The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-05-28

WoteIS below.
81 may find peace there" he said,
gloomily.
He leaned over the railing and listened
to the swift-rolling current
my God!" he cried. "The box-the
box!"
It had slipped through his fingers,
and already the rushing waters were
carrying it far from him.
For few moments Tom ran in the d.
rection of his brothers house and then
wheeled about and ran back to the
bridge. His first impulse was to throw
himself into the river.
II am fool!" he cried. Suicide will
not restore the money. I must be q
man now if there is any manhood in
mel"
Across the river and over the hill
into the thick darkness of the night
the guilty fugitive fed. Mile after
mile he walked like madman. The
lights of the city disappeared from view,
and Tom found himself wandering in
an unfamiliar locality.
Again the river came in sight, and the
wretched man decided to follow its
course. He would go anywhere, to get
beyond his brothers reach, and the
eyes of those who knew him.
Thus the light of day found him,
but it was not likely that anyone along
the river side would recognize him.
There were few dwellings, and the peo-
pie he met were farmers, who were not
disposed to be unpleasantly inqnisitive.
So the half-crazed man rushed on
through the day, till, at nightfall, he
limped wearily into a small seaport
town.
Henry Dyson nude every effort to find
his missing brother. When he thought
of the panied look in Toms eyes the
night the poor fellow left, he re-
preached himself for allowing him to
go away without q kind word Of en-.
couragement.
Henry Dyson engaged detectives, and
the newspapers published an account of
Toms mysterious disappearance. But
it was of no avail. There was no trace,
no clew, and, after year or two, the
merchant came to the conclusion that
his brother was dead man.
Henry Dyson continued to prosper.
He married happily, and, in the course
of time, little children came to make his
home still brighter.
Twenty years had rolled away, when,
one night, the merchant found himself
alone in his Office, writing letter.
AS he leaned back in his chair, to take
ha
night, score Of years before, when
Tom visited him there, to make last
appeal. Tears came into the rich mans
eyes.
He was my own brother" he sobbed,
'and acted like a brute. How easy it
would have been for me to pay his lit
tie debts. Then I could have watched
over him, and, in time, my love would
have touched his heart, and he would
have turned out all right. but it is too
late now to think of those days."
The door opened with hardly creak,
and the merchant would not have
known it but for the rush of cool air.
He rose from his chair just in time to
greet visitor, who walked into the
office without even knock on the door
to herald his approach.
Henry Dyson looked upon him in
speechless astonishment. If he could
trust his eyes, this was Tom Dyson, but
not the Tom of 20 years ago. He was
an old man, with a wrinkled face and
white hair.
Brother" said the visitor, holding
out his hand, ''are you glad to see me?"
With joyous exclamation the other
caught him in his embrace, and then
seated him in a chair.
This is a glad hour for me, Tom"
he said. 81 had given you up for dead,
and 1 have, all these years, been re-
proaching myself for my harshness
to you that night, you know"
Hold on!" cried the other, excited
ly, you must not overwhelm me with
kindness until have made restitution.
Here, in this package, you will find the
sum l took from the safe in the little
tin box. 1t has taken me these 20 years
to make it, but here it is at last"
But do not understand" interrupt |
cd Henry.
"Oh, but you must" replied his |
brother. when you turned away to
get your coat that night, slipped the
box out of the safe end concealed it.
Then you closed the safe, unconscious
Of your loss, and left you.''
But the box was empty!" shouted
Henry.
Impossible" answered Tom, "for
you told me that it contained $4,000.
Well, l rushed off with the box, but
repented, and was on my way to return
II when l carelessly let it slip into the
water when l crossed the river. Now
you know why l ran away and con-
cealed myself. l had but one object
to make enough money to pay you
back. and then would ask your for
yiveness."
"Oh, how foolish!" said Henry. "Why,
man, l found in the morning that my
book keeper had taken the money from
the box and carried it back to the bank
hat afternoon, when he found that I