The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-26

~
evitably the center of all mischief as the
hub in the center of the wheel; and
though nobody could help liking the
young rascal, he was SO good-tempered,
amusing and $50 10 say contagious, yet
all shook their heads over him, an d
opIned that his future looked ominous.
Nancy only, who suffered most from his
outrageousness, not merely loved him
with all her heart, but had faith in his
final triumph over all evil; she continued
to believe In him In the teeth of all evil
dence, when his misfortune came upon
him; and when, at last, the poor little
drowned body was picked out OF the
river, she thanked the Lord, on her knees,
through her sobs, that she had never
hsrbored an uncharitable thought to-
ward him. This is how it came about.
There was one person in the parish
yer Corvln. His aversion from him, in
stinctive at first, was confirmed by what
he heard and credited as to his shady
conduct toward his deceased uncle
Tom expected, in due season, to become
the master of Billop's; and then he
meant to take it out Of Lawyer Corvinl
Meanwhile, Corvin had son, Peter.
about Toms size; Peter was bully he
was once incautious enough to get into
fuss with Tom, and the latter tbrashed
him with such JOY and thoroughness (as
much on the lawyers account as on
refer s)tnht refer ceAseO from tndI 0ay
to be bully, and became a sneak.
One day lot of the boys, Tom and
Peter among them, went in bathing at
the ford in Fen Brook. Peter took oc-.
casion to remark that Tom was a pauper
anyhow, and that his (Peter's father)
could sell him and his old aunt out to-
morrow IL he chose. The moment he
selected for saying this was when he was
standing dressed on the bank, and Tom
was swimming naked in the middle of
the stream. Tom, as he made his way
with all possible speed toward shore,
was heard to retort that Lawyer Corvin's
money was not his own, and that one of
these days he would wake up and find
that he was pauper himself. As Tom
approached the landing with obvious de-
signs upon Peters person, the latter took
to flight; Tom pursued HIM as far as his
own undraped plight made decorous and
then came back with all expression signi-
ficant OF vengeance to come. Apparently,
however, he soon forgot all about the
matter, and parted from his companions
with his wonted good humor.
But next morning a rumor ran that
Lawyer Corvin's house had been entered
and robbed during the night; the boys
discussed IL outside the school house, and
Peter, when he came up, confirmed IL,
and upon being asked whether anything
were known of the thieves, put up very
pregnant look, and said he guessed some-
thing would be known before long. The
master came; the boys took their seats,
but it was found that Tom was absent,
not, unfortunately, rare occurrence.
But Peter looked more sagac.ous than
ever.
School let out at noon. They swarmed
forth into the elm-shadowed country
road. Who were these approaching yon-
der? One OF them as Peter Observed was
his father. A boy walked beside him. IL
tpna nd wi hn hat xuit
his hand resting on Toms shoulder2
Why, it was John Higgins, the constablel
And there was Nancy Billop following on
behind, with tears streaming down her
plump cheeks. What did il all mean?
1t meant, alas, that Tom had been ar
rested for the robbery. His jackknife
had been found on the ledge of the back
window which had been forced. The
threat which he had made the day be.
fore was remembered. But all this and
more would have weighed nothing, had
not an overwhelming piece OF evidence
come TO light in Toms rockets; nothing
less than a wad of bank notes which
Lawyer Corvin proved he had drawn
out OF the bank the morning previous;
as well as several coins and gold ring,
likewise his property. What could be
opposed TO such testimony as this?
The boy put an old face on the matter;
he admitted that he had been out a good
part OF the night, but he said he had been
laying traps for woodcnucks. He could
not explain about his knife, except that
he had lost il some days before. As to the
terrible contents OF his pockets, he ve-
hemently professed to know nothing
about IL; but he was quite sure he had
never been near Lawyer Corvin's. II was
but poor defense, and IL was evident
that his many friends were disappointed.
As Tom looked around the little room
in which the preliminary examination was
held, there were no eyes TO meet his own
with encouragement and faith. Yet his
self-command would not have faltered
but for n sound of stifled sobbinR that
reached his ears. lie looked. around and
there was Nancy.
"My darling, good boyi" she cried out.
"I know you didn't do IL, II an angel
was TO sit right there and say you did,
IL they send you to prison, IN go too.
and Nellie with me- You was always
the best boy in the world, and I'll Law
down my life for you, ] will, sooner than
let them wrong you'll don't care who
they srel"
fCONTfNrEp ToNappawl