The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
THE BROKEN PANE.
An Agreeable Story OF n Case OF Very Sensitive
Conscience.


From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Forty years ago n certain Cleveland family
lived on Huron street. closo to the corner of
Miami. Huron street was a leading thorough
fare then, and a number of prominent Cleve-
landers resided in the neighborhood. The lady
Of the house was n young bride, and she and
her husband had arrived in Cleveland quite re-
Gently. On Miami street lived n family in
very moderate circumstances, and among the
numerous children that filed the tiny house was
a boy called Johnny. He was a bright, manly
little fellow Of perhaps 8 years, and the Huron
street bride took quito a fancy to him. He
would come to her home every day and do her
simple errands, and she always had something
nice to give him. One day he was playing in
front of the brides home with some other boys.
when he CHANGED to throw a stone that missed
its mark and crashed through a parlor window.
The bride happened to see the accident, and as
the little fellow looked up and saw her an
agoniZed expression cloudcd his face and he
| turned and took to his heels. He never came
| again to the Huron street house. Look as she
might the bride caught sight Of him no more.
A few weeks later Johnny's family left the city,
and Johnny was soon only a faint memory.
The bride Is now n grandmother and livos in
q h andsome house in the suburbs. One day not
long ago the maid brought her a callers card.
It bore the name of John Robinson" She
looked at 1t with a puzzled air. She hads.,no
acquaintance Of that name.
But she went downstairs and confronted a
and bearing an unmistakable air Of prosperity.
He advanced to meet her;
" ,ne ,o Wished d. to sec &c M, %si c,I inquired the lady
Yes. madam" he answered. ION a slight
I matter OF business"
mo" he smilingly observed, 81 am not an
agent. The fact is, madam, ! have called to
pay a debt that has been accnmulating interest
all these years. and which i have neglected TO
pay before because l have never since been in
"A debtf,' echoed the lady. There must be
some mistake"
ger, cheerily, and he reached his hand in his
pocket. There was IA gold coin in It as he drew
paS gO5 yda for r tSo w;I mdoSinl broke nS s" IN your a Tf hous SO
or. Huron street one July day in 1857"
Then it all came back TO her.
Yes, madam no answered. I'm John.
ny" And their hands met in a tight clasp.
all these ,,yonrsi'' she said. why. l had for,
PERHAPS ! had better cause to remember
fair to me. l saw the Jail door opening. ! heard
the clank of chains. Then | somehow felt sure
that You would come and tell my father. and he
But as hour followed hour and you did not
come / began to breathe a little again, and. oh,
did not dare go and SEQ you for fear OF posi-
Bile consequences, but whom we went away ]
made up my mind that some day | would pay
every penny it cost to mend that broken pane.
And here / am"
Tho lady looked at him with glistening eyes.
Somehow she seemed to sec again the tirelcss,
manly little boy OF that lonK.ago time.
And you have prOspcredl' she asked.
Yes" no answered slnilinRly, I'm reckoned
one of the solid men of California. ! live just
outside OF San Francisco, have what | am~told
ia a charming home, a beautiful wife, and two
fine boys in the university. And whom i have
this little debt paid ! shall possess "A thoroughly
clear conscience as we'll
"Put away your money, John" said the
woman. Its worth n hundred times that to
see you so well and happy
II found out about you before ! came out
here said John. Il inquired with some fear
and trembling forty years bring many
changes, you know. But ! went direct TO the
fountninhead for informntion. | hunted up
your husband ut his Office had n letter of In,
PRODUCTION from the President of our road
and we were soon great friends. Bless you. he
had never heard OF Johnny Robinson, but that
didn't make any difference. In fact, no asked
mo TO dine and promised To he home carly
When John Robinson loft tho house the next
morning-his stay in the city Was shortened by
pressing business he left behind him ON the
parlor mantcl a box containing u dainty or.
nament of gold and this card:
my wife picked out "A little gift with the
firm belief that Johnny would surely find his
early friend. Please let 1t square the broken
pane