The record-union., 1898-01-03

the habit of looking about them when
they strike the corner.-Cleveland
Leader
The Broken Pane.
Forty years ago a certain Cleveland
family lived on Huron street, close TO
the corner of Miami Huron street was
leading thoroughfare then, and
number of prominent Clevelanders re-
sided in the neighborllood. The lady
of the house was a young bride, and
she and her husband had arrived IN
Cleveland quite recently. On Miami
street lived a family in very moderate
circumstances, and among the numer-
Gus children that filled the tiny house
was a boy called Johnnie. He was a
bright, manly little fellow of perhaps
s years, and the Huron-street bride
took quite a fancy to him. He would
come to her home every day and do
her simple e1rands, and she always had
something nice TO give him. One day
he was playing in front of the bride S
home with some other boys, when he
chanced to throw stone that missed
it's mark and crashed through parloI
window The bride happened to see
the accident, and as the little fellow
looked up and saw her an agonized eX-
preston clouded his face and he turned
and took to his heels. He never came
again TO the Huron-street home. Look
as she might the bride caught sight
of him no more A few weeks later
Johnnie's family left the city, and john
ME was soon only faint memory.
The bride is now grandmother and
lives in a handsome house in the su-
burbs. One day not long ago the maid
brought her a callers card. 1t bore
the name of John Robinson" She
looked at it with a puzzled air. She
had no acquaintance of that name.
But she went down stairs and con-
fronted fine looking, portly gentleman,
well dressed, and bearing an unmis-
taxable air of prosperity.
He advanced to meet her.
You wished to see nle?" inquired the
lady as she looked again at the card.
Yes. madam" he answered, ION a
slight matter Of business"
She looked up at him quickly and
drew back a little.
NO" he snilingly observed, 81 am
not an agent. The fact is, madam,
have called to pay a debt that has been
accommodating interest all these years,
and which I have neglected to pay be-
fore because have never since been
in the neighborhood."
"a debt?" echoed the lady. There
must be some mistake"
mo mistake at all, madam said the
stranger, cheerily, and he reached his
hand in his pocket. There was gold
coin in it 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, I'm
Johnnie And their hands met in a
tight clasp.
And you remembered that little ac-
cident all these years?" she said. why
I had forgotten 1t long ago."
Perhaps I had better cause to re-
member it, he srlilingly said. 'It was
a dreadful affair for me. I saw the
Jail door opening; / heard the clank OF
chains Then I somehow felt sure that
you would come and tell my father, and
he was not a gentle man, as you may
remember But as hour followed hour
and you did not come I began to
breathe a little again, and, oh, you can
not tell how grateful was to you
did not dare to go and see you for
fear of possible consequences, but when
we went away 1 made up my mind
that some day T would pay every PEN
ny 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 tireless, manly little boy of
that long ago time.
And you have prospered?" she asked
Yes he answered, smilingly. I'm
reckoned one of the solid men of Cali
fornia. I live just outside of San Fran
cisco; have what I am told is a charm
ing home, a beautiful wife, and two
fine boys in the university. And when
l have this little debt paid shall pos
sess q thoroughly clear conscience as
we'll"
Put away your money, John" said
the lady. It's worth a hundred times
that to see you SO we'll and happy
/ i found out about you before 1 came
out here" said John. Il inquired with
some fear and trembling-forty years
bring many changes, you know. But
went direct TO the fountain head for
information. I hunted up your hus-
band at his office-I had a letter of in
PRODUCTION from the President of the
road-and we We're 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 a dainty ornament
OF gold and Jewels. and this card:
My wife picked out a little gift with
the firm belief that Johnnie would sure
~ find his early friend Please let it
square the broken pane" - Cleveland
Piaindealer
It's Value.
Yes" said young Miss VeneerinG