St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-07-27

you'll please let ME know. and per-
haps | may be luckier."
With last suspicious look at
Walter Stewart, he took his de-
parture.
That night the classmates of Cadet
Stewart held meeting.
"Those people believe he took the
ring" Stacey asserted, land Colonel
Hardy must force him to resign. We
must send deputation to ask him
TO do so. |, for one, will not stay
another week if Stewart remains
here. Even if he really did not take
the ring, don't you see it's against
the university to keep cadet who
can be suspected of doing such dis
graceful act"
But Walter Stewart anticipated
them, by rendering his resignation
that night.
II will remain until the search for
the ring is over, Colonel Hardy" he
said. lift is not found, | will ask a
strict investigation, to establish my
innocence. But every one suspects
me-" he cried, throwing out his hands
with despairing gesture. II am
powerless to stem the prejudice
against me. 1t will cling to me
through all my wretched life. l am
branded, and every one can read the
brand on my forehead"
He hurried out Of the room, paying
no attention to Colonel Hardy's call
to him to stop.
THAT boy is desperate" Colonel
Hardy said to Mr.. Fearing, who had
witnessed the interview, his heart
full of pity and sympathy for the UNI
happy youth. "I'm going to follow
him, for he is half mad"
The night was not dark, and Col
onel Hardy had no trouble in follow
ing and watching the movements Of
the young man, who was walking
rapidly toward the river. But he
was taken by surprise, for without a
pause, Walter raised his clenched fist
toward heaven and sprang in to the
water. Throwing off his coat, Colo
mel Hardy, an expert swimmer
threw himself in the river, and as The
young man rose, seized him by The
collar, and in a few minutes they
were both on shore.
But even when he was placed in {
warm bed and every means used tC
resuscitate him, Walter did not re
cover consciousness. He had strucl
against floating log in making tn
fatal leap, and his injuries were Sc
we're enough to make the physician
look very grave. On the third da.
he opened his eyes, and they reste'
!, on the kind face OF Mr.. Fearing, VIII
had constantly attended him fror
the hour he was laid on the bed.
"I'm very ill.," he said family.
ooh, you're better now" Mr.. Fear
ing said, briskly, You mustn't tai
, nor ask questions" He lay fe'
| minutes silent, and then said, sue
= denly, II remember all !"
t Eyes, yes, of course. You were
( little bit crazy about that confount
e ed ring. But it's been found. Ths
girl, in twisting and hustlin
S around, got it way down the all
gators throat. Colonel Hard
- found it, and he sent it to the own
v with a note guess she'll rememb
n all the days of her life. All you vegC
to do is to get well. "
i Walter, to Mr.. Fearing's surpris
t showed no pleasure at this news.
t fact, his next words were irrelevan
2 II don't want my mother to know
has any one told her l was i'll ?"
: No one had written yet, If he gre
e worse she was to be sent for.
d mo, no, she must never know.
e she comes, she will find out VIII;
~ made me commit that mad act. Pc,
" mother! | was mailman that nigh
S God will weigh all things, and l a
not afraid"
t you are getting well, my boy
Mr.. Fearing cried. Your dark da
/, are over forever"
l. "Yes, l think So" with lit
smile, lover forever; but not hel
e You see, it's better so, sir. l kno
t, you wanted to be my friend, but ev
e you couldn't have taken away
d ban. 1t seems hard and strange, b
5. | shall be wiser before long. VI
:, yes; before long"
Y Forty-eight hours after that, al
n Walter Stewart was wise with t
d wisdom Of the freed soul, which h
t. eternity in which to read the perple
}! ing problems of human life al
', human pain. He died very peacefl
a ly, like one who lays down crus
ing burden, and sinks smiling to re:
h, Il Youths Companion.