Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-02-17
CHAPTER III.
In Which John Enjoys the Harvest
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CHAPTER III.
In Which John Enjoys the Harvest
Home.
Shortly after breakfast, at which
he assisted with a highly tragical
countenance,, John sought his father
where he sat, presumably in religious
meditation on the Sabbath mornings.
The old gentleman looked up with
that sour, inquisitive expression that
came so near to smiling and was so
different in effect.
''This is time when do not like
to be disturbed" he said.
81 know that, returned John, "but
have-I want-I've made q dreadful
mess of it," he broke out, and turned
to the window.
Mr.. Nicholson sat silent for an ap-
preciable time, while his unhappy son
surveyed the poles in the back green,
and a certain yellow cat that was
perched upon the wall. Despair sat
upon John as he gazed and he ragged
to think of the dreadful series of his
misdeeds, and the essential innocence
that lay behind them.
"Well," said the father, with an
obvious effort, ''what is ftp"
"Maclean gave me four hundred
pounds to put in the bank, sir" be-
gan John; "and I'm sorry to say that
I've been robbed of it''
Robbed of itP" cried Mr.. Nichol-
son, with a strong rising infection.
"Robbedp Be careful what you say,
Johnm
II can't say anything else, sir; 1
was just robbed of it," said John, in
desperation, sullenly.
"And where and when did this ex-
traordinary event take placer" in
quired the father.
"On the Cation Hill abopt twelve
last night"
1.-The Cation Hip" repeated Mr..
Nicholson. "And what were you
doing there at such time of nightP"
Nothing, SIR" says John.
Mr.. Nicholson drew in his breath.
"And how came the money in your
hands at twelve last night?" he asked,
sharply.
Il neglected that piece OF business, 3"
said John, anticipating comment; and
then in his own dialect: IL clean for
got all about it,"
"Well," said his father, ''it's a
most extraordinary story. Have you
communicated with the police"
81 have" answered poor John, the
blood leaping to his face. "They
think they know the man that did it.
dare say the money will be re-
covered, if that was ALL" said he.
with desperate Indifference, which
his father set down to levity; but
which sprung from the consciousness
Of worse behind.
"Your mothers watch, tooP" asked
Mr.. Nicholson.
"Oh, the watch is all right" cried
John. cat least, mean / was COM
ing to the watch-the fact is, / am
ashamed to say, IL had pawned the
watch before. Here is the ticket;
they didn't find that; the watch can
be redeemed; they don't sell pledges. "
The lad painted out these phrases,
one after another, like minute guns;
but at the last word, which rang in
that stately chamber like an oath, his
heart failed him utterly; and the dread
ed silence settled on father and son.
1t was broken by Mr.. Nicholson
picking up the pawn ticket: John
Froggs, 85 Pleasance," he read, and
then, turning upon John with brief
flash of passion and disgust, "Who is
John FroggsP" he cried.
Nobody" said John. at was
just name"
''An alias" his father commented.
"Oh! think scarcely quite that, +"
said the culpIit; tits a form, they
all do it, the man seemed to under
stand, we had a great deal of fun
over the name"-
He paused at that, for he saw his
father vince at the picture like man
physically struck; and again there was
silence.
II do not think" said Mr.. Nichol-
son, at last. ''that / man ungenerous
father. have never grudged you
money within reason, for any avow-
able purpose; you have just to
come to me and speak: And now 1
find that you have forgotten all de-
cency and all natural feeling, and
actually pawned - pawned - your
mothers watch. You must have had
some temptation; / will do you the
justice to suppose it was a strong one.
What did you want with this money!"
al would rather not tell YOU" said
John. 1T viii only make you angry"
II will not be fenced with" cried
his father. "There must be an end
OF disingenuous answers. What did
you want with this money!"