
narrowly escaped States prison for his |
crime. FOSTER CoATES
Who's Got Tn. ButtopY