The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-06-29

Dear boy" said Darrell they're
from the kit of burglar, an how
came they here"
81 took them from Louis Leblanc"
said the young man, who then told of
his adventure that night.
Louis Leblancv' exclaimed Darrell
1.-THE scamp an his family have cleared
out"
The tinker turned quickly, his hand
upon the wrist of the young man.
'These things are not for thee to
have,"' he whispered. Had We no
thought o. the dangerT
Trove began to change color.
81 can prove how l came by Them"
he stammered.
"What is thy proof?" Darrell whis-
pered again.
"There are Leblanc's wife and daugh-
ter"
"Ah, where are they? There be
many would like to know"
The young man thought moment.
"Well, Tunk Hosely, there at Mrs.
Vaughn's."
''Tunk Hoselyv exclaimed the tinker,
with a look that seemed to say: "God
save the mark! An would they be-
lieve him, think?"
Trove began to look troubled as Oar
rel left him.
'I'll go and drop them in the river"
said Trove to himself.
1t was IL o'clock and the street dark
and deserted as he left his room.
1T is cowardly thing to do" the
young man thought as he walked slow
ly, but he could devise no better way
to get rid of them
In the middle of the big, open bridge
he stopped to listen. Hearing only the
sound of the falls below, Trove took
the odd tools from under his coat and
flung them over the rail. He turned
then, walking slowly off the bridge and
up the main street of Hillsborough.
At corner he stopped to listen. His
ear had caught the sound of steps far
behind him. He could hear it no lon
ger and went his way with q troubled
feeling that robbed him of rest that
night. In a day or two it wore off,
and soon he was hold of the bit, as
he was wont to say, and racing for the
lead in his work. He often walked to
school with Polly and went to church
with her every Sunday night. Fhere
had been not q word of love between
them, however, since they came to- the
village until one evening she said:
II am very unhappy, and l wish
were home"
"WhyY
She was not able to answer for a
moment.
Il know l am unworthy of YOU" she
whispered.
His lungs shook him with deep and
tremulous inspiration. For little he
could not answer.
'That is why you do not love me?"
she whispered again.
II do love YOU" he said, with strong
effort to control himself, "but am not
worthy to touch the hem of your gar
ment"
"Tell me why, Sidney"
"Some day do not know when-I
will tell you ALL And if you can love
me after that we shall both be happy"
"Tell me now" she urged
81 cannot" said he. "But if you only
trust me, Polly, you shall know. If
you will not trust me-
He paused. looking at the snow path
'Good night" he added presently.
They kissed and parted, each going
10 the company of bitter tears.
AS Of old, Trove had many friend
schoolfellows who came of an evening
now and then for his help In some
knotty problem. All saw a change in
him. He had not the enthusiasm and
good cheer of former days, and some
ceased to visit him. Moreover, they
were free to say that Trove was get
ting q big head. For one thing, he had
become rather careless about his
clothes, new trait in him, for he had
the gift of pride and the knack of neat
ness.
A new student sought his acquaint-
ance the very first week of the term,
that rather foppish young man who got
off the cars at Hillsborough the day Of
their first coming. He was from Buff
falo and, although twenty-five years Of
age, was preparing to enter college.
His tales of the big city and his frank
good fellowship made him a welcome
guest Soon he was known to all as
Dick, his name being Richard Roberts.
1t was not long before Dick knew ev-
erybody and everybody knew Dick, in
:cluding Polly, and thought him fine
fellow. Soon Trove came to know that
when he was detained little after
school Dick went home with Polly.
That gave him no concern, however,
until Dick ceased to visit him and he
saw change in the girl.
One day two letters came for Trove.
They were in girlish penmanship and
bore no signature, but stung him to the
quick
"For heavens sake get q new hat"
said one.
'You are too handsome to neglect
your Clothes" said the other.
AS he read them his cheeks were
burning with his shame. He went for
his hat and looked it over carefully. 1t
was faded, and there was little rent
In the crown. His boots were tapped
and mended, his trousers threadbare
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