Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-09

Gney laughed bitterly as she SAID: "YOu
mean everybody was sure except your
poor. foolish mother. She believed her
husband - against right and reason =
against the whole world. Do you know
exactly what happened? l thought
not" as Emmy shook her head.
'Tt was this: My brother, in desper-
ate straits for money, went into Judge
Cliffe's Office to beg him for loan.
It was late afternoon. He knew thF
Judge had just been paid several thou
sand dollars which he could not bank.
The money, indeed, was in letter tray
on his desk, ready to go into the safe.
There was a great hurry burly in the
office-people coming and going, clerks
getting ready to shut up everything.
The Judge was in and out of the main
Office q dozen times while your father
sat beside the desk and the tray of
money. Two men. clerks there, saw
him pick it up and finger the bills in
it. Two others heard him entreating
the judge a little later to lend him
even a thousand dollars. The judge
refused'-
"Of course He would refuse money
to the dying" Emmy broke in, her
eyes flashing.
Miss Bronson frowned. "He is a
just man and kind, else where would
we be?' she said. "But to go on. My
brother kept the judge SO late every
body else HAD gone. and the safe was
still to be shut. The money tray and
several other trays were upon the desk.
Your father helped the judge hustle
them inside it. then rushed away from
him and took train for the city. Next
day when the judge opened the safe
the tray and the money were missing.
He was sure he had put in whatever
John gave him. He had knelt III front
of the safe, setting things on the floor,
and then fitting them in place. The
lock had not been touched, and the
money had been there with just the
two of them. The judge Didn't have it,
The inevitable conclusion vas
~ won't believe it. l can't. It was
wicked in you to believe Oh, know
what you did-replaced the money and
kept everything quiet-on condition
that my father Should-disappear He
accepted your condition. 1 would not.
l should have fought. It is because of
him I hate the race of Gorton. l will
never % marry Cliffe-nOt though you
turn me in the street"
"You know 1 shall not do that" Miss
Bronson said heavily. Understand,
though, you shall marry nobody else. I
gave up my comfort to save my pride.
/ You shall let no stranger know-our
secret-perhaps to spurn you when he
did know"
"My father was innocent. But until
it is proved shall abide by your vii"
Emmy said, her color coming back.
Because it is his wish-and my moth
er's." she added as she walked to the
window. Almost instantly she turned
from it, saying huskily: Judge Gorton
is coming-running, almost-and with
out his hat What can it mean?'
More trouble" Miss Bronson said,
her mouth setting hard. Next minute
the Judge burst into the room with a
face of ashes. He had something in his
understanding fat and square and
dusty.
Look, Margaret he cried, holding
it out to Miss Bronson. Here is the
money-every dollar. We found it I'M
der the safe when it was moved today.
There is Just little space-hardly an
inch. I must have crowded the tray
into it in my fdgeting with the other
things. God forgive me that did not
think of the possibility then. But, re-
member, never accused that poor
boy
"But you let him suffer-judgment
and punishment" Emmy cried, spring
ing forward. Now will you atone by
helping me find him?"
GLADLY" said the judge. ut was
the first thing l thought of. We will
find him if he is living"
e"You will not need to search far
Miss Bronson said, with quivering lips.
81 have never lost track of him or let
him suffer for anything-at least not
since poor Lena died."
Next fall there was q wedding at the
Bronson place-very quiet, but very
happy. The groom's name was Hy-
land, and the bride was given away by
her father, who had very white hair
and perpetually brooding eyes. Miss
Bronson cried a little to see Emmy so
away, but after all was over she laid
her hand softly upon her brothers
shoulder, saying:
''After all, Jack, we have each other
loft -