The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-03-31

"Have you any papers proving your
IDENTIFY" asked Mr.. Rankeillor.
"No, sir" said /, "but they are in the
hands Of Mr.. Campbell, the minister,
and could be readily produced. Mr..
Campbell, too, would give me his word,
and for that matter I do not think my
uncle would deny me-"
Meaning Mr.. Ebenezer Balfour?"
says he.
1.-THE same" said I.
"Whom have You SEEM" he asked.
"By whom l was received into his
own house," 1 answered.
"Did you ever meet a man of the name
of Hoseason?" asked Mr.. Rankeillor.
II did SO, sir, for my SINS" said I, ''for
it was by his means and the proc1.ro-
ment of my uncle that was kidna led
within sight Of this town, carried to sea,
suffered shipwreck and hundred other
hardships, and stand before you today in
this poor accouterment."
"You say you were shipwrecked, said
Rankeillor; "where was that?"
"Off the south end of the Isle of Null"
said l. 1.-THE name of the isle on which
was cast up is the Island Earraid."
"Ah!" said he, smiling, "you are deep
er than me i'll geography. But so far, I
may tell you, this agrees pretty exactly
with other informations that I hold.
But you say you were kidnapped; in what
senses"
SIN the plain meaning of the word,
sir" said |. II was on my way to your
house when was trepanned on board
the brig, cruelty struck down, thrown
below and knew no more of anything
till we were far at sea. was destined
for the plantations; u fate that, in Gods
providence, | have escaped"
1.-THE brig was lost Gu Jane TWEEN
ty-seyerth,' says he, looking in his
book, land wo are now ut August
twenth-fourth. Here Is u considerable
hiatus, Mr.. Balfour, of near upon two
months. Ii has already caused vast
amount of Trouble 10 yoCr friends. and
own shall not be yocy we'll contented
until it is set righr."
Indeed, sir said ], these months
are very easily filed M; but yet before
told m story would be grad 70 know
that l was talking TO !! friend
''This is to argue ia u circle, said the
lawyer. II cannot be convinced till !
have heard You. IcMlNCt bo your friend
until am properly informed. IL you
We're more trustiul it would better befit
your time of life. And you know, Mr.
BalfGG:, we have q proverb in the coun-
try that evildoers are aye evil dreaders."
"You are not to forget. sir, said |,
''that / have already suffered by my
trustfulness: and was shipped OF to be
q slave by the very man that Gf rightly
understand) is your employer"
All this while 1 had been gaining
ground with Mr. Rankeillor, and in pro-
portion as gained ground, gaining con-
fidence. But at this sally, which made
with something u q smile myself, he
fairly laughed aloud.
"No, no." said he; cit is not so bad as
that. Fui, non sum. Twas indeed your
uncle's man of business; but while you
Gmberbis juvenis custode remoto) were
gallivanting in the west, good deal Of
water has run under the bridges; and If
your ears did not sing, it was not for
lack of being talked about. On the very
day of your sea disaster, Mr.. Campbell
stalked into my Office, demanding you
from all the winds. had never heard
of your existence; but had known your
father; and from matters in my compe-
petence Ito be touched upon hereafter)
1 was disposed to fear the worst. Mr..
Ebenezer admitted having seen you;
declared (what seemed improtable) that
he had given you considerable sums,
and that you had started for the contin-
,ent of Europe, intending to fulfill your
education, which was probable and
praiseworthy. Interrogated how you
had como to send no word to Mr.. Camp
bell, dle deponed that you had expressed
O great desire to break with your past
life; further interrogated where you
now were, protested ignorance, but be-
lieveG you were in Leyden. That is q
close SUM of his replies. I am not ex-
actly sure that any one believed him."
continued Mr.. Rankeillor with a smile;
"and in particular he so much disrel-
ished some expressions of mine that, in
a word, he showed me to the door. We
were then at q full stand, for whatever
shrewd suspicious we might entertain
we had no shadow of probation. In the
very article comes Captain Hoseason
with fac story vt your drowning; where
upon old fell through, with no conse-
9uences but concern 80 Mr. Campbell,
injury to &y pocket, and another blot
upon your uncle's character. which
could very i'll afford it. And pow. Mr..
Balfour," said he, "you understand the
whole process of these matters, spd can
Judge for yourself ~ what extent may
~