Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-02-17
TIE BROKEN PANE.
A Pleasant story of II Sensitive Con-
scianpp

A PlcGSant story Oh II SehsltiNS Oo'A
science.
Forty years ago q certain Cleveland
family lived on Huron street, close to
the corner of Miami. Huron street was
q leading thoroughfare then, and @
number of prominent Clevelanders re-
sided in the neighborhood. The lady
of the house was Il young bride, and she
pnd her husband had arrived in Cleve-
land quite recently. On Miami street
lived family in very moderate circum-
stances, and among the numerous chill
dren that filed the tiny house was q
boy called Johnnie. He was bright,
manly little fellow OF perhaps eight
wears, and the Huron street bride took
quite fancy TO him. Hcwould come to
her home every day and do other simple
crrands, and lie always had something
nice to give him. One day he was play
ing in front of the brides home with
some other boys, when he CHANGED to
throw stone that missed its mark and
crashed through q parlor window. The
bride happened to see the accident, and
as the little fellow looked up and saw
her an agonized expression clouded his
face and he turned and took to his heels.
lie never came again to the Huron
street house. Look as she might the
bride caught sight of him no more. y
few weeks later Johnnie's family left
the city, and Johnnie was soon only a
faint memory.
The bride is now a grandmother and
lives in q handsome house in the sub
urbs. One day not long ago the maid
brought her callers card, 1t bore the
name of "John Robinson" She looked
Mt ii with puzzled air She had no &C
quaintance of that name.
But she went downstairs and con-
fronted 4 fne-looliing, portly gentle
plan, we'll dressed and bearing an un-
mistaliable air of prosperity.
lie advanced to meet her.
"You wished to see me?" inquired the
lady, as she looked again at the card.
eyes, madam" he answered, ION a
slight matter of business"
She looked up at him quickly and
drew back little.
NO" he smilingly observed, "I am
not an agent. The fact is, madam,
have called to pay debt that has been
accommodating interest all these years
and which have neglected to pay be-
fore because I have never since been in
the neighborhood."
GA debt?" echoed the lady. "There
must be some mistake"
"No mistake at all, madam" said the
stranger, cheerily, and he reached his
hand in his pocket. There was gold
coin in 1t as he drew it forth. "There,
madam" he said, 81 want to pay you
for the window I broke in your house
on Huron street one July day in 1857"
Then it all came back to her.
"And you-you are Johnnie?" she
cried.
"Yes, madam" he answered, "Tm
Johnnie" And their hands met in a
tight clasp.
"And you remembered that little nc
cident all these years? ?" she said. "Why,
I had forgotten it long ago"
Perhaps I had better cause to re-
member it." he smilingly said. at was
dreadful affair to me. saw the Jail
door opening, I heard the clank Of
chains. Then I somehow felt sure that
you would come and tell my father, and
he was not q gentle man, as you may
remember. But as hour followed hour
and you did not come began to breathe
little again, and, oh, you cannot tell
how grateful I was to you. did not
dare go and see you for fear Of possible
consequences, but when we went away
I made up my mind that some day I
would pay every penny it cost to mend
that broken pane. And here am"
The lady looked at him with glisten-
ing eyes. Somehow she seemed to see
again the tircless, manly little boy Of
that long ago time.
"And you have prospered?" she
asked.
"Yes," he answered, smilingly. 'Tm
reckoned one of the solid men of Cali
fornia. I live just outside of San Fran
cisco, have what am told is a charm
ing home, beautiful wife and two fine
boys in the university. And when I
have this little debt paid I shall pos
sess a thoroughly clear conscience as
WELL"
"Put away your money, john" said
the woman. cts worth q hundred
times that to see you so well and hap
py."
81 found out about you before came
out here" said John. 81 inquired with
some fear and trembling-40 years
bring many changes, you know. But
I went direct to the fountainhead for
information. I hunted up your hus-
band at his office-I had letter of in
PRODUCTION from the president of our
road-and we were soon great friends.
Bless you, he had never heard Of John
ME Robinson, but that didn't make any
difference. In fact, he asked me to stay
to dinner and promised to be home
early"
When John Robinson left the house
the next morning-his stay in the city
was shortened by pressing business
he left behind him on the parlor mantel
a box containing dainty ornament Of
gold and jewels, and this card:
"lly wife picked out little gift with;
the firm belief that Johnnie would sure
ly find his early friend. Please let it
square the broken pane."-Cleveland
Plain Dealer.
WIFE, 10 We, As+ar