Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
BY J. J. BELL

Is my cousin John fourshing and greatly beloved as
ever?"
The older man had opened his mouth; but the qnes-
ton seemed to forbid speech.
Il SUPP e John speaks kindly Of the dead-when he
does So 1t was one OF Johns little ways was reputed
to be dead, was not?"
te tell me in plain words what we Was it you
your cousin John that took your uncles money?'
MY uncle said it was l. my cousin did not say it
not Curious how fond was of John-then. But one
changes in twenty years Has John married.
The Captain put his hand to his head. "Ye were in
nocent Robert? We are telling me you were nnocent?
Did John marry?"
Eyes, yes. He married Mary Adamson But why
Ah! She married him. did she? Children"
bonny lasse. But what what are We going to do?
Forgive I've not shaken hands wi ye Ye see take
your word, Robert and I'm glad to have it; but-but
Derrick did not notice the proered hand. as John
still a favorite in Dunstrone!" he asked absently.
He's done much for the place. There's doesn't
bless him.. The Captain regarding his companion
earnestly and there something like appeal in his
voice. John is the first in Dunstrone he added.
calmly and kindly
What! His confession?"
He has had his day. 1 want mine. It's the only
way to give me back good name. Great pity; but.
as I've said I'm sick of playing the scapegoat. I've got
all the old documents in my pocket John cant gain
clear myself with him.
Robert Derrick - exclaimed the Captain in tone of
cousin has led good life ali these years, and now"
Derrick laughed harshly. 1T is clear that John is
s still well beloved However it's my name want
to the ladder and descended.
TT dark when he reached the inn Dunstrone He
escaped recognition without having sought to avoid
it. The man who drove him from Ardmun was too
young to have remembered him, the weather kept the
villagers for the most part indoors and the people of the
inn had but recently come to the place. He the
only guest and when he had exchanged his sodden for
dry garments he sat down to Indifferent repast in
chilly little coffee that displayed nothing suggest
i've OF Christmas save Spr1g or two OF holly the
cloudy mantel mirror and fire insurance companys
calendar whereon depicted convivia scene of the
eighteenth century.
Pushing away his cheese plate he rang and asked for
the landlord. The landlord appeared apologize. Had
he known guest coming, things would have been
different; but guest at this season much be
expected swallow. Derrick cut him short with an
invitation to drink glass of port and proceeded to ask
present, and in what house was he living now? The
landlord was delighted to any questions con-
corning Mr. John Carson the finest gentleman it had
been his lot to meet. Yes Mr.. Carson lived in the
Grey House. and that very night he giving splen-
did party for his children and their young friends
pity the weather bad; but most of the guests
Mr. Carson would give another splendid party this
time for the village Children in the Odd Fellows hall.
Mr. Carson thought of everybody and Mrs. Carson
like him for kindness. Dunstrone would be poor place
without them. Oh, yes the timber business still
doing grandly; he (the landlord) had heard it had
doubled since Mr. Carson inherited it from his uncle.
There had been another nephew, he had been told;
but unfortunately he had gone wrong.
What did he dor" Derrick asked softly.
well, Sir it's old story, and I've had it only
ond hand so to speak. But the young took money
belonging to his uncle and fled the country and nothing
has been heard of him since He supposed to be dead
Most unfortunate, sir; for year LATER have been
told he would have shared with his cousin his unces
wealth. unfortunate for him. l should have said sir.