Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-04-19

his aunts arms.
The next evening his uncle lis
tened to the following disposition
ate words from the now normal
Dick: "I've seen mothers lawyer.
n you lay the weight of your finger
on me again, he will apply to The
courts for new guardian" And
there was that In the boys face
which impressed the uncle. He had
often threatened him since then.
but never attempted punishment.
Dick had very slight remem-
brance Of his mother. but none
whatever of his father---a naval Off.
Ger lost at sea. He was an infant
in arms when this had happened,
and Just able TO walk when his
mother had brought him to her elder
brothers house--thc house that she
had left, against his wish. to marry
the impeCunious man who had won
her. And here she had wept away
her beauty, then her life. And there
we're some that followed her to the
/ grave who averred that she had
died in self-defence-to escape the
! never-ending reconciliation of her
fault-the ceaseless, ponotonous
variations Of II told you So dealt
! to her by her brothH-. And later,
! on occasions when the boy. scream
! ing under the lash, could be heard a
block away in all directions from The
unclo's barn. these neighbors indig-
nantlv declared that he was being
slowly killed for the money left to
him In rust But these REMARKS.
! born solely of sympathy. had little
credencc or circulation. Though rs
/ unpleasant and .arsimonious a
character as the village contained
the uncle bore n well-proven reputa-
ton for integrity which stood him
in lieu % llindlier elements of mind.
Family pride, no doubt, -ontrbu-
ted largely to this fundamental
honesty. as Il certainly did 10 his
resentment at his sisters marriage
against his wishes, and to his later
desire that her son should be prop
erlv reared He was prouder Of his
name than of his wealth. prouder
still Of himself: and his townsmen.
knowing this and dsliking him per-
sonallv. had elected him town treas
urer year after year, and would
unhesitatingly have accepted his
/ mere nod of promise in any money
1 transaction.
When Dick had finished supper
he put on his hat and left the house.
It was late in the evening when he
found Georgia and ran him down as
wolf runs deer There was arGu-
ment and persuasion on his side,
with a picture of Mabel's grief and
shame if the theft was known-and
there was ieering and defiance from
George: then there was highway
robbery and separation. and Dick.
with a key In his pocket and bump
on his head from the impact Of a
rock a supply Of which George
seemed to carry in his pocket--went
home TO bed.
In the morning he was mp early
and of 10 school with the money In
his pocket, thankful, as he climbed
the stairs, that the ianitor was busy
on the ground floor; and that there
was still fifteen minutes before the
first bell would ring. giving him
plenty of time. There was no one in
the room as he entered: he ap-
preached the principals table. in
serted the key, and found that II
worked uneveny, proving that i,
did not belong to the lock; but at
l.,... Z, Ia hn
or. placed the money in the corner
where the principal had lodged it
turned to look into the grave face
Of Mr.. Clark, who was coming out
of the class room back of the stage.
50, " he said, slowly and sadly
you became frightened when you
heard that | called, and decided to
put it back. | expected you. Die
you return il ail?"
ITS all there" answered Dick
weakly; then realizing his position
he went on hotly, I'm no thief -
didn't steal that money"
Take your seat, sir.
Dick obeyed and Mr.. Clark open
ed the drawer with his own key anc
counted the bills. Then seating him
self he began writing. and Dick
wildly trying TO formulate his de
fence, knew, with the prescience o
the condemned, that the writin,
was for his uncle's eyes. And hoy
could he clear himself? II seemed
that nothing, but a direct accuse
tioa of George and truthful state
ment OF fact would answer now
yet he hesitated TO make public hi
mctive-to tell of his new friend
ship and promise TO a girl such
; ridiculous promise, too, But whel
Mabel came in and smiled as sh
passed to her seat, his waveiin
} resolution was strengthened. II
would clear himself. somehow. blu
: he would not stab her through tn
brother she loved.